U.S. airstrike in Somalia targets unnamed AQ leader? Update: “Confident” target was hit
posted at 8:55 am on March 3, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Pentagon officials say the United States launched an air strike in Somalia to go after a terrorist suspect.
In the strike early Monday, Somali police said three missiles hit a Somali town held by Islamic extremists, destroying a home and seriously injuring eight people.
A Pentagon official said the U.S. military was going after an al-Qaida suspect in the town. As yet, there is no word on whether the suspect was hit.
Who were they after? Revisit this post, about the (unsuccessful) U.S. gunship attack on AQ during the Ethiopian/Somali conflict in January 2007, for a list of four or five names, among whom you’ll find the masterminds of the Kenya and Tanzania embassy bombings. The prize catch is Fazul Mohammed, who was initially suspected dead in the gunship attack and now may be in Madagascar. Bush has reportedly been pushing for a renewed effort to get Osama before he leaves office; this is probably of a piece with that, to catch as many big fish he can find that are still in the sea. My Machiavellian side wonders too if this isn’t some sort of message that the U.S. is willing to intervene in areas other than the Middle East, including alongside a proxy during a hot war. Anyone out there right now who might benefit from that message?
Exit question: Krauthammer was on Fox yesterday afternoon speculating that Ahmadinejad’s visit to Tehran Baghdad helps Obama politically since it’s a high profile example of a head of state willing to pursue diplomacy with him personally. Does this cut the other way as a gentle reminder that sometimes you need to go cowboy? (Exit answer: Only if the strike succeeded!)
Update: Andy McCarthy wonders if this isn’t in line with the Messiah’s airstrike policy for Pakistan. Of course not: Pakistan is where all the “real” terrorists are, unlike the fake terrorists in Somalia and Iraq.
Update: Typo above corrected!
Update: Whoever it was, sounds like they got him:
U.S. forces struck an Al Qaeda training camp in Southern Somalia Monday and officials say they’re confident the military hit the intended target, FOX News has confirmed.
Planes fired at least one precision guided missile at the Somali town of Dobley, a senior U.S. defense official told FOX News…
U.S. officials at Central Command said the overnight strike targeted less than 20 Al Qaeda terrorists. They were assessing the damage done by the attack Monday, and said they’d know more about its success later in the day.
A big cheese from the Islamic forces was in town to mediate between fighters so presumably the target was there for the same reason.
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Baghdad?
trubble on March 3, 2008 at 9:06 AM
I hope Bush goes cowboy big time. We need as many of these killers on ice as possible in case the leftards gain control of the country.
davidk on March 3, 2008 at 9:16 AM
I knew it had to be Baghdad; Ahmedinejad’s not safe in Tehran…
Jaibones on March 3, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Hitting Ahmendinejad would just make a hero out of him. Hitting Ahmendinejad’s only gasoline refinery would make him the ex-president of Iran.
Limerick on March 3, 2008 at 9:20 AM
I wish I was on the team doing the BDA for this one.
Alden Pyle on March 3, 2008 at 9:21 AM
True dat!
TheSitRep on March 3, 2008 at 9:22 AM
But wait, Obamassiah said there was no al Qaeda in Iraq until we invaded, so does that mean if we hadn’t been there in the 90’s, there wouldn’t be any al Qaeda there now?
trubble on March 3, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Good news to wake up to on a miserable Monday. Terrorist scum go boom?
NeoconNews.com on March 3, 2008 at 9:28 AM
The best place to hide and plot is in the United States of America and its backyard.
Also, Muslim terrorists come as “students.” Isn’t it the other easiest way to enter the U.S. after a family-sponsored visa, provided by the U.S. government?
Look no further than America.
This country, unfortunately, is still taking its power, its security and its existence for granted.
It is called: Arrogance.
Indy Conservative on March 3, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Giddy up
Wade on March 3, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Like that might be a bad thing?
A little more independent (and a bit more serious) “takin’ care of business” on the world stage would go a long way toward cooling off a lot of hot-heads in other countries making trouble for us.
It was maverick frontiersmen and cowboys who carved our current civilization out of the vast wilderness of North America. It is the cowboy (and cowgirl) decentants of these people who continue to keep the western half of the U.S. economically and politically viable regions.
In this war of terror (being waged against us), yes, being waged AGAINST us, a cowboy as Commander in Chief is a comforting thing for me.
From this perspective Maverick McCain as C-in-C gives me a bit more confidence than either Karl Marx Clinton, or Talking Head Obama.
Lawrence on March 3, 2008 at 9:33 AM
fazul mohammed eh? The drive-by media made it sound like we were after a Hassan Turki and his “Islamic forces”….
jimbo2008 on March 3, 2008 at 9:43 AM
I question the timing.
Mike Honcho on March 3, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Yippie-ki-ay mothaphuqer!
Hunt ‘em down and kill ‘em, anywhere ye find ‘em, just like it says in the quran.
Tony737 on March 3, 2008 at 9:52 AM
I really wanna see who this is.
Obama just wants to make sure he had his habeus rights observed before the attack.
ikez78 on March 3, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Next!
someguy on March 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Like we should have been doing for the past 6 plus years.
Cry havoc…
juanito on March 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Well done Mr. President!
I hope he keeps this up right up to 11:59AM January 20 2009.
Abigail Adams on March 3, 2008 at 10:58 AM
The recent zapping of our enemies in Pakistan and now Somalia seems to be an indication that we are having great success in on the ground intel.
Yes I agree, as that appears to be increasing possible, FASTER PLEASE.
Texas Gal on March 3, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Would it help to pick a ruler and use him as an example showing that a title or office does not grant one immunity from attack?
Kralizec on March 3, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Cue the music…
Well done Team America!
Zorro on March 3, 2008 at 12:36 PM