U.S. Conducts Daring Afghan Hostage Rescue

Special Forces Free American Working For Army Corps Of Engineers Near Kabul

(CBS/AP)  U.S. Special Forces soldiers conducted a daring nighttime operation to free a kidnapped American working for the Army Corps of Engineers - the first known hostage rescue by American forces in Afghanistan.

The American, who was abducted in mid-August, had been held in a growing insurgent stronghold 30 miles west of Kabul, U.S. military officials told The Associated Press. They said several insurgents were killed in last week's mission to free him.

Taliban militants have kidnapped dozens of international aid workers, journalists and other foreigners in recent years and have demanded large ransoms or the release of imprisoned Taliban fighters for their freedom.

Increasingly aggressive crime syndicates have also raked in big money by kidnapping wealthy Afghans and foreigners and demanding ransoms.

Hostage rescues are rarely attempted and are difficult to successfully pull off. Only two such missions are known to have occurred, both in 2007. In one, both Italian captives were wounded in a raid by Italian commandos.

Last week's rescue came to the attention of The AP after a U.S. military official sought to bring its successful outcome into the public eye. Officials declined to reveal even the smallest detail or the captive's identity, saying they did not want to compromise military tactics or the former hostage's safety.

Three U.S. military officials told the AP that Special Forces troops were able to locate the kidnapper's hideaway in the Nirkh district of Wardak province outside Kabul, but would not specify how. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

In the case of the rescued American, who had lived in Afghanistan for several years, it was not known whether any ransom demands were made. But a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan said growing insecurity imperils its work to rebuild the country.

"This guy didn't have any money at all. It was like a personal life mission for him to help others," said Bruce J. Huffman, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers in Afghanistan.

"We all felt sick about it, because he was never going to be able to pay a ransom. He's over here helping people and they're trying to make a buck off him."

News of the rescue comes on the heels of the targeted killing Monday of a British-South African aid worker by Taliban gunmen who accused her of spreading her Christian faith.

"The hard reality is that more areas are insecure today than they were a year ago. There continues to be a wave of kidnapping - even in the last few days," Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghan-born U.S. ambassador to the U.N. told the U.S.-Afghan Business Matchmaking Conference in Washington on Tuesday. He said attacks are up 30 percent this year.

Mohammad Hazra Janan, the head of the provincial council in Wardak, where the American was kidnapped, said the number of abductions are "rising every day." He said he knows that large ransoms are being paid.

"There's no rule of law. The government can't prevent these crimes," he said. "Of course the paying of a ransom only encourages that business to grow."

The Army Corps of Engineers building roads and run projects to provide clean water and power, helping extend the reach of the Afghan government and stimulating economic growth.

"Security has been a real problem, and the Corps of Engineers has been working diligently to build facilities for the Afghan National Army and police in order to foster a secure and stable environment," Huffman said.

The Corps takes precautions to mitigate risk, he said, though he provided no details.

"No one would want to come over here and work if they thought something was going to happen to them," Huffman said. "All our folks are volunteers. Everyone has different reasons why they volunteer and come, but I think most of the people we have get a lot of joy knowing they're making a difference and helping to build a nation."

News of the rescue Wednesday accompanied reports that a U.S.-led coalition airstrike hit an Afghan army checkpoint Wednesday, killing nine soldiers, according to Afghan officials. The American military acknowledged that its forces may have "mistakenly" killed allied troops.

[ranger101st2]

Hats off to a great bunch of warriors. Don''t know wat unit, branch, etc., and thats fine. Like the Lynch rescue, it was a combination of units. Couple hadji''s greased, the rescue a success, God Bless ''em. Yo Nor-one ur a real J.O. Go away....

[mumu11]

Oh Wow, Tony! Oil in Afghanistan? Aren''t confusing that country with Irak where Bush-Chenney-Haliburton have been sending our kids to die and kill just so they could put their greedy hands on the local oil fields?

[TommyCraig]

"Nobody but the military dupes are there"
Posted by nor-one at 09:00 AM : Oct 23, 2008
Spoken like a cowardess piece of slime. Sleeze back into your hole!

[tommygun083]

samsel3 says "The US needs to get out of Afghanistan" and then explains the reasons. All this talk about patriatism and saving the world from democracy is poppy ***. Like Samel says, it all comes down to Oil. Our troops are being sacrificed to make people like Cheney rich

[nor-one]

Hey, was this the same outfit that rescued Jessica Lynch?? Who was this guy''s real employer, Blackwater or who? If these people want to go over and make the big bucks they should know the risks! You take the money, you take your chances! Nobody but the military dupes are there or in Iraq except for the money!

[samsel3]

The US needs to get out of Afghanistan. It is over. Iran, Pakistan & India have signed an agreement for the IPI Pipeline which circumvents Cheney s Big Pipe Dream.
Former Afghan President Karzai was protecting a US led consortium for the TAPI Caspian Sea Pipeline which will supply Southeast Asian markets. Additionaly, 1.6 billion barrels of oil,in the Afghan-Tajik Basin, and 15.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, in the Amu Darya Basin will be exploited.
The Taliban reneged on an agreement with Big Oil & Gas before the invasion holding out for a larger share of pipeline tariffs for their people. The US decided a regime change was a better choice.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar said: "There are thousands of security forces ... and it is clear that they are criminal, thieves, and the people can not trust the security forces at all,"
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ".

The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan,.." UNOCAL sold it s interest to a US led consortium.

[longtree-2009]

don''t see using military assets to rescue someone who should not be in a combat zone at all. but now that the man is rescued, he should never be shipped home and never allowed back into afghanistan. bin laden is still free and he should be the primary target and anyone that gets in the way.

[andrew_693]

ronald reagan and his party of traitors called the GOP ran an operation to pay for the rescue of hostages in Iran in early 80s it was called "operation these colors, run and fast". They sent oliver north and the result was that we gave the iranians weapons, all approved off course by John Macshame because he was well aware and was a member of the group. Adn his is the leader they want to choose....

[samthetvcat]

---"We all felt sick about it, because he was never going to be able to pay a ransom. He''s over here helping people and they''re trying to make a buck off him."---

Geez, that''s what''s making me sick to my stomach about the possibility of this maybe being the ''test'' for the next President if there''s the perception that he might be open to negotiating - some fresh-faced small-town kid volunteers to go over there to help his country and somebody else''s country, and the people over there might just have a totally different agenda and feel like the promise of a payoff vastly outweighs the threat of a punishment so they just do it.

Then again on the other side you have people so desperate for help economically that they''re are like reports of them going to rallies and like weeping and talking about placing their last hope on
Government . . .

The stakes of this election are just making me sick to my stomach . . . I wish there was a candidate with the full package :(

PS The troops rock!

[watercam]

Hell Yes. This guy must have been very important for the soldiers to get him back. Would like to see more of these stories.

[hermitdave]

OH a couple of RAW RAW posters huh. I bet you believe Bush killed and maimed all those innocent Afghan women and children, because he thought Osama was living in that country. I bet you even believe Osama planned 9/11 in a cave over there. I bet you think the huge increase in DRUGS over there had nothing to do with the Afghan crusade. Heck I even bet you believe IRAQ was also responsible for 9/11. Welcome to BUSHWORLD where lies abound.

[thinker89]

american soldiers rock!:) if you dont appreciate what they are doing for your freedoms....then you my friend are a total jerk and should relocate yourself to, well somewhere where you cant be heard!

[hermitdave]

GOSH I guess no one asked the question. Like just what is the reason the country is in such a mess? Could it be because of the illegal Bush crusade?

[jgg0001]

Bravo! Great job!