Two Die in Afghan Raid to Free Seized Reporter

[strollingbones]

British officials, however, said the rescue operation, by the Special Forces Support Group flying in US helicopters, had been ordered after intelligence, including intercepts, suggested that the journalists' lives were in imminent danger.

;;;;;; left out parts

The prime minister said: "Hostage-taking is never justified, and the UK does not make substantive concessions, including paying ransoms. But whenever British nationals are kidnapped, we and our allies will do everything in our power to free them."In the last two years, six foreign journalists have been kidnapped in Afghanistan by insurgents and criminal gangs. Five were released after negotiations and one, David Rohde, another New York Times reporter, escaped after seven months in captivity.

Questions raised over bloody raid to free British journalist in Afghanistan | World news | The Guardian



Defence sources said that intensive efforts had been made over the weekend to pinpoint the hostages and assess the strength of the Taleban presence. They said there were no guarantees that a negotiated deal would have led to Mr Farrell’s release and that there were fears he could be moved. However, several sources in Kabul said that the captors were, at worst, seeking a ransom. A Western source involved in the talks said: “There was no immediate urgency that they were going to be beheaded or handed over to another group. You cannot move them easily. It’s a very isolated area.”

Another Western official said: “It was totally heavy-handed. If they’d showed a bit of patience and respect they could have got both of them out without firing a bullet. Instead, they ended up having one of their own killed, the Afghan killed and civilians killed. There’s a lot of p****d-off people at the moment.”

The negotiations had begun within 24 hours of the kidnapping last week.The Interior Minister had persuaded 300 local elders to intercede with the kidnappers, saying that the hostages were just journalists doing their job. Mr Mudani’s uncle had established communications with the provincial Taleban commander. An Afghan who spoke with the local commander said: “I think we could have got them out peacefully, maybe in a few days.”

Negotiators shocked by special forces rescue raid on Taleban - Times Online

 

[Ravi]

There's your answer.

"Hostage-taking is never justified, and the UK does not make substantive concessions, including paying ransoms. But whenever British nationals are kidnapped, we and our allies will do everything in our power to free them."

 

[strollingbones]

so you have no problem with the fact that 5 of the last 6 were freed ....and the 6th escaped.....

you have no problem with the use of force when dipolmacy could have worked....ransoms and dipolmacy are not the same thing

 

[Ravi]

so you have no problem with the fact that 5 of the last 6 were freed ....and the 6th escaped.....

you have no problem with the use of force when dipolmacy could have worked....ransoms and dipolmacy are not the same thing

Bones, please don't put words in my mouth. I have no problem with soldiers rescuing their fellow citizens in a war zone. That's their job.

 

[WillowTree]

no soldier should ever have to die to rescue someone stamped with stupid. that's not their job, their job is to kill terrorist.. unless now you are going to conscript stamped with stupid and make him take the soldiers place!

 

[bodecea]

no soldier should ever have to die to rescue someone stamped with stupid. that's not their job, their job is to kill terrorist.. unless now you are going to conscript stamped with stupid and make him take the soldiers place!

How do YOU define "Stamped with stupid"? Could the British and American Military Forces use your definition? Is it workable?

Let's see it.

 

[WillowTree]

no soldier should ever have to die to rescue someone stamped with stupid. that's not their job, their job is to kill terrorist.. unless now you are going to conscript stamped with stupid and make him take the soldiers place!

How do YOU define "Stamped with stupid"? Could the British and American Military Forces use your definition? Is it workable?

Let's see it.

I wholeheartedly agree with BootNecks definition of stamped with stupid.

 

[WillowTree]

We have a thread on this topic.. A terrible waste of a soldier's life. God bless him.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

America grieves the loss of Cpl. John Harrison, 29, who died Wednesday morning during a daring pre-dawn rescue to free NY Times journalist Stephen Farrell.

Harrison is described by his CO as "a tower of strength" and "a remarkable man".

"He was an unflinching and inspirational man with a deep, deep pool of courage, who died as he lived - at the forefront of his men.”

Army sources said the NY Times journalist, Farrell, had ignored warnings from Afghan police about traveling in the Taliban area and was consequently captured and then rescued.

And yet, what does the grateful NY Times have to say? On Wednesday, Sept. 10, they publish the story by the Associated Press with the title, "British Rescue Was Reckless, Media Club Says". The story leads: "KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghan journalists on Thursday blamed what they called a reckless rescue operation by British commandos for a kidnapped colleagues death and said foreign troops had a double standard for Western and Afghan lives." What else does the NY Times report? "But the journalists also said they held NATO-led forces responsible for launching a military operation without exhausting nonviolent means for freeing them."



Molly's Cannons - NY Times, where\'s the gratitude for Cpl. John Harrison\'s sacrifice?

Jen The NY times likes to expose national intelligence secrets and CIA operatvies, there is no way they are going to get in the business of being respectful to the troops.

Ok that may have been a touch harsh on the NYtimes....well...actually no it wasn't.

 

[WillowTree]

Yes! Remember the sold MOVEON a full page ad for pennies calling an American General BETRAYUS! And Hillary she's getting fat Clinton called him a liar in public. Did you see any libral outrage? Why hell no!

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

Yes! Remember the sold MOVEON a full page ad for pennies calling an American General BETRAYUS! And Hillary she's getting fat Clinton called him a liar in public. Did you see any libral outrage? Why hell no!

Becasue deep down in their hearts many in the democrat party actually despise the military. That is the POLITICIANS not the PEOPLE in the party.

Just look to Barbra Boxter for the most recent example of this.

 

[Ravi]

Here you go, jent.

In the ministry’s statement, Corporal Harrison was described by his commanding officer, who was not named, as “an immensely capable, self-effacing and highly likable soldier with an irrepressible humor.” He added: “Although his passing is a sad day for us, every member of the unit counts themselves privileged to have known such a tower of strength.”
The statement also quoted a tribute from Corporal Harrison’s family. “We are absolutely heartbroken,” it said. “John was a wonderful son, brother and a dedicated soldier who was greatly loved and cherished by all his family and friends.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/world/asia/11afghan.html?hpw

Sad that you wish to use this poor dead young man as a political tool but not surprising.

 

[Ravi]

Yes! Remember the sold MOVEON a full page ad for pennies calling an American General BETRAYUS! And Hillary she's getting fat Clinton called him a liar in public. Did you see any libral outrage? Why hell no!

Becasue deep down in their hearts many in the democrat party actually despise the military. That is the POLITICIANS not the PEOPLE in the party.

Just look to Barbra Boxter for the most recent example of this.

Another fine bipartisan post by PP.

 

[WillowTree]

That doesn't look like a "Thanks" from the NYT to me.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

Yes! Remember the sold MOVEON a full page ad for pennies calling an American General BETRAYUS! And Hillary she's getting fat Clinton called him a liar in public. Did you see any libral outrage? Why hell no!

Becasue deep down in their hearts many in the democrat party actually despise the military. That is the POLITICIANS not the PEOPLE in the party.

Just look to Barbra Boxter for the most recent example of this.

Another fine bipartisan post by PP.

I call em as I see em ravi. You deny Barbra Boxter shows disrespect for the uniform? Do you deny the DNC played party politics with the very funding during the Iraq war that the troops needed for armor and ammo?

If you do thats cool. Maybe you can provide some examples of the republicans degrading high ranking soldiers or trying to hold up funding for the troops for political reasons.

If you do i'll lump them into the statement too.

Or you can just make short trollish posts so you can get a slightly more thought out response from others.