http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/4/wh-failed-secret-mission-rescue-american-al-qaeda/?page=all#pagebreak
White House confirms failed secret mission to rescue American held by al Qaeda
By Guy Taylor - The Washington Times - Thursday, December 4, 2014
The Obama administration revealed Thursday that a secret mission launched by U.S. forces inside Yemen last month failed to rescue American Luke Somers — held hostage by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula since September 2013.
White House officials said President Obama personally authorized the mission to rescue the 33-year-old Mr. Somers, the lone American among roughly a dozen hostages held by the extremist group, known by the acronym AQAP.
The revelation came just hours after AQAP militants circulated a video purporting to show Mr. Somers, a photojournalist, saying his life is in danger and making appeals for help.
A report posted on the website of a monitoring outfit known as "SITE Intel Group," said Mr. Somers appears in the video making the following statement in English:
"My name is Luke Somers. I'm 33 years old. I was born in England, but I carry American citizenship and have lived in America for most of my life. It's now been well over a year since I've been kidnapped in Sana'a. Basically, I'm looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I'm certain that my life is in danger. So as I sit here now, I ask if anything can be done, please let it be done. Thank you very much."
The three-minute video also shows an AQAP member speaking about American criminality in the Muslim world and recent actions in Yemen, and warning that Mr. Somers will meet his "inevitable fate" if the U.S. does not respond to unspecified demands made by the group, according to the report by SITE Intel Group.
"We warn Obama and the American government of the consequences of proceeding ahead in any other foolish action," the AQAP member says in the video.
The extremist is apparently referring to last month's rescue attempt — the existence of which the Obama administration revealed Thursday.
"The mission was coordinated with the Yemeni government and was undertaken by U.S. and Yemeni forces," said National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. "Regrettably, Luke was not present, though hostages of other nationalities were present and were rescued."
In a statement, Ms. Meehan said the "details of the operation remain classified."
A report by the BBC Thursday, said U.S. and Yemeni forces rescued six Yemenis, a Saudi and an Ethiopian being held by AQAP in an Nov. 25 operation at a mountain cave in the remote Hajr al-Sayar district of Yemen's Hadramawt province.
Seven militants were reportedly killed in the operation.
In light of Thursday's developments, a key Republican on Capitol Hill warned the Obama administration to proceed carefully and assertively in the Somers case and to avoid any temptation to "negotiate" with terrorists.
Rep. Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said the administration set a dangerous precedent for such negotiations earlier this year when President Obama authorized the release of five former high-level Taliban officials from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for the release of American soldier Bowe Bergdahl.
"The Obama administration must not waiver from the United States' long-standing policy of not negotiating with terrorists," Mr. McCaul said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "This administration has already broken this policy once with the release of the Taliban Five, and in doing so allowed dangerous terrorists to resume the fight.
"AQAP's latest threat against an American hostage reflects the unrelenting and pervasive brutality of Islamist extremist groups who are at war with the West," the Texas Republican added. "We must send a clear message to extremists: 'We will not negotiate with you. We will do everything in our power to stop you and bring you to justice.'"
