Over the weekend American special forces tried to rescue two hostages being held by Al Qaeda in Yemen. By all accounts the mission was close to succeeding but at the last minute the terrorists had just enough time to kill both hostages: British born American, Luke Somer and South African teacher Pierre Korkie.
The US press is largely free of interesting details. And where they do state things they seem to be full of contradictions. This is just one I spotted.
From USA Today:
During the rescue operation, helicopters swept in and dropped U.S. commandos about a mile from the village where Somers was being held, according to a senior Defense Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
And from the Washington Post:
U.S. Navy SEALs had walked nearly seven miles from their landing zone in southern Yemen and were within about 300 feet of the al-Qaeda compound where American journalist Luke Somers was being held when they suddenly came under fire, U.S. officials said Saturday.
So were they dropped off one mile or seven from the target?
Nevertheless, the UK’s Daily Mail has a much fuller account. Tundra Tabloids has picked up on this passage:
US commanders appealed for the terrorists to surrender, as an official explained: ‘They called on the kidnappers to give themselves up because they were surrounded on all sides. ‘But the kidnappers immediately killed two hostages, which prompted the forces to open fire on the kidnappers. They tried to give first aid to the hostages but they had lost their lives.’
Did Navy Seals in full scale assault really pause and tell the terrorists to come out with their hands up? Hard to believe they tried that.
I spotted the following passage (which again I can’t find in the mainstream US press):
At the end of the raid, US troops on the ground requested an air strike on Wadi Aba-Dan, which according to unconfirmed reports last night caused the deaths of a number of women and children.
So after the Seals had recovered the dead or dying hostages, shot numerous terrorists and they’re on their way out, they call in an air strike on the village? Really? I’m not complaining, just pointing out the inconsistency.
Had this been a hostage rescue in Gaza and the parting act of the IDF would be to destroy the neighbourhood…. well I think you know which usual suspects would be screaming bloody murder.
It left me thinking of this scene from Aliens.
