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CBS: U.S. Attacks Al Qaeda In Somalia
CBSNews ^ | 1/8/07

Posted on 01/08/2007 3:53:36 PM PST by Rose in RoseBear

Edited on 01/08/2007 4:00:49 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

(CBS/AP) A U.S. Air Force gunship has conducted a strike against suspected members of al Qaeda in Somalia, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports exclusively.

The targets included the senior al Qaeda leader in East Africa and an al Qaeda operative wanted for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa, Martin reports. The AC-130 gunship is capable of firing thousands of rounds per second, and sources say a lot of bodies were seen on the ground after the strike, but there is as yet, no confirmation of the identities.

The gunship flew from its base in Dijibouti down to the southern tip of Somalia, Martin reports, where the al Qaeda operatives had fled after being chased out of the capital of Mogadishu by Ethiopian troops backed by the United States.

Once they started moving, the al Qaeda operatives became easier to track, and the U.S. military started preparing for an air strike, using unmanned aerial drones to keep them under surveillance and moving the aircraft carrier Eisenhower out of the Persian Gulf toward Somalia. But when the order was given, the mission was assigned to the AC-130 gunship operated by the U.S. Special Operations command.

If the attack got the operatives it was aimed at, reports Martin, it would deal a major blow to al Qaeda in East Africa.

Meanwhile, a jungle hideout used by Islamic militants that is believed to be an al Qaeda base was on the verge of falling to Ethiopian and Somali troops, the defense minister said Monday.

While a lawmaker had earlier told The Associated Press that the base was captured, Somalia's Defense Minister Col. Barre "Hirale" Aden Shire said troops had yet to enter it and that limited skirmishes were still ongoing, though troops were poised to take the base.

Ethiopian soldiers, tanks and warplanes were involved in the two-day attack, a government military commander told the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Shire said there had been heavy fighting with high numbers of casualties.

"There are a lot of casualties from both sides," he said, declining to give details.

Residents in the coastal seaport of Kismayo, some 90 miles northeast of Ras Kamboni, said they saw wounded Ethiopian soldiers being loaded onto military helicopters for evacuation.

"I have seen about 50 injured Ethiopian troops being loaded onto a military chopper," said Farhiya Yusuf. She said 12 Ethiopian helicopters were stationed at the Kismayo airport.

Somali officials said the Islamic movement's main force is bottled up at Ras Kamboni, the southernmost tip of the country, cut off from escape at sea by patrolling U.S. warships and across the Kenyan border by the Kenyan military.

In Mogadishu, Somalia's president made his first visit to the capital since taking office in 2004. During the unannounced visit, President Abdullahi Yusuf was expected to meet with traditional Somali elders and stay at the former presidential palace that has been occupied by warlords for 15 years, government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said.

U.S. officials warned after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that extremists with ties to al Qaeda operated a training camp at Ras Kamboni and that al Qaeda members are believed to have visited it.

Three al Qaeda suspects wanted in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa are believed to be leaders of the Islamic movement. The Islamists deny having any links to al Qaeda.

Somalia's government had struggled to survive since forming with backing from the United Nations two years ago, and was under attack by the Islamic militia when Ethiopia's military intervened on Dec. 24 and turned the tide.

But many in predominantly Muslim Somalia resent the presence of troops from neighboring Ethiopia, which has a large Christian population. The countries fought two brutal wars, the last in 1977.

On Sunday, gunmen attacked Ethiopian troops, witnesses said, sparking a firefight in the second straight day of violence in the capital, Mogadishu.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; bush; hallelujah; somalia; wot
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To: Rose in RoseBear
"Puff, the Magic Dragon, flew by the sea..."
241 posted on 01/08/2007 4:45:21 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Saddam is Dead! Bush's Fault. [Pray for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub.])
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To: Diogenesis

That is one beautiful sight.


242 posted on 01/08/2007 4:45:30 PM PST by Earthdweller (All reality is based on faith in something.)
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To: jeltz25
But none of this has been publicized widely. If W would schedule a primetie address and tell the people all the good stufff that's going on, things would be a lot better. Instead, all we hear about is car bombs in BNaghdad and the failure of Iraqi sewage systems and job programs.

Fits in nicely with W's speech Wednesday night...could be part of the strategery.
243 posted on 01/08/2007 4:45:34 PM PST by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: indylindy

Our navy was there to block the terrorists as they tried to retreat from the Ethiopian troops.
Boxing them in was a joint operation, the honor of raining death on them was given to us.


244 posted on 01/08/2007 4:45:44 PM PST by TET1968 (SI MINOR PLUS EST ERGO NIHIL SUNT OMNIA)
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To: keat
when the Islamists took over they established order. Built schools, started a legal system, cleaned up the streets.

Aaaaaagggghhhhh!!

245 posted on 01/08/2007 4:45:56 PM PST by txhurl
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To: bert

This means our spec ops types have been there all along watching all and telling the Etheopians where and with what to strike.



Exactly....


246 posted on 01/08/2007 4:46:12 PM PST by mystery-ak (My Son, My Soldier, My Hero........God Speed Jonathan......)
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To: Peach
> I do so hope that's true! Thanks for reporting this.

I haven't read this thread. I just heard of this on FNC.

I don't know what to believe these days, but if this pans out, however much we have differed on other things, I am so proud of this man.
247 posted on 01/08/2007 4:46:16 PM PST by dinasour (Pajamahadeen, SnowFlake, and Eeevil Doer.)
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To: Howlin
Between yesterday, with the "much ado about nothing" in Miami, the hysteria over the tornadoes in the south, and the whoop-de-doo about the derailing in DC, coupled with the "smell" in New York this morning, I pretty much was soured on the news channels.

I am glad to hear they are reporting something that actually happened and is good for our side!

Currently, Fox is reporting on the new Diana inquest. Zzzzzz.

248 posted on 01/08/2007 4:46:17 PM PST by Miss Marple (Prayers for Jemian's son,: Lord, please keep him safe and bring him home .)
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To: samadams2000
Gunships really are day makers arent they?

Just beautiful. Our guys can do what needs doing. They just need to be let loose to do it.

249 posted on 01/08/2007 4:46:22 PM PST by Bahbah (.Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
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To: txflake

As soon as they find out one woman or child was injured or killed in this "attack," we won't hear the end of it.


250 posted on 01/08/2007 4:46:33 PM PST by California74
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To: dinasour

Ditto that.


251 posted on 01/08/2007 4:47:31 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they captured or killed.)
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To: maquiladora

DO you recall how many we had there in Gulf Wars I & II? I seem to think it was 4, one being in the Med. It's a lot of firepower. I think Ahmadinnerjacket said the 12th Imam would be returning in the Spring. Maybe we're getting our pieces in place.


252 posted on 01/08/2007 4:47:36 PM PST by Hoosier-Daddy (It's a fight to the death with Democrats.)
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To: TET1968

Kudos to the Navy, also!


253 posted on 01/08/2007 4:47:38 PM PST by Palladin ("Coke--it's the real thing!"...Obama Osama)
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To: Peach
Was that CBS report from TONIGHT?

Actually a reader comment below the on-line story. But the point of view is virtually indistinguishable from most MSM reporters.

254 posted on 01/08/2007 4:47:45 PM PST by keat (You know who I feel bad for? Arab-Americans who truly want to get into crop-dusting.)
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To: wildcatf4f3

mmmm, mmmm, good.....better to give than to get.


255 posted on 01/08/2007 4:47:47 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
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To: Miss Marple

I'm not so sure we didn't stop something bad in Miami.


256 posted on 01/08/2007 4:48:02 PM PST by CindyDawg (May your dreams be big and your worries be small (RF))
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To: bert

Yes.


257 posted on 01/08/2007 4:48:19 PM PST by lysie (I pledge allegiance to this flag And if that bothers you, well that's too bad)
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To: combat_boots
"..... when the Islamists took over they established order. Built schools, started a legal system, cleaned up the streets. By all accounts the were establishing civil order from chaos - without draconian measures."

Hitler gave the German people the autobahn and the Volkswagen.
What a guy.
258 posted on 01/08/2007 4:48:23 PM PST by TET1968 (SI MINOR PLUS EST ERGO NIHIL SUNT OMNIA)
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To: Miss Marple

David Schuster slobbering on MSNBC with questons "Did they get their intended targets."

This must have been HUGE!


259 posted on 01/08/2007 4:48:24 PM PST by Howlin (Not voting GOP was like being thirsty but not drinking since the glass is only 75% full ~~SoCalPol)
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To: TET1968

Thank you, and all our military has my respect. That , I suppose isn't alot, but take me times millions! My son is in the Navy.


260 posted on 01/08/2007 4:48:28 PM PST by dforest (Liberals love crisis, create crisis and then dwell on them.)
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