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President Obama: U.S. Assisted in Failed Rescue of Frenchman in Somalia Friday

Jan. 13, 2013 8:36pm Erica Ritz

Barack Obama: U.S. Assisted in Failed Rescue of Frenchman in Somalia Friday | France

In this undated file image from a video posted on Islamic militant websites and made available Wednesday June 9 2010, a man identified as French security agent Denis Allex pleads for his release from the Somali militant group al-Shabaab. (Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — President Barack Obama said Sunday that U.S. forces assisted in a failed attempt to rescue a French citizen in Somalia on Friday.

The president says U.S. forces provided limited technical support to French forces leading the operation, and that America had no direct role in the assault on the compound where a French intelligence agent was believed to be held hostage.

United States combat aircraft did “briefly [enter] Somali airspace” to provide support “if needed.” However, the letter adds that “these aircraft did not employ weapons during the operation.”

French officials say the hostage is almost certainly dead after a French commando was also killed in the rescue attempt.

President Obama disclosed the U.S. role Sunday in a letter alerting Congress about the deployment of U.S. forces.

Here is the complete letter, via the Office of the Press Secretary:

(Photo via the Office of the Press Secretary)

According to the Wall Street Journal, the hostage had been held for more than three years in Somalia by the Qaeda-allied insurgent group al-Shabaab.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian added Sunday that the man was chained up, abused and moved from one safe house to another until authorities decided to stage a rescue attempt roughly one month ago.

“Extremely violent fights took place, during which everything leads us to think that [the hostage] Mr. Allex was shot dead by his kidnappers,” Mr. Le Drian related during a press conference.

The Agence France-Presse has more:

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Comments (58)

MIBUGNU2
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:02pm
WOW !!!! not bad,, an operation that went down on Friday and there
is an explanation as to what happened…Far cry from Benghazi, HUH ??

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- Chuck Stein
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:00am
  EXCELLENT point!
  
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- reform
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:27am
  Wait read on they said this happened one month ago? Which would have been Dec no? French Defense Minister added Sunday a rescue attempt roughly one month ago? Was the Congress informed about this then or just now?
  
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- Trigus
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 2:54am
  Hmm, maybe why this mission failed. We did not help our allies out with the assault on a terrorist compound. question should be asked: Why just limited tech support?
  
  Are we not fighting a war on Terror, or we just arming Terrorist (Libya and Syria) who where killing American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan?
  
  Report this comment
- ron2win
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:36am
  To bad he diden’t afford four Americans with with the same effort .
  
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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 11:02am
  This is annother OberriFail opperation-success!! This “opp” probbably would have won if BerriFail wasn’t there for the FRENCHMEN to “think” they would be helped!!
  
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Frederick_Douglass_Republican
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:39pm
What was a Frenchman doing in that savage pit? What did he expect? The only thing Somalia needs is about 200 B-52′s worth of napalm.

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spfoam1
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:34pm
Transparency of failures to the US public. Transparency of military intelligence to the enemy. Obama will do anything to harm the reputation of the US.

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- neverending
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:52pm
  His number 1 goal
  
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- Vickie Dhaene
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:42am
  That is his intention.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:31pm
Obama sent a letter ” alerting Congress about the deployment of U.S. forces ” …gee, that was very kind of him . Since that incurs the spending of tax money, the congress / House gets no say in this ” deployment?” Unbelievable. Too bad Obama couldn’t spend our tax money to increase security in Benghazi. But, then, Stevens and the other three public servants who were assassinated were only American citizens, who do not seem to matter as much to Obama as the Illegal Aliens whose votes he seems focused on gaining. REMEMBER BENGHAZI .

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Leveraction3030
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:27pm
THE MARINE CORE DICTIONARY
Democrat: A coward who would not aid a comrade in need or one that would leave a comrade behind.
Always remember Benghazi and the four fallen comrades that OFurher would not assist.

So OFurher will send aid to a Frenchman but not four Americans. Treason and Cowardice in the line of duty should apply to the Commander in Chief Furher as well.

It is time to pause and rethink history:
I WISH I WAS IN LAND OF COTTON OLD TIMES THERE ARE NOT FORGOTTON, LOOK AWAY, LOOK AWAY, LOOK AWAY DIXIE LAND!!!

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- barber2
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:33pm
  Saw Lincoln today. Wonder if Obama has. What a difference in character and goals.
  
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dealer@678
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:05pm
Everything obama touches fails. In America we call those LOSERS

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BuggiOlleo
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:05pm
Oh well, glad he could direct Somalia; its Benghazi that’s the problem.

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Tankertony
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:05pm
Wow, the frenchy frenchman are fighting the islamist terrorists of civilization AND the gay terrorists of civilization…who would’a thought?

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- louie louie
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:21am
  At least we now know that traditional French battle strategy doesn’t work in that part of the world. Offering to surrender only gets you killed.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:57am
  LOUIE LOUIE, When the going gets really tough, aren’t they best known for changing into their brown pants?
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:55pm
I wonder if Obama warned the pirates of the incoming assault ahead of time.

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- OccamsSword
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:27am
  Snow… Yeah probably, US drones and aircraft were really transmitting realtime location and destination of French assault…meantime BO is arranging for several more boatloads of Somalies to ship to U.S.
  
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Magyar
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:54pm
Thanks for nothing Ovomit–You left our guys in Libya— you traitor!

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woodyee
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:47pm
Obozo gets four of our guys waxed, for lack of assistance, read dereliction of duty, but he goes out to help a foreign country try and rescue one of theirs…

That’s what passes for “leadership” within the limited thought processes of the low-information voter and the self-centered low-bred “‘Bama-phone!” Takers; the well-defended compounds of Leftwing Liberal politicians and their RINO henchmen, and the well-heeled propaganda-journalists cabal.

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- mrunner
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:08pm
  Hey, but the guy was a Frenchman- which makes him a socialist, which makes him like kin to Rat Bastard Obama.
  
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- woodyee
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:11pm
  Dang – you rounded out my wine-burdened eyes!
  
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BODYBAG
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:40pm
Sorry, something doesnt jive here.
What “US National Security Interests” is he referring to?
US Foreign Relations?

Barry is going to direct significant US military resources to “rescue” 1 Frenchman
yet they try to cover up the fact that they abandoned 4 US citizens including an
Ambassador —– who were all murdered?

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- Timesupsoon
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:54pm
  Something doesn’t jive is right, it sounds like they don’t even know if he alive or not. Who shoots a hostage and then carries the body away under gunfire?
  
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woodyee
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:32pm
If the French man would have been rescued, Obammy would be holding an impromptu nation-wide press conference on CNN; CNN would say all but that Gaybama did it all by himself, and a fill-in would be scheduled on MSNBC to replace Chris Tingles Matthews while he goes home to get the stains off the front of his shorts and sends his trousers to the cleaners…

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- barber2
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:35pm
  No Seals ? No victory ? No Obama ?
  
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marine249
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:30pm
if obummer was involed in anyway,
then you know way it failed

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IAMINFIDEL
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:29pm
Sometimes missions fail, but they must be tried. We should hail the bravery of the commandos in this fight against Islamism regardless of nationality.

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woodyee
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:27pm
You know, upon further observation, it shouldn’t surprise me that he made a show of “helping” the French, when it is the French who are engaged in battle in Mali, fighting some of the very groups of “rebels” and “freedom fighters” that Gaybama armed.

Just for show – probably helped get that Frenchman killed – any doubters?

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- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:45pm
  WOODY…No doubts. Looks like he is using the Frenchies by proxy to attempt to get these weapons back that he let walk in Benghazi.
  
  Another observation here. ““Extremely violent fights took place, during which everything leads us to think that [the hostage] Mr. Allex was shot dead by his kidnappers,” Mr. Le Drian related during a press conference…..How violent, how many insurgent KIA? This mission may be an excuse to take out al-Shabaab comand post?
  
  obama is trying to track those weapons or eliminate the ones that have them OR someone that knows what was up with Benghazi. obama likes to feed the public disinformation. This whole Benghazi incident & weapons running could bring obama down for good. Why are they concerned with insurgents in Mali? Could there be major Benghazi players in Mali.
  
  Report this comment
Chromo200
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:27pm
That Guy supported a socialist like himself. If it was an old friend of of the USA he would not have ..

I pity the GIs .. they have crappy leadership, poor intelligence, and failed foreign policies.

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HappyConservative
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:16pm
WTF??!! Damn prez is worried about one lone frenchman while AMERICANS die on his watch and he couldn’t care any less..Does this guy really have that little regard for our country and especially our military? Just look at Benghazi and Fast and Furious. God, I loathe that fraud of a president with every thread of my being. I hope for bad things to come his way, and I think they will. At least if there still is a God.

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Frogdaddy
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:13pm
Always out front to highlight our failures. To bad he didn’t report Benghazi this quick. Only when it’s a Frenchman I guess.
Or wants us to think he’s on top of these kinds of decisions or he acted as fast with Benghazi.
Remember Benghazi.

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The-Monk
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:56pm
If he was rescued; the WH and LSDNC would be saying O was in charge of the whole operation.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:25pm
  Hi MONK, at least he’s happy that his campaign is over and he doesn’t need to stand in front of a press conference and thump his chest.
  
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banjarmon
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:55pm
SHAME on you BHO, you leave ambassadors in Africa to be KILLED with 3 others and you leave Marines in Mexico to rot in jail!!! What Country do you work for??? I would STRONGLY suggest you resign as potus and leave the lands of the USA!!!

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- voodoolife
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:15pm
  Encinom, go away… We all know the only place you get it wet is in the shower, and this is the only form of pleasure you can muster up. You’re just… boring…
  
  Report this comment
- neverending
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:23pm
  @BANJARMAN – the filthy rat has no shame because he has no conscience.
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:36pm
  @encinom
  I can tell from your past comments and post on the BLAZE that your head is filled with things a dog would not eat and a cat would want to cover up. Some where in your past life some Union teacher must of filled your head cavity with buzzard vomit and/or HOG SNOT.
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:57pm
  Looks like encinom was removed…YEEHAAW!
  
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coyote1hell
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:49pm
Anything Buh’rack is involved with, fails..he probably sent the troops to Hawaii…that’s all…

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possom
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:45pm
So we try to rescue the french and sacrifice americans to the goat lickers “IMPEACH AND PRISON”

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- neverending
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:22pm
  Man oh man if only we could do that!
  
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paulwbrown
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:44pm
Great. I am still waiting for an explanation as to why the U.S. forces failed to come to the aid of the ambassador and the three others in Benghazi. Obama said he gave the order to assist yet there was no assistance other than what was provided locally by Americans on site or in Tripoli. We get an almost immediate report from our assistance to the French in Mali but nothing on Benghazi.

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neverending
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:42pm
Now this dumb sorry sob is rescuing a French citizen? Unbelievable – yeah! Hey barry can you rack your brain for just a little to remember the United States of America and WE THE PEOPLE!

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- barber2
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:23pm
  Obama is an ” internationalist! ” He has roots in Kenya, Indonesian, Hawaii . ( Doesn’t identify with mom’s previous Kansas and Washington state ties ) He wants to ” fundamentally change ” America which is code for : I do not share traditional American values and I plan to ” change ” them. Obama would rather be King of the UN than president of the United States. Too bad he did not pursue that international route rather than becoming a Chicago community agitator . The US would be a much more united and peaceful country today had he done so. BUT Obama wanted to “change” / punish America for the sins of the past . And the people who droned him onto America had the same idea. Obama and the Bill Ayers’ / Soros anti-capitalist radicals are still engaged in that punishment/ change pursuit.
  
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