US hostage Luke Somers killed by captors during attempted rescue mission in Yemen - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79520000/jpg/_79520293_9ozapwtq.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30358665[/url] [quote]A US journalist held by al-Qaeda in Yemen was killed by militants during an operation to rescue him, US and Yemeni officials say. Luke Somers was shot by his captors during a raid by US forces, a US official told the New York Times. His sister, Lucy Somers, told the Associated Press that she had been notified by the FBI of his death. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel confirmed the killing and said a second, non-US hostage, also died. Yemen's defence ministry confirmed a "major operation" had taken place in Yemen's southern Shabwa province on Saturday.[/quote]

A very sad start to the morning. I hope it was quick and painless

Damn it, it's always sad to see a journalist held hostage and then killed for nothing on the news.

Feel like you never hear about failed hostage negotiations or whatever. The Hollywood illusion has been shattered for me!

[QUOTE=usaokay;46652157]I hope those Al Qaeda douches received the American-style of justice.[/QUOTE] Yeah, sanctions for Al-Qaeda.

He was dead anyway, at least they knew where he was and made an effort to try to get him. I always wonder why attempts to rescue hostages like this don't fail more often. Especially ones where they're conducted using a helo insertion

[QUOTE=TheTalon;46652419]He was dead anyway, at least they knew where he was and made an effort to try to get him. I always wonder why attempts to rescue hostages like this don't fail more often. Especially ones where they're conducted using a helo insertion[/QUOTE] Because generally, the hostage takers don't want to kill their hostages. If they lose their hostages, they lose their protection.

This makes me a bit angry. Could they not have waited a day before carrying out the operation? The other hostage who was killed (SA teacher Pierre Korkie) was due to be released tomorrow, following negotiations that have gone on for more than a year. But now they blundered in, fucked up, and both are dead.

[QUOTE=usaokay;46652157]I hope those Al Qaeda douches received the American-style of justice.[/QUOTE] I'm sure non of them survived, and if they did they won't survive interrogation.

[QUOTE=elowin;46652436]Because generally, the hostage takers don't want to kill their hostages. If they lose their hostages, they lose their protection.[/QUOTE] When a US military raid comes knocking, you ain't got protection

[QUOTE=TheTalon;46652553]When a US military raid comes knocking, you ain't got protection[/QUOTE] When a US military raid comes knocking, you're probably more worried about getting out alive or fighting back than you are about the hostages.

If I saw those many troops coming, even I'd be "fuck this shit".

[QUOTE=Grotsky;46652518]This makes me a bit angry. Could they not have waited a day before carrying out the operation? The other hostage who was killed (SA teacher Pierre Korkie) was due to be released tomorrow, following negotiations that have gone on for more than a year. But now they blundered in, fucked up, and both are dead.[/QUOTE] I'm sure the US intelligence was aware of all those facts and chose this day for a good reason.

[QUOTE=elowin;46652569]When a US military raid comes knocking, you're probably more worried about getting out alive or fighting back than you are about the hostages.[/QUOTE] killing the hostages on the way out doesn't take much effort and is a pretty big "fuck you" since you're killing the reason they are raiding

At least it was quick, and his head didn't get cut off.

[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;46653257]At least it was quick, and his head didn't get cut off.[/QUOTE] Didn't he get shot then die at a hospital? Doesn't sound quick to me.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;46652419]He was dead anyway, at least they knew where he was and made an effort to try to get him.[/QUOTE] I agree. Hostage execution is a known pattern of behavior, and I doubt there was any reason to believe he wouldn't be killed in the near future. It's terrible that the mission failed, but at least we tried.

[QUOTE=Grotsky;46652518]This makes me a bit angry. Could they not have waited a day before carrying out the operation? The other hostage who was killed (SA teacher Pierre Korkie) was due to be released tomorrow, following negotiations that have gone on for more than a year. But now they blundered in, fucked up, and both are dead.[/QUOTE] They probably thought they could get both men out, even if one was due to be released shortly South Africa needs to contact the us for more info but seeing as Zuma is a shit head he'll sweep this under the rug