Panetta Vows 'Proper' Response to Algeria Hostage-Taking

Voice of America ^ | Wednesday, January 16, 2013 | Al Pessin

[kristinn]

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has condemned the taking of as many as 41 foreign hostages at a natural gas facility in Algeria, a move apparently linked to the French military operation in neighboring Mali.

Secretary Panetta says the United States will take “all necessary and proper steps” in response to the hostage crisis at the facility, run by British, Norwegian and Algerian companies.

“The United States strongly condemns these kinds of terrorist acts. It is a very serious matter when Americans are taken hostage, along with others," he said.

Speaking in Rome, Panetta said he did not know how many Americans are among the hostages.

But a spokesman for the al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb militant group told VOA there are seven American hostages, and that the United States will “face the consequences” if it tries to help France in its military operation against the group in Mali.

Secretary Panetta previously said the United States will not send ground troops, but will provide intelligence, logistics and transportation support to the French forces in Mali. On Wednesday he said the assistance plan is under legal review but he is confident it will be approved based on laws authorizing the war on terrorism.

“I do know that terrorists are terrorists, and terrorists take these kinds of actions not just in Algeria, they take them elsewhere ... and we have witnessed their behavior in a number of occasions where they have total disregard for innocent men and women. And this appears to be that kind of situation," he said.

Al-Qaida expert Alia Brahimi of the London School of Economics said Wednesday the Islamic Maghreb group and others in North Africa have changed their goals over the past year, moving away from a focus on local and regional issues.

“There is a common consciousness emerging now in Africa among militant groups - in Somalia, in Nigeria, in Algeria - who were once obsessively localized, who are increasingly buying into the notion of global jihad, and who feel that they can reinvent their past record of failure and infighting by actually becoming more faithful affiliates of the al-Qaida brand and are focusing on attacking the West," she said.

Brahimi says the al-Qaida move to take over all of Mali, which sparked the French action, would have created a base of operations from which more attacks on the West would have been planned.

[Michael Barnes]

People here need to be reminded of the way Obama acted when an American was taken hostage by pirates early on in Obama’s first administration. It was basically the Navy giving the order for seal snipers to “shoot” after that American escaped TWICE into the water from the pirates only to be recaptured. O would NOT act. The NAVY took over and finished that bullshit “standoff” (with much success BTW...Nice job again guys!!).

[ConservativeStatement]

“World Peace 1.20.09.”

[combat_boots]

Yes.

[GotMojo]

unbelievable. we have a hostage situation and a president at a farewell party, complaining no drinks were served. Maybe we can get some children to write him some letters.......

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

#2: JUST LIKE HE DID TO SAVE OUR MEN IN BENGHAZI !!!!!

[danamco]

Yeah, he will just tell them once more to Stand Down!!!

[Ancesthntr]

Secretary Panetta says the United States will take “all necessary and proper steps” in response to the hostage crisis at the facility, run by British, Norwegian and Algerian companies.

"STOP, or I shall say "STOP" again."

Condolences to those kidnapped and their families for what they're going through. I hope that these people are returned, unharmed, to their families. I just wouldn't hold my breath waiting for King Barack the Ball-less to do much about it.

[clintonh8r]

You do that, Schnozz. You “bring them to justice” just like the Benghazi murderers.

[Sir Napsalot]

In the olden days, we don’t need Sec Defense to make public statement of ‘proper response’ such as this.

Nope, can’t imagine Cheney or Rumsfeld saying such rubbish. But I can imagine either one with some colorful swearing though.

[henbane]

Secretary Panetta says the United States will take “all necessary and proper steps” in response to the hostage crisis. . . .

A little over 33 years ago these same words spelled the beginning disintegration of the Carter regime.

The Iranian hostage-taking was focused on a single Muslim country--444 days later, Ronald Reagan stepped in to wind things up.

Today in Mali, these American hostages may be the first of many, since Islamic jihadist have infected deep into the countries of North Africa and the Middle east.

A Muslim-reared President and his ex-hippy Secretary of State is in charge of Foreign Policy as we speak--with a rabid anti-war Jane Fonda-loving Senator about to replace her.

How will this new Jihad situation play out?

Is this the beginning of the end for Obama's new administration--or will fierce Islamist groups across the globe be rewarded with many victories handed to them by a deeply sympathetic Hussein Obama?

[dearolddad]

We going ask,”pretty please” this time.

And, maybe even go so far as to send them a strongly worded letter (in ten point bold)