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| Air Strikes in Somalia | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 8 2007, 05:35 PM (198 Views) | |
| George K | Jan 8 2007, 05:35 PM Post #1 |
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Finally
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U.S. airstrike targets al-Qaida in Somalia BREAKING NEWS NBC News and news services Updated: 17 minutes ago WASHINGTON - A senior Pentagon official confirmed for NBC News Monday that a U.S. gunship conducted a strike against two suspected al-Qaida operatives in southern Somalia. It was not immediately known whether the mission was successful. The U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship, operated by the Special Operations Command, flew from its base in Djibouti to the southern tip of Somalia, where the al-Qaida suspects were believed to have fled from the capital, Mogadishu, CBS News reported. The AC-130 is capable of firing thousands of rounds per second. U.S. officials say that the United States received assurances from both the Ethiopian and Somalian governments in the last two weeks that, should they obtain intelligence concerning the whereabouts of the al-Qaida operatives, they would pass it on to the United States. The operatives are believed to be responsible for the 1998 bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, which left 241 people dead, as well as 2002 attacks on Israeli tourists in Kenya and the attempted downing of an Israeli aircraft the same day. The Ethiopian military swept into Somalia last month and removed the Islamic government that had reputedly harbored al-Qaida operatives. The leader of al-Qaida's East Africa cell is named Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, NBC’s Robert Windrem reported. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| David Burton | Jan 8 2007, 05:52 PM Post #2 |
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Senior Carp
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KEWL! |
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| Mikhailoh | Jan 8 2007, 07:41 PM Post #3 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Oh, happy day! 'I believe forgiveness is God's prerogative. Our just is to arrange the meeting'. General Norman Schwarzkopf, US Army, Ret. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| The 89th Key | Jan 8 2007, 08:59 PM Post #4 |
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I heard they were tracking them with drones, and then finally went in for the strike. I heard they killed the top AQ leader in East Africa. It was apparently a "major victory" in the fight against AQ. |
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| mmmaestro007 | Jan 9 2007, 12:16 AM Post #5 |
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Middle Aged Carp
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that's a lot of ammo! |
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"Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is scratch it!" Sir Thomas Beechem, conductor | |
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| The 89th Key | Jan 9 2007, 06:12 AM Post #6 |
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This is what Clinton should have done after the embassy bombings. We got permission from the Somalian government too. Always helpful. Not always necessary.
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| TomK | Jan 9 2007, 06:15 AM Post #7 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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That's all fine and good bombing and shooting them up from the air--but Bush better not be putting troops on the ground over there. That's another war that will go on forever. |
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| George K | Jan 9 2007, 06:21 AM Post #8 |
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Finally
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Let's Say You an Al Qaida Terrorist ...Osama's rep for east Africa. You've had your triumphs in the past, but recently, you've hit a rough patch. The Ethiopian Army has invaded your safe haven in Somalia, forcing you to flee. Can't take a boat out of Mogadishu, because the U.S. Navy has blockaded the coast. Can't go north, because the Ethiopians aren't very keen on Al Qaida prisoners. So, what do you do? Head south, and hope for the best. Try to establish a new operating location among more friendly Muslims in the south. Why, here's a place we can hide. What's that sound? Four-engine turbo-prop aircraft. Not to worry. Probably just a cargo plane. Think again. The AC-130 Mission The AC-130 gunship's primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and force protection. Missions in close air support are troops in contact, convoy escort and urban operations. Air interdiction missions are conducted against preplanned targets or targets of opportunity. Force protection missions include air base defense and facilities defense. Features These heavily armed aircraft incorporate side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of a television sensor, infrared sensor and radar. These sensors allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify friendly ground forces and targets any place, any time. The AC-130U employs synthetic apertures strike radar for long-range target detection and identification. The gunship's navigational devices include the inertial navigation systems and global positioning system. The AC-130U employs the latest technologies and can attack two targets simultaneously. It also has twice the munitions capacity of the AC-130H. Background The AC-130H's call sign is "Spectre." The AC-130U's call sign is "Spooky. " The U-model is the third generation of C-130 gunships. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the AC-47. The AC-130 gunship has a combat history dating to Vietnam. Gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many life-saving close air support missions. During Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the successful assault of the Point Salines Airfield via airdrop and air land of friendly forces. The AC-130 aircrew earned the Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Award for the mission. AC-130s also had a primary role during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 when they destroyed Panamanian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous command and control facilities. Aircrews earned the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year and the Tunner Award for their efforts. During Operation Desert Storm, AC-130s provided close air support and force protection (air base defense) for ground forces. Gunships were also used during operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia, providing close air support for United Nations ground forces. Gunships also played a pivotal role in supporting the NATO mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The AC-130H provided air interdiction against key targets in the Sarajevo area. In 1997, gunships were diverted from Italy to provide combat air support for U.S. and allied ground troops during the evacuation of American noncombatants in Albania. Gunships also were part of the buildup of U.S. forces in 1998 to convince Iraq to comply with U.N. weapons inspections. More recently, both aircraft have been employed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Gunships provided armed reconnaissance, interdiction and direct support of ground troops engaged with enemy forces. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Frank_W | Jan 9 2007, 06:27 AM Post #9 |
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Resident Misanthrope
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Kick ASS!!!!! Huzzah!!!!!
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Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin." Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!" | |
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| The 89th Key | Jan 9 2007, 06:55 AM Post #10 |
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Video: From the AC-130 point of view...bombing mission in Afghanistan. (Kinda scary that they can take refuge in the Mosque like that, though, but still...kick ass weaponry!)![]() ![]() ![]() Time-Lapse photo of the AC-130 firing at targets on ground: http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?...17&d=1071040315 |
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| Jolly | Jan 9 2007, 07:30 AM Post #11 |
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Geaux Tigers!
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For those who don't know.... The original AC-130 was called Puff, after the song Puff the Magic Dragon, because of the fire and smoke that belched from its side. MIni-guns apparently weren't enough, as the NVA learned to lure Puff in, and engage at closer ranges. Therefore, Puff up-gunned to more stand-off weaponry. The curent incarnation, Spooky, is the only aircraft flying that boasts a 105mm howitzer as part of its weapons platform. But its miniguns are still fast enough, that a one-second burst will put a bullet into every square foot of a football field. TLAMS are bad, the Warthog is scary, but Spooky will give you nightmares...assuming you live through the experience.... |
| The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros | |
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| Frank_W | Jan 9 2007, 07:48 AM Post #12 |
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Resident Misanthrope
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Right on, Jolly! |
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Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin." Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!" | |
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| Dewey | Jan 9 2007, 08:08 AM Post #13 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Larry/Jolly, wasn't Dave Andrews' son, or some relative, part of an AC-130 crew? |
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"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685. "Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous "Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011 I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14 | |
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| Larry | Jan 9 2007, 08:13 AM Post #14 |
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
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Gosh, I can't remember. Anyone ever hear from him, by the way? |
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Of the Pokatwat Tribe | |
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| Dewey | Jan 9 2007, 08:56 AM Post #15 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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No, not since forever. |
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"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685. "Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous "Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011 I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14 | |
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