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American hostage in Somalia rescued by US Navy SEALs in overnight raid
msnbc.com ^ | Jan. 25, 2012 | Jim Miklaszewski

Posted on 01/24/2012 11:06:21 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

WASHINGTON -- In a daring nighttime raid Tuesday, U.S. Navy SEALs rescued two hostages, including one American, who were being held by kidnappers in Somalia, U.S. officials tell NBC News.

American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and a 60-year-old Dane, Poul Thisted, were working for a Danish relief organization in northern Somalia when they were kidnapped last October.

U.S. officials described their kidnappers as heavily armed common criminals with no known ties to any organized militant group.

According to the U.S. officials, two teams of Navy SEALs landed by helicopter near the compound where the two hostages were being held.

As the SEALS approached the compound on foot gunfire broke out, the U.S. officials said, and several of the militants were reportedly killed.

There is no word that any of the Americans were wounded.

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnews.msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 201110; 20120124; denmark; jessicabuchanan; navy; navyseals; poulthisted; seal; seals; somalia; usn
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To: Free ThinkerNY

One for the good guys!


21 posted on 01/25/2012 1:24:44 AM PST by exnavy (May the Lord bless and keep our troops.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Hmmm.

The RNC has been holding real conservatives hostage for quite some time as well, this may be an option.

22 posted on 01/25/2012 1:32:12 AM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
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To: athelass
Pretty important people to send two SEAL teams after them. I don’t want a SEAL shot to rescue 2 hostages. What gives? I hope they took out some important target in this raid and the hostages were a bonus.

One of these hostages must have an influential relative/friend to merit this action. Somalia has kidnappings on an hourly basis... there are plenty of hostages we could rescue.

23 posted on 01/25/2012 1:32:19 AM PST by Cementjungle
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To: LifePath

Sounds like several thugs were taken with them. They were the lucky ones I suppose.


24 posted on 01/25/2012 2:25:30 AM PST by csvset
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To: Free ThinkerNY

i like it! Thanks for posting.


25 posted on 01/25/2012 3:15:18 AM PST by Natufian (t)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

MAY GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR NAVY SEALS AND MILITARY,

AND GIVE THEM A NEW COMMANDER IN CHIEF

WHO WILL NOT TAKE PERSONAL CREDIT FOR THEIR BRAVE AND SELFLESS ACTION

AND GIVE THEM THE HONOR, RESPECT, AND DIGNITY THE DESERVE.

AMEN.


26 posted on 01/25/2012 4:54:17 AM PST by left that other site
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To: Free ThinkerNY

I’m gonna reserve my remarks until more proof is offered.


27 posted on 01/25/2012 4:55:33 AM PST by liberalh8ter (I don't like what the world has become....)
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To: ansel12; backhoe; CholeraJoe; Criminal Number 18F; DevSix; DJ Taylor; Future Snake Eater; ...

SOCOM Ping


28 posted on 01/25/2012 6:07:18 AM PST by ASA Vet (Natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens. De Vattel)
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To: athelass; Travis McGee
"Pretty important people to send two SEAL teams after them. I don’t want a SEAL shot to rescue 2 hostages. What gives? I hope they took out some important target in this raid and the hostages were a bonus."

That's what SEAL teams do. SEALs, Marines (SEAL trained), Rangers, Delta Force, and Special Forces are trained to rescue ANY American at any opportune time. They dedicate their lives to that purpose, no matter how many may die. We lost much of SEAL Team 6 to go in and rescue trapped military and a couple civilians. Still not sure that was the best move to put them all on one helo, but then I wasn't the commander.

They are ready to die first and fight to the last no matter what the mission. If it takes two teams to rescue one American, I back the mission.

They are the military equivalent of SWAT. Give your life to save lives. I can't possibly have a higher regard for their basic mission.

29 posted on 01/25/2012 7:04:29 AM PST by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: Vendome; Travis McGee
"Definitely wasn’t a fair fight."

Good! Who wants a fair fight? That's for children on a playground or in a boxing ring. I want our armed forces to be over-whelming and kill and break everything they are directed to without as much as a black eye or a scraped knee or even a paint scratch on our hardware. I'm sure you agree.

30 posted on 01/25/2012 7:40:43 AM PST by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: Cementjungle; Travis McGee
"Somalia has kidnappings on an hourly basis... there are plenty of hostages we could rescue."

Can you give me URL's that specify American hostages, currently? If so, I might agree with you.

31 posted on 01/25/2012 7:45:06 AM PST by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: LifePath
And our guys, sworn to uphold the Constitution, should adopt a new salute: spit on the ground whenever they are required to speak Obama-bastard’s name.

My daughter has a boyfriend in Afganistan. They were forced to wake up early in the night to watch the SOTU speech. I believe they adopted your new salute.

32 posted on 01/25/2012 10:30:52 AM PST by Nachoman (I HOPE we CHANGE presidents.)
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To: A Navy Vet

IMHO, this mission was “in the can” for at least days if not weeks. Obama’s State of the Union team probably asked around via military liasons if there were any cool ops coming up soon. “Well, we do have a few we’re working on...”

After that, when told of some hostage in Somalia and a SEAL Team ready to snatch them, the timing was probably up to the White House. No way do I believe that the rescue just “happened” to occur in perfect timing to be announced by Obama at the SOTU address.


33 posted on 01/25/2012 11:21:13 AM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Travis McGee
IMHO, this mission was “in the can” for at least days if not weeks. Obama’s State of the Union team probably asked around via military liasons if there were any cool ops coming up soon. “Well, we do have a few we’re working on...”

After that, when told of some hostage in Somalia and a SEAL Team ready to snatch them, the timing was probably up to the White House. No way do I believe that the rescue just “happened” to occur in perfect timing to be announced by Obama at the SOTU address.

Yep. Tail wagging dog exercise. Obama has learned that JSOC gives him carte blanche service with a high probability of success. It's one of the very few things he can grasp to in a hurry for a glory plug. You know that op was set to go for weeks waiting for a myriad of factors to line up. Barry pulled it off the shelf, probably within a week of his SOTU speech.

34 posted on 01/25/2012 11:37:41 AM PST by TADSLOS (Gingrich-Palin FTW!)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

October, November, December, JANUARY?!

on the EVE of the State of the Union Speech?

could he be more obvious?!


35 posted on 01/25/2012 11:41:04 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: TADSLOS

Yep, agreed. Obama and team know they can order the brass to jump on command. And it will work—in the short term. But the leaks and memoirs will be scathing. I hope some of the leaks are in time to help derail his reelection.


36 posted on 01/25/2012 1:05:33 PM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: A Navy Vet
They are the military equivalent of SWAT.

Two SEALs vs. 16 regular police SWAT (I mean non-military) isn't a fair fight.

37 posted on 01/25/2012 3:51:27 PM PST by wastedyears (Not too long you devious little parathyroid. Soon I'll be rid of you and I'll be free.)
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To: Travis McGee
I've read that several, (varies from 3-5) , guys were "taken " with the SEALS when they left. Why snatch some "thugs" rather than dispatch them like the others were?

Fwiw, a few days ago, British Shabaab operative killed in airstrike in Somalia

this guy was whacked by a drone, ( supposedly he was located after he called his wife in the UK).

I wonder if these two events were related?

Was the operation a snatch of some muckety muck and the "rescue" was a cover story?

Pure speculation on my part.

38 posted on 01/25/2012 4:46:41 PM PST by csvset
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