CBS: U.S. Attacks Al Qaeda In Somalia

CBSNews ^ | 1/8/07

[Rose in RoseBear]

(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.

[NobleEagle2004]

I Just Finished Chapter 2,Scary dude,Scary!
Demographics Baby!

[Current Occupant]

Hewitt is talking football and Savage is talking about wiping his dog's pee pee.

[Braak]

I hope somewhere the Bakera Market 19 are smiling.

[HonestConservative]

Which is why I listen to Levin.

[Current Occupant]

Already listened to Levin. I'll try Les Kinsolving next.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

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….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.

How nice.

[prairiebreeze]

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.

So they haven't had a war in 30 years then. Predictable how See BS makes it sound like it's the Christians who are the bad guys.

[Chena]

LOL!

[HonestConservative]

We see you on Levin all the time CO!

[Rte66]

Somebody got up on the wrong side of the rock, huh? Sounds just like the caveman ad - "yeah, we were just learning to walk upright, discovering fire, inventing the wheel - sorry we didn't get back to ya sooner on that"

"we were just setting up a democracy, teaching people how to vote, think for themselves"

Oops, we didn't send CBS a memo on that. More mango salsa and cowbell!

[shield]

You drag the bodies of our soldiers through your streets?
We rain death down on your skinny little butts.

Yep, payback is a b*tch. It just took over 10 yrs...appears our military is kinda like an elephant...they just don't forget and they got'em. ;o)

[Txsleuth]

Is there any show LIVE after Mark Levin??

[NormsRevenge]

A U.S. helicopter gunship conducted a strike against two suspected al Qaeda operatives in southern Somalia, but it was not known whether the mission was successful, CBS News reported on Monday. (Graphic/Reuters)

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This March 2002 US Air Force (USAF) handout photo shows an Air Force AC-130 gunship on a training exercise. The US military launched an air strike against members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network in Somalia, but it is unclear whether the operation was a success, US media said.(AFP/USAF-HO/File)

[Current Occupant]

Yup, my favorite thread. I know you're there a lot as well.

[StoneGiant]

Looks like an angel behind the planes.

The 'Angel of Death', perhaps?

Nope... merely use of flares for guided missiles. But still damned cool!

Movies/angelDecoy.mpeg

[Current Occupant]

Not that I've ever seen.

[JerseyJohn61]

Just getting on this thread now, but if indeed Fazul
Abdullah Mohammed was one of the targets, then Bush
can place another notch in his belt. FAM has been
one of the top fellows Bush has been after. He claims
he has kept a list of these rascals in his desk and
he's been crossing them off one by one. FAM has been
on the FBI's most wanted list since shortly after 9/11.
....JJ61

[Txsleuth]

I pray that Pres. Bush will use this strike in his speech...just to point out to the libs that are always saying that we are in Iraq for NO REASON...

And that we are NOT fighting the "REAL" enemy, al-queda!!!

Oh...yes, Evita Pelosi, we are!!! LOL

[rlmorel]

I ALWAYS forget that...darn it.

By the way...that is a GREAT tagline you have!