DescentBB

Seem the crisis in Algeria is over. Algerian troops stormed the rebels, killed them but the last remaining hostages were also killed. Now before you say how inept or barbaric, the Algerians have a long history of battling islamist terrorist. They have a policy where hostages will not be allowed to be bargaining pawns and it is well know Algeria will not negotiate. This is once again the case and sends a message to future terrorist what the outcome will be. It will be interesting to see how soon any future terrorist attacks occur because of this.
Anyway, take the lamentations of ours and other govts. with a grain of salt.

They may have bested the terrorists, but it was a little heavy handed and some of the hostages were killed in the process. I wouldn't call that a thoroughly positive outcome however, just a successful operation that killed the terrorists. If that's what you want as an outcome, dead terrorists, I guess that's OK for you woody.

It's a success because future terrorist operators will think twice before doing something in Algeria again.

woodchip wrote:It's a success because future terrorist operators will think twice before doing something in Algeria again.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure it'll wind up being a huge deterrent to most groups, but I do agree with the general Algerian policy of refusing to negotiate. However, I question their decision to not accept any logistical aid from the US or the other countries involved, since there's a chance that greater support may have reduced the hostage casualties.

woodchip wrote:It's a success because future terrorist operators will think twice before doing something in Algeria again.

No it won't. Terrorists think nothing of dying for their cause. Death is just a trip to their eternal harem to them. If hostages get killed in the process, they're just as happy. They'll keep right on dying for their cause no matter what nations do to try to stop them.

23 hostages lost their lives. Maybe they would have anyway. I'll bet their families are NOT happy however. I think a more surgical special ops strike would have been better than charging in like screaming banshees and shooting first, then asking questions later. The Algerians were way too macho and heavy handed. They lacked finesse and surgical strike training.

Aw TC, don't you know by now life is cheap there .

Someone would need a job really bad, or need to get hazard pay, to want to work in that dangerous of an area.

The thing is, Algeria is actually a comparatively-stable country as far as that region of the world goes ("comparatively" being the key term, obviously). Even during the Arab Spring, it experienced demonstrations that led to certain government reforms, but nothing nearly as violent as in many other places. I think most of the international community was taken aback by this attack precisely because it wasn't the sort of place you'd expect it to happen.

Anywhere in North Africa and the Middle East is probably very dangerous if not deadly for Westerners right now, especially when the French are smacking the hornets nests.