The after-action review of the disastrous January raid by US Navy SEALs against a compound in a Yemeni village has sought to dispute some of the reports that came out in the wake of the incident, about how locals knew the raid was coming, saying they had no evidence this was actually the case.
But the big lesson learned in the raid, which ended with the troops calling in airstrikes, a huge civilian death toll, and the death of one US soldier, was that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) forces are a lot more combat ready in general than US troops took them for, and put up a surprising amount of resistance.
Even beyond the AQAP guards and other general fighters the SEALs expected to encounter were female family members, who in previous circumstances the US considered unlikely to become involved, were quick to take up arms against the raiding forces, adding to the complications.
The mission, the first of President Trump’s administration, is widely regarded as a failure, and while the White House continues to claim that intelligence was recovered during the raid, Pentagon officials have repeatedly conceded that what was recovered was largely things they already knew, and a collection of telephone numbers containing no specifically actionable intelligence.
This after-action account of the January raid comes in the context of reports that SEALs were in the process of trying to launch a second raid early this March, but aborted the operation at the last minute. There were several reports out of Yemen at the time that such an operation was taking place, but the Pentagon denied them. This apparently was not technically a lie, since the operations were aborted.
Really? Startled? How stupid are these soldiers?? They are ready because Saudi Arabia is backing them. Get you heads out your — boys!!
WHY ARE WE GETTING INVOLVED…….????????
Our wonderful Saudi allies, you know, the 1s WHO financed their Saudi pilots to fly the planes into infamy on that morning in September want to occupy Yemen and control their governance….. why are WE helping them further outrage & destabilize the entire area…
Do we really want these guys to accrue more power and control after what they did to us..???
How does this profit America……???????
You’re supposed to know that by now.
Because our military forces have been for a while now niothing more then a rental
army accoplishing Saudi goals. In Iraq, we got rid of a secular government, once Sadam failed to militarily crush Iran.
And we obediently remained there to be an occupying force until such a time that we managed curtesy of Petreaus Sunni Awakening to kick start sectarian war. With that accoplished, we “pulled out”, to allow the sectarian violence to percolate, and grow to epic proportions with daily bombings of Baghdad — no sypathy for victims as I recall. That forced Al-Maliki to bow, invited US back, and promptly resigned as a man who did not sign SOFA, and is blamed for — sectarianism. Mission accomplished.
Now, with an army of groups of all sizes and persuations — readily available from the millions of Iraqi refugees in Syria, from always ready to ditch their mother country –Kurds, and Sunni poor from Syrian countryside. Then brought are in some experienced military from Iraqi dismantled army, and veterans from Libya.
Al-Qaeda was at the core of the operation at first until their cruelty became legendary — so a new and improved phase brought forward — with all the media fanfare — the newest and badest ISIS. This new mission is to destabilize both Iraq and Syria. And create a new territory not controlled by either. What heaven!
But the fly in the ointment was the arrival of Russia to the scene. Immediatelly, joint intelligence was established with both Syria and Iraq. And Al-Qaeda started losing ground, US tried “diplomacy” with Russia to thwart its progress against Al-Qaeda. With that not being successfull — picked up marbles and declared Russia not trustworthy. And even threatened military action against Syria for a day ot two — until Russia said a word or two on the potential consequences.
Now — US must prove its manhood by demolishing ISIS — but it does not appear to be in a hurry. Saudi fury at the turn of events is expressed in killing Shia people of Yemen, as it needs to break some windows, kick a dog or a woman. As unhappines grows over Iraqi army success against ISIS, And Assad success in Syria, Turkish entry into Syria that attracts Sunnis away from Salafi rice bowls, sacred cults and weapons — are all infuriating to the all mighty kingdom.
But why are our politicians so eager to fullfil Saudi Agenda. Because it is agenda that fits Israel and its supporters vision of the new Middle East. The vision of primitive, feuding caliphates and emirates or sultanates covering the landscape of Middle East, with no secular states, no states with modern science, education or judiciary. That would secure Israel, as no competitor would emerge for a century or so. And the eyes are already on Iran — even though the intended victims, Iraq and Syria are not dead yet. Thus, Russia is THE enemy, the spoiler, the villain.
As if Russia was going to wait till the war engulfes her from the West AND the East. Its key security policy is to never allow wars to be fought on its territory. While it can hold the agression from Ukraine at bay — it will not be able easily to prevent it if comming from Iran. Turkey has seen the light as well, and is ensuring the benevolence by both Russia and China. We — on the other hand — are doomed to waste all we have got, to pursue remaking Middle East to the Saudi image — utterly approved by Israel and its worl wide supporters. We are reliving the groundhog day now for a little over a quarter of a century. What wil it take for us to break the spell?
We caught Bin Laden sleeping in the middle of the night and thought that we would get another easy pick here. Al Qaeda adapted, had a few sentries and pre-assigned people to go to fixed locations in the event of an attack who could get into position with only a few minutes notice.
People are talking about conspiracy theories but this was not an ambush, just people firing from rooftops and a few windows. This shows basic preparation. Shame on us for expecting them to remain complacent fools. I think that we are the complacent fools.