To go astray the SA-24 must be DAZZLED; it generally won’t be deceived by mere flares. I think the AC-130U is equipped with such a dazzler but I’m sure their worries were still huge.
I believe the Consulate attack was not only a snatch attempt but possibly PRIMARILY a trap to lure an AC-130 close enough for a shoot-down —it has happened before.
But this doesn’t let the Choom Gang off the hook —the shot instead have come from Predator. In fact they could have responded in MANY ways.
Barry let them die and hit the hay as prep for his Vegas trip —why wouldn’t the media cover for him this time, the way they did for him with Fast and Furious...?
I regularly see AC-130s flying around here tho I don’t know much about their defensive measures.
It has come to my mind at times watching them slowly circle an area, that even a WWII German 88mm anti-aricraft battery would/could ruin the day for an AC-130 crew.