via Navy Times...
Did the British PM have to approve it because British citizens were involved? And second, did they operate outside Joint Special Operations Forces Afghanistan? I guess the real question is this. Was this a purely British mission?
I almost think that it was.
The British military, politicians and people are still smarting over a bungled rescue attempt earlier by US forces. Its one of the few public black eyes that has been laid on the footsteps of SEAL Team 6...and to be fair there are still questions as to what exactly happened.
Either way outstanding.
KABUL, Afghanistan — It was a risky, but successful operation: British and other NATO forces stormed a cave tucked in the mountains before dawn Saturday and rescued two foreign female aid workers and their two Afghan colleagues being held hostage by Taliban-linked militants.This is interesting because of this tidbit at the end of the article...
Helicopters, flying under the cover of darkness, ferried the rescue team to extreme northeastern Afghanistan where they suspected the hostages were being held. After confirming the workers were there, they raided the site, killed several militants and freed the hostages, ending their nearly two-week ordeal.
Helen Johnston, 28, from Britain; Moragwa Oirere, 26, from Kenya; and their two Afghan colleagues were kidnapped May 22 while traveling on horseback in Badakhshan province. The four work for Medair, a humanitarian non-governmental organization based near Lausanne, Switzerland.
“They were kidnapped by an armed terrorist group with ties to the Taliban,” said Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the U.S.-led military coalition fighting in Afghanistan. “The kidnappers were armed with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and AK47s. ... The hostages were being held in a cave in the mountains.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron approved the rescue operation Friday afternoon after becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of the hostages. The mission was carried out by British troops in cooperation with other NATO and Afghan forces, Cameron told reporters outside 10 Downing Street in London.Interesting on a couple of levels...
Did the British PM have to approve it because British citizens were involved? And second, did they operate outside Joint Special Operations Forces Afghanistan? I guess the real question is this. Was this a purely British mission?
I almost think that it was.
The British military, politicians and people are still smarting over a bungled rescue attempt earlier by US forces. Its one of the few public black eyes that has been laid on the footsteps of SEAL Team 6...and to be fair there are still questions as to what exactly happened.
Either way outstanding.
theres one sentence that worries me, it says " British Prime Minister David Cameron approved the rescue operation Friday afternoon after becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of the hostages. "
ReplyDeletewell if he is "increasingly concerned" does that mean they knew where they were but put off the mission to try and negotiate? if they had intel where they were how long did they know where they were? i know these are questions we dont know but at sentence is worrisome.
Sol, The reports I saw said British and US forces were involved. It was definitely British led, but Us forces had some supporting role, might have just been aviation support. And Cameron had to authorise it becasue of the British Citizens yes, like the raid that pissed the Italians off recently because they didnt authorise it as well.
ReplyDeleteJoe, Rescue mission like this are inherently dangerous for the hostages, so you dont authorise a mission unless you think they're in that kind of danger from the hostage takers anyway.