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| Africa North |
| Al Qaeda linked to Algeria attack |
| 2013-01-25 |
| The Obama Administration now believes the attack and hostage-taking at a natural gas plant in Algeria last week is the work of al Qaeda operatives based out of northern Mali. Wow! that was fast Holmes! How do you do it?! U.S. officials say al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was behind the attack and may also have operated a communications network from northern Mali. Despite the recent French intervention, large areas of Mali remain in the hands of jihadist groups. One senior U.S. official said "elements of AQIM" may have carried out the offensive in tandem with fighters loyal to Moktar Belmoktar, a veteran militant based in northern Mali who has claimed responsibility for the assault. Last year, Belmoktar was said to have been demoted by the Emir of AQIM, Abdel Malek Droukdel, but is thought to have retained links to the organization. One U.S. official told CNN that American intelligence gatherers are trying to determine if the two factions had reunited for the attack. If so, that would indicate greater communications among North African elements of al Qaeda affiliates and splinter groups than previously thought. U.S. intelligence believes some of the attackers came into Algeria from training camps in Libya, whose border is about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the In Amenas site. One of the officials emphasized that the United States is now relying on intelligence it has gathered "by other means" because of the lack of information coming from the Algerian government. It has long been privately acknowledged that the U.S. intelligence community has the ability to gather imagery and intercept communications using a variety of military and CIA platforms such as satellites and aircraft. "We have other ways of assessing who the perpetrators were," he said, but warned the information on Mali could change as more information emerges. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #9 Seven hours is a very long time to be waiting on the cavalry As I mentioned before, think "attacks on USS AGERs" and the politically-driven motivations for the NCA responses (or lack thereof.) |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-01-25 17:52 |
| #8 "Its almost like the Algerian government doesn't trust this administration with important information." I don't - why should they? |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-01-25 17:11 |
| #7 I agree with your assessment. I might add that the timing of the arrival of the relief column [approx. 30 minutes after the shi* stops] appears a bit suspect. Shades of PAK relief effort - 1993, Blackhawk Down, or worse. Seven hours is a very long time to be waiting on the cavalry. Guess I'll leave it at that. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-01-25 15:57 |
| #6 Yo Pappy. What you smell ? 1. Ignatius' timeline coordinates with other open source info indicating Libyan TNG-element collusion or deliberate...'not paying attention' to attack. 2. Mortar deployment and use was performed by highly trained team(s). Two 'missed' (ranging) rounds is about par for an expert team with previously supplied range-to-target data and with a pre-established launch site. 3. Drone deployment and implementation brings up a lot of questions, like expertise level of the operations team and the C4 situation. 4. I won't venture an educated opinion as to USG and administration response and actions - at this point. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-01-25 14:25 |
| #5 Yo Pappy. What you smell ? Drone vectored to attack site - Check Attack approaches 7 hour mark - Check 50 vehicle relief column not arrived - Check Drone orbits on station - Check W & D use tracers to hold off attackers - Check Drone orbiting on station - Check Mortar fire begins - Check Drone Orbiting on station - Check W & D fire terminates - Check Mortar fire terminates - Check Drone orbits on station - Check No movement from W & D - Check Drone orbits on station - Check Bad guys fade away - Check 50 vehicle relief column shows up - Check Drone Returns to Base - Check 5:04 a.m.: The team from Tripoli arrives at the CIA base. Glen Doherty, one of the GRS men from Tripoli, goes to the roof and joins Woods in firing positions. 5:15 a.m.: A new Libyan assault begins, this time with mortars. Two rounds miss and the next three hit the roof. The rooftop defenders never glaser the mortars,h as has been reported. They donft know the weapons are in place until the indirect fire begins, nor are the mortars observed by the drone overhead. The defenders have focused their laser sights earlier on several Libyan attackers, as warnings not to fire. At 5:26 the attack is over. Woods and Doherty are dead and two others are wounded. 6 a.m.: Libyan forces from the military intelligence service finally arrive, now with 50 vehicles. They escort the Americans to the airport. A first group of 18, including two wounded, depart at 7 a.m. A second group of 12, plus the four dead, leave at 10 a.m. for Tripoli and then the long flight back to America. Link |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-01-25 13:05 |
| #4 ....but these special intelligence mechanisms were unavailable due to vacations and annual leave on 9/11/12 Heavy sunspot activity, plus an additional focus on Facebook |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-01-25 11:39 |
| #3 Hm. Its almost like the Algerian government doesn't trust this administration with important information. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-01-25 11:00 |
| #2 One of the officials emphasized that the United States is now relying on intelligence it has gathered "by other means" because of the lack of information coming from the Algerian government. It has long been privately acknowledged that the U.S. intelligence community has the ability to gather imagery and intercept communications using a variety of military and CIA platforms such as satellites and aircraft. ....but these special intelligence mechanisms were unavailable due to vacations and annual leave on 9/11/12. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-01-25 10:30 |
| #1 So now we know that Al Qaeda was linked to this, and to Benghazi, and to the Mali groups that Morsi-who-we're-giving-F16's-to is sticking up for. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-01-25 10:17 |