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Special Operations Forces Rescue Hostages in Somalia
White House confirms that US Special Forces conducted a helicopter rescue of two aid workers last night abducted in October.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2012 – Special operations forces rescued an American woman and Danish man who had been held captive in Somalia for three months, President Barack Obama announced early this morning.
Both are well and are in a secure location, and there were no American casualties in the operation.
By Jim Garamone
Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted were working as part of a Danish demining group when Somali criminals kidnapped them near Galcayo, Somalia, on Oct. 25, according to a statement from Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta. Galcayo is near the border with Ethiopia. There was no word where the two were held.
“This successful hostage rescue, undertaken in a hostile environment, is a testament to the superb skills of courageous service members who risked their lives to save others,” Panetta said in the statement. “I applaud their efforts, and I am pleased that Ms. Buchanan and Mr. Thisted were not harmed during the operation.”
‘Good job tonight,’ President Barack Obama told his Defense chief as he arrived for his annual State of the Union message.
Unknown to a global television audience watching the speech moments later, a bold hostage rescue operation had played out half a world away with an elite Navy SEAL team’s rescue of two hostages in Somalia, one of them an American. It was the same SEAL unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
Publicly, Obama did not tip his hand during his speech, though microphones picked up his congratulation to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta as he entered the House chamber Tuesday night. Obama pointed his index finger to Panetta and said, ‘Good job tonight. Good job.’ Panetta smiled broadly. – AP
Unknown to those watching the speech, Obama had learned shortly before that the operation to rescue American aid worker Jessica Buchanan and another hostage had been successful. Immediately after the speech, Obama returned to the White House to inform Buchanan’s father that she was safe and “on her way home,” according to a White House statement.
It was a dramatic bookend to the pomp and ceremony of one of Washington’s most elaborate rituals — the State of the Union. The president did not mention the operation during his address to Congress and the nation, though he did refer to another successful military operation — the May 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by Navy SEAL Team 6.
“One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden,” Obama said in his speech.
Tuesday’s hostage rescue in Somalia was carried out by the same SEAL unit that carried out the bin Laden operation, two U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation. The unit is the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team 6. The members of the unit who carried out the rescue operation were not the same personnel as those who killed bin Laden, the U.S. officials said.
In a predawn White House statement, Obama praised U.S. Special Operations Forces who rescued Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted, who had been kidnapped at gunpoint by Somali pirates in October.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts,” Obama said in a statement.
This morning, the White House released this statement from President Obama:
“On Monday, I authorized an operation to rescue Jessica Buchanan, an American citizen who was kidnapped and held against her will for three months in Somalia. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home. As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts.
“Jessica Buchanan was selflessly serving her fellow human beings when she was taken hostage by criminals and pirates who showed no regard for her health and well-being. Last night I spoke with Jessica Buchanan’s father and told him that all Americans have Jessica in our thoughts and prayers, and give thanks that she will soon be reunited with her family. The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice. This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”
U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the top secret operation, said the SEAL team parachuted into the area and got to the rescue site on foot.
Panetta, in a separate statement, said Buchanan and Hagen Thisted “have been transported to a safe location where we will evaluate their health and make arrangements for them to return home.” He said the two hostages were not harmed during the operation, and no U.S. troops were killed or injured.
“This was a team effort and required close coordination, especially between the Department of Defense and our colleagues in the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Panetta said.
On NBC’s “Today,” Vice President Joe Biden said the U.S. decided to move after determining that Buchanan’s health “was beginning to decline.”
“We wanted to act,” Biden said.
Obama approved the mission Monday. On Tuesday, Obama’s top counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, gave the president half a dozen updates on the movement of forces and the progression of rescue operation.
About two hours before Obama was scheduled to begin delivering his State of the Union address, Brennan told him Buchanan and Thisted were safe and in U.S. hands.
After delivering his address, Obama called Buchanan’s father. In his statement Wednesday, Obama said he told John Buchanan “that all Americans have Jessica in our thoughts and prayers, and give thanks that she will soon be reunited with her family.”
“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice,” Obama said. “This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”
Biden had high praise for the special forces. “It takes your breath away, their capacity and their bravery,” he said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” ‘’These guys and women are amazing.”
The president said he had spoken with Buchanan’s father and told him that all Americans are thankful that his daughter is safe and will soon be home.
“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice,” Obama said in his statement. “This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”
Panetta stressed the rescue was a team effort and required close coordination between the Defense Department and the FBI. “They are heroes and continue to inspire all of us by their bravery and service to our nation,” Panetta wrote.
The Danish Demining Group trains local people to defuse and render safe landmines and other ordnance left in the wake of war. In addition to Somalia, the group is working in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Liberia, South Sudan and Uganda.
At the beginning of the president’s State of the Union address last night, TV cameras caught Obama shaking Panetta’s hand and saying “Good job.” No one knew then what he was talking about.
During his address, Obama lauded service members’ commitment and ability to work together. The rescue operation is another example of that.
“As commander in chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts,” the president said in his statement.
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Posted by Editor on Jan 25 2012, With 0 Reads, Filed under Editors' Picks, Heroes, Military. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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