Algerian assault ends crisis, 19 hostages dead

AP ^ | 1/19/2013 | PAUL SCHEMM and ANIS BELGHOUL

[gotribe]

Algeria's special forces stormed a natural gas complex in the middle of the Sahara desert on Saturday in a "final assault" aimed at ending a four-day-old hostage crisis, the state news agency reported. It said 11 militants and seven hostages were killed.

The report, quoting a security source, didn't say whether any hostages or militants remained alive, and it didn't give the nationalities of the dead. It said the army was forced to intervene after a fire broke out in the plant.

[gotribe]

"The militants attacked the plant Wednesday morning. They crept across the border from Libya, 60 miles (100 kilometers) away, and fell on a pair of buses taking foreign workers to the airport."

More results from US policy in Libya.

[PghBaldy]

Algeria won’t be satisfied until all the hostages are dead /sarcasm

[Never on my watch]

...was forced to intervene after a fire broke out in the plant

Did our FBI assist and apply the Waco strategy there?

[rxtn41]

Probably with guns and ammo for CIA in Libya..But I thought
tehy were supposed to go to Syria..after Chris Stevens was kidnapped....I guess they lost their way and ended up in Algeria....

[shalom aleichem]

all over that damn Blind Shiek

[RKBA Democrat]

So did they have to kill the hostages to save them?

[Cboldt]

-- Algeria won't be satisfied until all the hostages are dead --

I've read a number of reports about how many were killed, but no reports on how many were rescued. This report says there is no information about survivors. I think there aren't any survivors - or, as you suggest, if there are, they won't be survivors for long.

[PghBaldy]

It just seems we my not know what the heck really happened here, given our own govt has questionable ethics and loyalties. To be fair, Algeria may care more about the foreigners as they help their economy. Obama was re-elected. What does he care anymore?

[dervish]

“al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat,” Obama said

9/10/11

[Cboldt]

-- To be fair, Algeria may care more about the foreigners as they help their economy. --

Yes, I think the Algerian forces were striving for swift resolution with all the kidnappers dead; and as many hostages saved as possible.

[Westbrook]

> the army was forced to intervene after a fire broke out in
> the plant.

Reminds me of what was said by the Russian commander of the Spetsnaz raid that killed most of the family of Beslan planner and Chechen terrorist, Shamil Besayev, “We heard a shot.”

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Something tells me that Terrorists might think twice about pulling off hostage situations in Algeria again. The Algerian Army appears not to believe in negotiating even if it means “collatoral damage”.

[NonValueAdded]

Gave ‘em the old Branch Davidian treatment, eh? Was Wesley Clark advising the Algerians?

[freeangel]

“So did they have to kill the hostages to save them?”

Nah—the hostages probably had to die because one of them might have heard that obama had supplied the weapons to the terrorists.

[gaijin]

While negotiations were underway, one of the hostage takers’ demands was release of the Blind Sheik:

Watch you LITTLE you hear of that again, if ever.

This attack occurred because the Libya attack failed in it’s real objective —release of the Blind Sheik, something that the Obama Admin is working towards now.

AND WHY...??

[Gator113]

But, but, just this past October, Obama said that “...al Qaeda is on its heels..”

[Don@VB]

Waiting for them to blame another Video!!

[Truth29]

"It just seems we my not know what the heck really happened here, given our own govt has questionable ethics and loyalties. To be fair, Algeria may care more about the foreigners as they help their economy. Obama was re-elected. What does he care anymore?"

To the extent we find out what happened, it is more likely to come from foreign media and sources than the Obama State Run Media.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks gotribe.

[Don@VB]

Incidently, gotribe, W. and M.rules!!