12 U.S. DELTA MEMBERS WOUNDED ON RAID OF OMAR

Drudge ^ | 11/3/01

[Diogenesis]

MAG: 12 U.S. DELTA MEMBERS WOUNDED ON RAID OF OMAR'S COMPLEX, THREE SERIOUSLY; PENTAGON RETHINKS 'SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS'

Seymour Hersh has filed yet another controversial report for coming editons of the NEW YORKER, publishing sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

In ESCAPE AND EVASION, Hersh claims: In the wake of a near-disaster during the assault on Mullah Omar's complex during the early morning of October 20th, the Pentagon has been rethinking future Special Forces operations inside Afghanistan.

Delta Force, which prides itself on stealth, had been counterattacked by the Taliban, and some of the Americans had had to fight their way to safety. Hersh has filed his report for the November 12, 2001 issue of the NEW YORKER, on sale Monday.

Twelve Delta members were wounded, three of them seriously.

The intensity and ferocity of the Taliban response "scared the crap out of everyone," a senior military officer tells Hersh.

The Delta team stormed Mullah Omar's complex, but found little of value, Hersh reports, and then, "as they came out of the house, the shit hit the fan," one senior officer says. "It was like an ambush. The Taliban were fighting with light arms and either [rocket-propelled grenades] or mortars." The team immediately began taking casualties and evacuated.

"The Delta team was forced to abandon one of its objectives: the insertion of an undercover team into the area and the stay-behind soldiers fled to a previously determined rendezvous point, using a contingency plan known as an E. & E., for escape and evasion," Hersh writes.

[Bigg Red]

That "senior officer" should SHUT UP! Loose lips...

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Number one, nobody can confirm or deny this. Number two, Delta Force conducts very dangerous operations and only a fool would expect zero casualties. This is what is called war. In war, you take casualties.

[Conservative Tiger]

I wonder how tough the Taliban would be if a nuclear bomb is dropped on their asses?

[Dirk McQuickly]

Giving comfort to the enemy... This kind of crap should never be published.

[Bad~Rodeo]

Balance Reuters, remember?? You ARE Replaceable,VEG~

[Benrand]

I'm not sure I buy the "scared the crap" line...

[Ozymandias Ghost]

Gee, I wonder how they had time to take all that neat night vision video of equipment and ordnance while all this massive resistance was going on???

Next time send us back pictures of the dead Talliban bodies neatly stacked up ...that will put and end to this type of yellow journalism by people who are obviously enemies of the United States!!!

[piasa]

So how did old Seymore find these people to 'interview them?' Did he go down to the homeless shelter and find them lurking there? Or did he sprout wings and fly out to them?

[Kenyon]

Hersh has done the best reporting so far on this operation. He has had a history of being able to tap sources at the operational level, whether in the CIA or military.

His point of view is generally from the perspective of those on the ground actually doing the work - not from the high level cover your ass policy types. I suppose many are going to be critical of his reports because they think he is somehow undermining the war effort - he is not. He is performing a valuable service by getting out the straight story from those who are actually doing the job (special forces, CIA, etc.) and who need to have those (Franks et. al.) in policy making positions to get their acts together.

[over3Owithabrain]

If this report is true, I'm far more concerned that we have a whining senior officer in Delta Force than the fact the operation didn't go as well as planned. These guys are known as the cream of the crop, but this article makes them sound like a bunch of wimps - crying about how tough the mission was and how they were "scared". I'm taking this with a hefty dose of salt, especially considering it's from the New Yorker, hardly a voice of American pride.

[Ditto]

Check here for FreeRepublic thread Trading Blows: Seymore Hersh vs. Gen. Barry McCaffery on supposed US War Crimes in Iraq

Hersh's reporting has always been suspect.

[Nov3]

I just fail to see how they could be ambushed with Ac-130 gunships amd attack helicopters orbiting the place. This doesm't pass the smell test. I see how they could meet fierce opposition but ambushed?

[Cold Heat]

This must be the raid where the chopper crash landed in Pakistan. Three were seriously injured. 12 were on the chopper. In other words, Taliban report. New Yorker Mag sucks.(IMHO)

[piasa]

Never mind- his info and terminology are not very 'Delta-Force-like')... do a search on Seymour Hersh and SDS (Students for a Democratic Society)... explains everything. Pinko hippy with ethics like Bill Clinton, trying to play the role of Jane Fonda.

[Gracey]

Thanks for the reminder. May we NEVER, ever forget. Hope you keep that pic handy.

[Smedley]

You voiced my sentiment exactly. By the way, if this story is true, what would Delta expect from the Taliban? Harsh Language?

[jbstrick]

I was thinking the same thing. I have a hard time believing some of this.

[angkor]

coming editons of the NEW YORKER

The New Yorker.

Is Tina Brown still running that left wing piece of crap?

I haven't picked it up since cancelling my sub a very long time ago.