Article

2013-01-23 Africa North

US wants clarity about attack in Algeria

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2013-01-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [336104 views ] Top

#1 Why should the Algerians be more forthcoming than State and the Administration on Benghazi?

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-01-23 00:18|| 2013-01-23 00:18|| Front Page Top

#2 The US recognizes that Algeria was dealing with "a ruthless terrorist operation," Nuland said. "It was obviously a complex attack, very difficult."

Now were suddenly conversant in terrorist and AQ "complex attacks". Although at this point, I'm not certain anyone in Washington really wants to flip over the Benghazi rock, it will be interesting see hear what the Hildebeast has to say.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-01-23 02:37|| 2013-01-23 02:37|| Front Page Top

#3 Britain and other nations have criticized Algeria's response, saying it was harsh and hasty,

I dunno, hash & hasty seem about right to me.

Posted by AlanC 2013-01-23 07:33|| 2013-01-23 07:33|| Front Page Top

#4 Furiously scouring You Tube for a movie to blame it on...

Posted by M. Murcek 2013-01-23 08:07|| 2013-01-23 08:07|| Front Page Top

#5 Britain and other nations have criticized Algeria's response, saying it was harsh and hasty

"Harsh and hasty", the longstanding enemy of prolonged and agonizing.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-01-23 08:56|| 2013-01-23 08:56|| Front Page Top

#6 So I'm sitting here in awe of Algerian tactics and a French led counter-attack.

Where the crap am I?
(looks around quizzingly, sniffs coffee)

Mercek - obviously is was the NRA videos you racist.
/sarc(?)

(wuz thinking, the US had 3-4 days to get a camera on that facility, were they not able to do so or are we doing a PR minuet?)

Posted by swksvolFF 2013-01-23 10:27|| 2013-01-23 10:27|| Front Page Top

#7 Good one Besoeker!

Posted by AlanC 2013-01-23 12:07|| 2013-01-23 12:07|| Front Page Top

#8 Savor the irony.

Posted by Pappy 2013-01-23 12:10|| 2013-01-23 12:10|| Front Page Top

#9 what's been interesting about this incident has been the muted criticism from Western Govt's. We still don't know an exact body count for the hostages ... but it's somewhere around 45-50. It appears that the Algerians ran their own operation - before western security teams could really get set up (though that's not totally clear). Some Gov'ts, like Japan, had definitely asked for a more careful approach ... yet the Algerians took a tough line and just cleared the facility. Hostage lives notwithstanding.

You would think there would be more outcries from London, Tokyo and Washington DC. But there are not. You have to wonder why.

meanwhile, the MORAL for any westerner who takes a job in N. Africa is pretty clear. If the shinola hits the fan, you'd better fight or run straight away. Otherwise your survival chances are slim.

Posted by Raider 2013-01-23 12:38|| 2013-01-23 12:38|| Front Page Top

#10 what's been interesting about this incident has been the muted criticism from Western Govt's

Likely because it's dawning on them, as well as Asian nations bordering China, that there will be no US leadership to count on when a crisis comes. Like Algeria, they will be on their own to either take action (like France in Mali) or to work with other nations.

Posted by Pappy 2013-01-23 14:34|| 2013-01-23 14:34|| Front Page Top

#11 It seems to me that this terrorist attack was well planned, well supplied and equipped, with infiltrators on the inside. Once the nature of the attack was understood by the Algerian govt, time was of the essence. They did not know if the terrorists would blow up the facility or what.

So the govt went in with a strong force. In the end 30 hostages died out of 600 working there. 5%. And the plant was not blown up.

The deaths of the hostages is tragic however, the terrorists lost this one.

In order for the civilized world to have some good come out of this, it must be determined who or what entity financed and masterminded this attack and decapitate their org.

Until civilization is willing to do this, other govts need to STFU or man up.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2013-01-23 20:05|| 2013-01-23 20:05|| Front Page Top

23:02 JosephMendiola
22:58 JosephMendiola
22:21 mojo
21:25 junkiron
21:18 linker
21:16 tu3031
21:09 Capsu78
21:07 linker
20:58 JosephMendiola
20:43 JosephMendiola
20:32 JosephMendiola
20:25 JosephMendiola
20:23 Mugsy Glink
20:05 Alaska Paul
19:55 Eric Jablow
19:39 tu3031
19:20 Barbara
19:19 Thrater Thrineger7877
19:17 Richard Aubrey
19:00 BrerRabbit
18:36 Redneck Jim
18:31 wr
18:31 Redneck Jim
18:22 Redneck Jim