... as it should be done. BZ and many happy returns.
U.S. Special Forces troops flew into Somalia on a nighttime helicopter raid early Wednesday, freed an American and a Danish hostage and killed nine of the kidnappers ... Ahmed Hashi said two helicopters attacked at about 2 a.m. about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Somali town of Adado where the hostages were being held. ... The Danish Refugee Council confirmed that the two aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted, were freed and "are on their way to be reunited with their families."Oh, there are some helo pilots out there who are quite green today. What a great mission to be on.
UPDATE: ... and yes, yes, yes to all you nit-pic'rs out there - these were not technically "pirates." That ain't the point. Geezzzzz ....
Hat tip Katharine Houreld via EagleOne.
Re: Update.
ReplyDeletePirates, Kidnappers, Hostage takers; whats the difference? Not a lot when they get under the sights of a SEAL with a mission. End of angst.
Well, technically they <span>were</span> pirates. <span>Now</span>, they're dead pirates.
ReplyDeleteBZ to all involved. You made an old man's day, and done us all proud.
ReplyDeleteWell, bye...
ReplyDeleteBZ!!! But wait... what if some of the hostage takers turned out to be teenagers? What if they shot a tractor? Take back those huzzahs and write-em up, boys!
ReplyDelete(Just got finished reading a horrible story about a Marine's career issues in AFG for shooting at a fleeing bomber. Still annoyed.)
I've said it before, I'll say it again: play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
ReplyDeleteDid I read correctly that 3 of the "pirates" were taken prisoner? Or was that just sloppy reporting?
ReplyDeleteIf we did take prisoners, where would they currently be now?
Just curious if anyone other than the rescuees were left alive from the mission.
I am pretty sure a forward-deployed mobile floating aviation base (aka WARSHIP) was involved too...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great job, hostage rescue is one of toughest mission to pull off out there.
Nice
ReplyDeleteAh, no. They probably flew out of Djoubouti where we have JTF 151 base at. Either that or an amphib over the horizon. Almost guarantee that the helo's were from the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) who are the premier rotary outfit for nap of the earth special ops insert and exfil.
ReplyDeleteChum?
ReplyDeleteGreetings:
ReplyDeleteAs my favorite Platoon Sergeant used to tell us, "Marksmanship will be practiced at every opportunity. Dead is good; deader is better."
Our heroes! Excellent news to go with my morning coffee. I hope that bad guys everywhere are rethinking attacking Americans.
ReplyDeleteDB, that is a particularly infuriating story. I hope that the media attention will make some senior Marines rethink their stupidity.
ReplyDeleteFox News is reporting that SEAL Team Six were the shooters and that they HALO'd in, exfil by helo. No mention of prisoners, did mention nine who were foolish enough to threaten a SEAL and who are no longer among the living.
ReplyDeleteCheck the range from Djibouti to action place - quite long for even aerially refuelled ?H-60 (I assume the secret version made known by crashing in Osama's backyard). I bet after HALO drop the extraction was handled by 160th helos operating from some warship (probably amphibious with letter H somewhere, but in emergency any DDG would suffice) off the coast.
ReplyDeleteEwok, please see above comment; I corrected that with a report from FOX saying the SEALs parachuted in...and it was probably a HALO given the very quiet nature of the insertion. They DID extract by helo.
ReplyDeleteAs for range, the Spec Ops 'hawks not carry extra fuel tanks, they can also refuel in air. Range was not the deciding factor; stealth was.
"not ONLY carry extra..." Doh
ReplyDeleteI'll bite Sailor. If they're not Pirates, what are they? What, they didn't sign the Pirate code or fly the Jolly Roger?
ReplyDeleteWhat is their status, other than dead?
If they're dead, what difference does it make? Too much angst, not enough "enjoy"
ReplyDeleteNo angst here, I think we can all agree that they were opportunistic douche nozzles that are not dead. And now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!
ReplyDeleteThe RNC needs to use that story to tell the WHOLE story about the military. We are not all tier 1 units, and while they are spectacular, they will not exist completely outside the military. As we deteriorate the whole, it will go down to the tier 1 units too. The big picture way we handle Afghanistan, for instance, (mixed messages, lack of ferocity towards enemy) prolongs it, reduces intel, etc. The whole story must be told.
ReplyDeleteAnother win for America. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThey are kidnappers and brigands. On dry land. To change them into pirates, just add saltwater. A fine point, admittedly.
ReplyDeleteSeals are what they are, whether delivered by sea, air, and land.
Dogfood. Chum is cast upon the waters.
ReplyDeleteanyway stratfor map from 20th jan shows LHD-8 USS Makin Island off Somali coast...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stratfor.com/image/us-naval-update-map-jan-20-2012