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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: All

This is Bush and our military and our intel at their best. We played their game here by waiting patiently for the kill. I love the standoff style and then the kill...and btw, our CIA I'll guarantee was in on the Ethiopian involvement probably months prior to that attack.

Great news, take tht you islamawussies.


441 posted on 01/08/2007 5:49:07 PM PST by rbmillerjr ("Message to radical jihadis...come to my hood, it's understood ------ it's open season" Stuck Mojo)
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To: NobleEagle2004
Just Wait till Patreus goes in BAGDAD With the 101"SCREAMING EAGLES!"

I heard someone say if Patreus can't get er done it's only because W won't let him.

Guess he's one bad dude.

442 posted on 01/08/2007 5:50:15 PM PST by Current Occupant (DBM, Libs, 5th column,PC will destroy this country. Preach it TALKIES while you still can!!!!!!)
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Comment #443 Removed by Moderator

To: My2Cents
Of course, the leftist MSM types all have their blinders on and their fingers in their ears.

And their thumbs up their....

444 posted on 01/08/2007 5:50:57 PM PST by EricT. (The Republicans got fired for poor performance. 12 years and that's all they did?!?)
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To: rlmorel

The object of war is to kill the enemy. We should be killing more terrorists faster, despite what their allies (the Democrats) say.


445 posted on 01/08/2007 5:51:10 PM PST by pleikumud
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To: roses of sharon

Not a dumb question. Media reports indicate that the aircraft flew from a base in Djibouti. The latter is well within range and more or less friendly despite being heavily influenced by the French.
Kenya is another possibility. AC-130s that supported the 1993 operation in Somalia (before Clinton withdrew them to appease the media) flew from the Kenyan base at Mombasa. Their absense was a critical factor in the October 3 1993 "Blackhawk Down" battle in Mogadishu.


446 posted on 01/08/2007 5:51:57 PM PST by atomic conspiracy (Rousing the blog-rabble since 9-11-01)
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To: Current Occupant

Guess he's one bad dude.


That's what my hubby says....


447 posted on 01/08/2007 5:52:03 PM PST by mystery-ak (My Son, My Soldier, My Hero........God Speed Jonathan......)
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To: Howlin

GREAT...Thanks!


448 posted on 01/08/2007 5:52:43 PM PST by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: dinasour
Oh, Green helmet guy is on his way to Somali as we speak to stage a decimated wedding reception.
449 posted on 01/08/2007 5:53:27 PM PST by HonestConservative (Illegitimi noncarborundum.)
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To: mystery-ak
Apaches?


Mi-24 (Click pic for more info)

450 posted on 01/08/2007 5:53:27 PM PST by F-117A (Who is Jamil Hussein?)
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To: Howlin

[George W. Bush, doing the work that Bill Clinton wouldn't do.]

You can't say the above line too many times...


451 posted on 01/08/2007 5:53:30 PM PST by khnyny (For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.)
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To: NobleEagle2004

I am listening Victor Davis Hansen on with Hugh Hewitt...and he said that Pres. Bush, in his speech on Wednesday, needs to warn the American public that what Petraeus and gang are going to do...

will be rough, bloody, and there will be a lot of deaths.

AND, that he should also tell Americans that there will be a lot of "wrong" news put out...propaganda that will make things seem like the USA is doing something wrong.

I don't think Prs. Bush will say that...but WE better be ready for it...


452 posted on 01/08/2007 5:54:21 PM PST by Txsleuth (FREEPATHON TIME--Please become a monthly or dollar a day donor!!)
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To: Lizarde
This should be GWB's new tactic. No more talking.
453 posted on 01/08/2007 5:54:29 PM PST by HonestConservative (Illegitimi noncarborundum.)
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To: roses of sharon

Where do these Gunships come from? A base somewhere, or a carrier?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not a dumb question...Diego Garcia,with a mid-air refuel,,


454 posted on 01/08/2007 5:56:15 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: Txsleuth

I heard that also. His football was only one segment.


455 posted on 01/08/2007 5:56:51 PM PST by Current Occupant (DBM, Libs, 5th column,PC will destroy this country. Preach it TALKIES while you still can!!!!!!)
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To: Txsleuth

Where are you listening?


456 posted on 01/08/2007 5:56:58 PM PST by HonestConservative (Illegitimi noncarborundum.)
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To: F-117A
Here's one of my hubby's....lol.........Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
457 posted on 01/08/2007 5:57:06 PM PST by mystery-ak (My Son, My Soldier, My Hero........God Speed Jonathan......)
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To: HonestConservative

LOL!!!


458 posted on 01/08/2007 5:57:17 PM PST by Txsleuth (FREEPATHON TIME--Please become a monthly or dollar a day donor!!)
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To: atomic conspiracy; roses of sharon

We have a Special Forces base (with AC-130's) in Djibouti.


459 posted on 01/08/2007 5:57:52 PM PST by F-117A (Who is Jamil Hussein?)
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To: Txsleuth

The main lead-in key word for "lame stream" coverage on this tomorrow will be "escalation"

Any success therefore can be spun as further failure.

They will not be trumped with positive WOT news, they fight for their queen(s)

jc


460 posted on 01/08/2007 5:58:13 PM PST by John 19-21 (Jesus is the only way)
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