It's about damned time we went on the offensive:
A U.S. Air Force gunship has conducted a strike against suspected members of al Qaeda in Somalia, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports exclusively.
The targets included the senior al Qaeda leader in East Africa and an al Qaeda operative wanted for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa, Martin reports. Those terror attacks killed more than 200 people.
The AC-130 gunship is capable of firing thousands of rounds per second, and sources say a lot of bodies were seen on the ground after the strike, but there is as yet, no confirmation of the identities.
Let's hope they're all al Qaeda, let's hope they've all assumed room temperature.
MORE: From Steve Schippert at Threatswatch.org, via e-mail:
One can hope that the action taken in Somalia tonight is a sign of a 'shift' that transcends any such in Iraq and is - with any good fortune - a shift from our heels back to our toes, leaning forward once again.
The world will never respect our actions or deployments and consensus is a theoretical and illusory impossibility. Beltway careerists are well advised to stop seeking both. For what the world respects is results. Ignore them as necessary when their acquiescence deters us from our mission(s). Lean forward, stop apologizing and just win. Every day, every patrol, every Op, every decision.
The consequences of failure will be the celebratory consciences of those begging surrender today, with the price paid by our children throughout their lifetimes tomorrow.
Can I get an amen?
STILL MORE: With lots of linkage, from PJMedia.
Amen.
Seriously, Rick, I think I've said this before here: This is what I expected post-911. Now, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were quite a few raids on terrorist camps that we don't know about. But we coulda been doing this high-profile in-and-out thing all along, been more effective in fighting terrorism, kept the world on our side (like they were post-911), and not wasted hundreds of billions in Iraq while Iran developed nukes.
Posted by: Zossima | Monday, January 08, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Amen, and I could not have said it better than in the previous comment. Indeed this is EXACTLY what I expected in Iraq. This plan has a more optimal outcome. (major understatement, I know :o)
Posted by: mildred | Tuesday, January 09, 2007 at 12:10 PM
I have the short video of the AC-130 firing off the 'angel' flares. It is an unbelievable sight.
Posted by: scrapiron | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 12:48 AM