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U.S. journalist killed during failed rescue raid

Rogue Valley

Rogue Valley

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U.S. journalist killed during failed rescue raid
Dec. 6, 2014

A U.S. photojournalist who was held hostage has been killed in Yemen during a failed rescue raid. Luke Somers' sister, Lucy, said the family was informed by an FBI agent. The news came following a second operation by U.S. and Yemeni forces to free Somers, 33, a year after he was kidnapped by militants in Sana'a. He was apparently shot by his captors during the raid and died of his injuries as he was being flown to an American Navy ship in the region.

Source
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Details are classified, but sketchy reports say the US/Yemeni joint rescue attempt took place in a remote desert area near the Saudi border. Al-Qaida had threatened to execute Somers within three days if their demands were not met. My deepest respect to the commandos who put their lives on the line to liberate him. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and colleague's.
 
Simpleχity;1064061093 said:
Details are classified, but sketchy reports say the US/Yemeni joint rescue attempt took place in a remote desert area near the Saudi border. Al-Qaida had threatened to execute Somers within three days if their demands were not met. My deepest respect to the commandos who put their lives on the line to liberate him. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and colleague's.
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Yeh -- we cannot always be successful, which is always unfortunate because lives are lost and the morale and well-being of the tip of our spear is damaged. Just all-around misery. My absolute sincerest to the people directly involved with this -- spouse, family, friends and the men who tried to rescue him. May God bless your hearts.
 
Either way, I believe he was going to be killed. It is better to challenge the killers rather then let them carry out their threat no matter the outcome. Not doing so, only emboldens them in two ways. By letting them carry out their actions without challenging them, we legitimize their actions. When the action takes place and is carried out, it will only embolden them as well as copycats. I still completely agree that we should never negotiate with terrorists no matter what the cost, and we also should do whatever we can to fight them at every turn.
 
Apparently, Somers was shot by his captors either before or during the rescue attempt. South African hostage Pierre Korkie was also murdered. At least ten militants were killed. No US or Yemeni military personnel suffered injuries.
 
Contrary to initial reports, the event in Yemen took place in the southern governate of Shabwah which lies on the Gulf of Aden. V-22 Osprey aircraft carrying 40 US Navy Seals landed about 7 miles from the militant compound at 1am Yemeni time. When the Seals were about 300 feet from the compound, they were somehow detected and the militants opened fire. A drone camera overhead recorded a militant enter a structure and left again after about seven seconds inside. This is where the captives were held.

Upon reaching the structure, the Seals discovered both captives had been shot. South African teacher Pierre Korkie died in one of the Osprey aircraft. US journalist Luke Somers died during surgery aboard the Navy ship USS Makin Island in the Gulf of Aden. Unofficial sources say that the commandos did not know that Korkie was being held with Somers.
 
Simpleχity;1064064200 said:
Contrary to initial reports, the event in Yemen took place in the southern governate of Shabwah which lies on the Gulf of Aden. V-22 Osprey aircraft carrying 40 US Navy Seals landed about 7 miles from the militant compound at 1am Yemeni time. When the Seals were about 300 feet from the compound, they were somehow detected and the militants opened fire. A drone camera overhead recorded a militant enter a structure and left again after about seven seconds inside. This is where the captives were held.

Upon reaching the structure, the Seals discovered both captives had been shot. South African teacher Pierre Korkie died in one of the Osprey aircraft. US journalist Luke Somers died during surgery aboard the Navy ship USS Makin Island in the Gulf of Aden. Unofficial sources say that the commandos did not know that Korkie was being held with Somers.
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It's very honorable to attempt to save those who've been captured undeservedly. I also have to believe that even though the results weren't as hoped, most people, including the two hostages, would rather die quickly from a gunshot than be paraded in front of cameras as a propaganda tool and later beheaded. I can't imagine how that kind of death haunts the victim's loved ones let alone what it must be like to suffer through it.
 
Apparently an enemy dog gave our position away.
 
CanadaJohn said:
It's very honorable to attempt to save those who've been captured undeservedly. I also have to believe that even though the results weren't as hoped, most people, including the two hostages, would rather die quickly from a gunshot than be paraded in front of cameras as a propaganda tool and later beheaded. I can't imagine how that kind of death haunts the victim's loved ones let alone what it must be like to suffer through it.
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Absolutely. The death the hostages met was far better than the death that was awaiting them.
 
Jango said:
Apparently an enemy dog gave our position away.
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Hate those friggin dogs over there. Any time we were planning missions over there the dogs had to be considered. The bad part is, there's not really much you can do about them. It isn't the movies where they can use silenced sniper rifles or some thing and take the dogs out. Someone's going to see the carcass.
My hats off to Pres Obama for this as well. Im sure he had to directly approve the mission.
 
I give Obama credit for making the not-obvious call in this case regardless of the outcome.
 
Special Ops is always risky. By definition, they take on the jobs that are almost impossible.
 
jmotivator said:
I give Obama credit for making the not-obvious call in this case regardless of the outcome.
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Its hard to give him credit when his other actions embolden the the enemy, like trading captive terrorists for soldiers, and releasing their friends for political points. He is sending mixed messages, which is weak. One day he'll say Islam preaches peace, and then the next day bomb them.
 
jonny5 said:
Its hard to give him credit when his other actions embolden the the enemy, like trading captive terrorists for soldiers, and releasing their friends for political points. He is sending mixed messages, which is weak. One day he'll say Islam preaches peace, and then the next day bomb them.
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Which is why we congratulate him on the rare occasion he makes the right call. Maybe there is a chance he will learn and make more good calls in the future.
 
jmotivator said:
Which is why we congratulate him on the rare occasion he makes the right call.
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You dont congratulate someone for getting it right once. You congratulate them once they establish a pattern of getting it right. I dont recognize my employee being on time once a week when hes late the other 4 days.
 
jmotivator said:
Which is why we congratulate him on the rare occasion he makes the right call. Maybe there is a chance he will learn and make more good calls in the future.
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Bit of a dog's breakfast really..especially when one of the hostages..(who died) was due to be released..

Obama must get over the idea that he is Schwarzenegger...
 
The right call would have been to launch the mission before his life was in eminent danger.
 
Simpleχity;1064061581 said:
Apparently, Somers was shot by his captors either before or during the rescue attempt. South African hostage Pierre Korkie was also murdered. At least ten militants were killed. No US or Yemeni military personnel suffered injuries.
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Korkie was scheduled to be released the day after he was killed.
 
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