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2013-10-07 Africa Horn

SEAL Strike on Shaboob Big Turban Fails in Somalia

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Posted by Steve White 2013-10-07 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 The team ran into fiercer resistance than expected...and the Americans ~~swam~~ ran away

The Somalis handed our hats to us, again?

Posted by Ebbusose Dribble7247 2013-10-07 05:25|| 2013-10-07 05:25|| Front Page Top

#2 No doubt, they were worried about the Rivers of Blood.

Posted by Bobby 2013-10-07 06:22|| 2013-10-07 06:22|| Front Page Top

#3 The Somalis handed our hats to us, again?

When you're told to have zero casualties it sort of implies its a meaningless mission. Risk aversion overrides objectives. Like the last time, I doubt there was adequate fire support provided the ground elements.

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-10-07 08:50|| 2013-10-07 08:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Sounds like a botched mission. At least destroy the compound using air assets.

Posted by OCCD 2013-10-07 09:22|| 2013-10-07 09:22|| Front Page Top

#5 The team ran into fiercer resistance than expected and the unit's leader decided to abort the mission and the Americans swam away

Very interesting. Arm chairing here but, plan 'B' was to un-ass and swim back to the insertion platform? Pre-mission drone, SAT, HUMINT surveillance? I seem to recall a similar assault 'gone bad' at Patia Airport in Panama. Problem in Panama, going it Rambo, failing to cross-walk intelligence.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-10-07 09:59|| 2013-10-07 09:59|| Front Page Top

#6 Risk averse? Well then how about an arclight?

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-10-07 11:39|| 2013-10-07 11:39|| Front Page Top

#7 Pre-mission drone, SAT, HUMINT surveillance?

Likely done, except maybe lacking a bit on the HUMINT. As with anything else, things change. Like a Shaboob unit stopping in for the night, or terrs embedded in the community, or a HUMINT double-cross, or inadequate foreign-source intel.

At least destroy the compound using air assets...how about an arclight?

You have to have air assets in place. It was a snatch mission. There were helos, but I doubt they were armed for taking out structures.

Posted by Pappy 2013-10-07 12:10|| 2013-10-07 12:10|| Front Page Top

#8 I suppose if you've got a guy, you can stretch out the number of times you remind people you got him. OBL's old news, now. If we had weekly updates on the intel or trial, it would be different.
That said, kill the bastards. The likely replacements will know. That's the important thing.
Cruise missiles make too big a splash? Reaper drone or stealth a/c with a 500lb bomb. Or a chopper or drone with half a dozen Hellfires. You can really do a number if you keep unloading Hellfires, without spreading the fun around. Eventually you get the guy.

Posted by Richard Aubrey 2013-10-07 14:41|| 2013-10-07 14:41|| Front Page Top

#9 That said, kill the bastards. The likely replacements will know. That's the important thing.

1. You have to have the assets in place and a target.

2. In order to get to point 1 you have to have targeting data

3. In order to get point 2 you need accurate intel.

4. In order get point 3, you need to remember that this is Somalia. Somalia ain't Pakistan. Somalis don't stay bought and I can pretty much guarantee there's little or no US HUMINT assets on station.

5. A final reminder: This ain't no Tom Clancy novel. And Tom Clancy is dead.

Posted by Pappy 2013-10-07 15:53|| 2013-10-07 15:53|| Front Page Top

#10 Pappy, your points are all valid given the assumption that collateral damage is unacceptable: For operations in a country we are not at war with (Somalia may fit that description, at least technically), collateral damage probably should be unacceptable.

Posted by Glenmore 2013-10-07 16:05|| 2013-10-07 16:05|| Front Page Top

#11 Glemore, it boils down to the objective. That's for the leadership to decide.

Posted by Pappy 2013-10-07 21:49|| 2013-10-07 21:49|| Front Page Top

#12 More than just "Ikrima" ...

* TOPIX > [The Star] US COMMANDOS CONFRONTED THREE HIGH-LEVEL TARGETS IN SOMALIA RAID.

and

* RELATED SAME > [CTV] TARGET OF US NAVY SEALS RAID IN SOMALIA PLANNED TO ATTACK UN, OTHER SITES IN KENYA.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2013-10-07 23:30|| 2013-10-07 23:30|| Front Page Top

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