Targeting Al-Shabab Leadership, U.S. Launches Airstrikes In Somalia http://t.co/BVZX653MJM
— NPR (@NPR) September 2, 2014
So, did we hit the target? Maybe:
https://twitter.com/SomaliEmbassyUS/status/506776093865811968
Somalia shebab leader killed had been "very elusive". Linked to mall attack in Kenya.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) September 2, 2014
Although there is talk that reports of Godane’s death are premature:
https://twitter.com/StefanASmith/status/506762381272559616
More on Ahmed Abdi Godane:
Who did the U.S. try to blow up in Somalia? http://t.co/YTiV1SP9bH
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 2, 2014
CBS News correspondent David Martin reported that the operation was an airstrike and involved no “boots on the ground.”
A senior Somali intelligence official told the AP that a U.S. drone targeted al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane as he left a meeting of the group’s top leaders. Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, is the group’s spiritual leader under whose direction the Somali militants forged an alliance with al Qaeda.
The Somali official, speaking on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media, said intelligence indicated Godane “might have been killed along with other militants.” The official said the attack took place in a forest near Sablale district, 105 miles south of Mogadishu, where al-Shabaab trains its fighters.
And we were assured repeatedly that there were no “boots on the ground”:
JUST IN: David Martin reports the operation against al Shabaab was an air strike; no boots on the ground http://t.co/wQoxjsQ4cl
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 2, 2014
Even post 93 the US has a history of unsuccessful boots-on-the-ground operations in Somalia. This may have influenced decision to use drone.
— Daniel J. Levy (@danielhalevy) September 2, 2014
No “boots on the ground”? But what about the the 120 soldiers already on the ground, revealed back in July. From the archives:
U.S. discloses secret Somalia military presence, up to 120 troops http://t.co/X6Yvy2Qylw via @Reuters
— Defense One (@DefenseOne) July 3, 2014
The U.S. has nearly 120 military personnel in #Somalia, the most since the infamous "Black Hawk Down" disaster. #CIA http://t.co/OMd66Dxr8l
— Drazen Jorgic (@Draz_DJ) July 3, 2014
https://twitter.com/DRUDGE_REPORT/status/484494344246665217
Exit question: Why parrot the line there are no “boots on the ground” when we know there are?
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