American hostage in Somalia rescued by US Navy SEALs in overnight raid

[The Straight Story]

American hostage in Somalia rescued by US Navy SEALs in overnight raid
By Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News chief Pentagon correspondent

WASHINGTON -- In a daring nighttime raid Tuesday, U.S. Navy SEALs rescued two hostages, including one American, who were being held by kidnappers in Somalia, U.S. officials tell NBC News.

American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and a 60-year-old Dane, Poul Thisted, were working for a Danish relief organization in northern Somalia when they were kidnapped last October. U.S. officials described their kidnappers as heavily armed common criminals with no known ties to any organized militant group.
According to the U.S. officials, two teams of Navy SEALs landed by helicopter near the compound where the two hostages were being held. As the SEALS approached the compound on foot gunfire broke out, the U.S. officials said, and several of the militants were reportedly killed. There is no word that any of the Americans were wounded.

The SEALs gathered up Buchanan and Thisted, loaded them onto the helicopters and flew them to safety at an undisclosed location. The two hostages were not injured during the rescue operation and are reported to be in relatively good condition.

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10229917-american-hostage-in-somalia-rescued-by-us-navy-seals-in-overnight-raid

[DevonRex]

1. Fantastic!

I'm betting those SEALS love that kind of job.

[jberryhill]

2. When was that Eastern US time?

[Bolo Boffin]

14. Obama congratulated Panetta as he came into the chamber. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

16. The assault began about 6pm Eastern

Based upon a report that one of the pirates said it happened at 2am local time:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/01/20121258192621629.html

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Un-trained thugs versus SEALS. Hardly a fair fight.

I'm all in favor of un-fair fights.


Favorite movie line:


Jug: You hit that fellow from behind?
Latigo: Just as hard as I could!

[pinboy3niner]

4. Or, from another movie...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. A classic!!!

[joshcryer]

7. Hahaha, brilliant!

Apparently Ford had a stomach flu and they decided to change that scene. It worked out so much better there.

[RandySF]

6. Barack Obama and the Navy SEALS

That's a deadly combination.

[Dreamer Tatum]

11. Al Qaeda and our civil rights are on the RUN! USA! USA!

[denbot]

15. And if one of the hostages was your loved one..

What would have your comment been?

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. That Obama is still eroding my civil rights at a Bushian rate.

Any other questions?

[ellisonz]

8. Good news. n/t

[pacalo]

9. Obama knew about it before he gave his SOTU address

but he didn't mention it.

As the president entered the House chambers to give his State of the Union Speech, he pointed to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta standing in the crowd and said, "Leon. Good job tonight. Good job tonight." The president made no mention of the hostage rescue, but finished his speech with a reference to the killing of Osama bin Laden last May in a similar operation to the one conducted by Navy SEALs Tuesday night. 

What a breath of fresh air he is compared to that pompous nitwit appointed by the SCOTUS.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Thanks

I wondered when we'd learn what that comment to Panetta was about.

[Major Hogwash]

12. Excellent.

Let's see what foreign policy expert Ron Paul says about it --
"Well, it doesn't say that you can save Americans taken hostage overseas in the Constitution, so I'm against it. Once you leave the safety of your country's borders, you're on your own. Just like in the days of Davy Crockett."

[grasswire]

13. We wondered what he meant to Panetta!

I believe this may be why he seemed to have a twinkle in his eye and a bounce in his step tonight. Congratulations, Commander In Chief!