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Jon Stewart: Grand Theft Semi-Auto

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First As Tragedy, Then As Farce1/19/2013 9:06:42 am PST

re: #282 NJDhockeyfan

ALGERIAN ASSAULT ENDS CRISIS, 19 HOSTAGES DEAD

Damn. Looks like the terrorists killed all the hostages.

I’m not really confident in the Algerian capability for ‘surgical strikes’, though. Especially considering that the US offered to assist with drones and specops troops but were refused. And considering that Algeria is essentially a military dictatorship, we’ll probably never know what actually happened, unless it’s by accident.

Edit / correction: UK offered specops forces, US offered drones.

See link.

The Prime Minister told MPs that he had offered extensive British support to the Algerians, including Special Forces troops and specialist hostage-negotiators. Those offers had been rejected, however.
“I offered UK technical and intelligence support, including from experts in hostage negotiation and rescue, to help find a successful resolution,” Mr Cameron told the Commons on Friday.
“I have made those offers to the Algerian Prime Minister, and all those offers stand.”
Downing Street said that the Algerians had rejected those offers. “We have made clear we stand ready to offer assistance and they have not accepted it,” No 10 said.
Mr Cameron said he was unhappy that Britain only learned that the Algerians had launched their rescue mission after the operation began. “I will not hide the fact that we were disappointed not to be informed of the assault in advance,” he said.