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2013-01-25 Africa North
Al Qaeda linked to Algeria attack
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Posted by tipper 2013-01-25 09:51|| || Front Page|| [336104 views ]  Top

#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||   2013-01-25 10:17|| Front Page Top

#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||   2013-01-25 10:30|| Front Page Top

#3 Hm. Its almost like the Algerian government doesn't trust this administration with important information.
Posted by swksvolFF 2013-01-25 11:00||   2013-01-25 11:00|| Front Page Top

#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 voter activity.
Posted by Pappy 2013-01-25 11:39||   2013-01-25 11:39|| Front Page Top

#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

œ5:04 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.

œ5:15 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 donft 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.

œ6 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||   2013-01-25 13:05|| Front Page Top

#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||   2013-01-25 14:25|| Front Page Top

#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||   2013-01-25 15:57|| Front Page Top

#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||   2013-01-25 17:11|| Front Page Top

#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||   2013-01-25 17:52|| Front Page Top

22:14 Frank G
22:13 JosephMendiola
22:08 gorb
22:06 Thrineger Thurong3165
21:40 JosephMendiola
21:37 tu3031
21:35 Pappy
21:05 Frank G
21:00 trailing wife
20:54 DarthVader
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20:52 Betty Forkbeard9572
20:24 AzCat
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20:16 tipper
20:09 Frank G
20:05 trailing wife
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19:47 newc
19:19 JosephMendiola
19:14 Zhang Fei
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