![]() More than anything, however, they were spectacularly rare. Historically, JSOC's hostage rescue track record was one of spectacular failure - such as Operation Eagle Claw, the failed Delta rescue attempt in Iran in 1980 - and spectacular success - such as Delta Force's successful rescue of Kurt Muse in Operation Acid Gambit from a Panamanian prison in 1989. ![]() That they sometimes come up short shouldn't be considered much of a surprise. That makes an already near-impossible mission that much more challenging - a swing for the fence in the bottom of the ninth. ![]() And remember, these missions are last-ditch efforts, usually only given the green light when the hostage is considered in imminent danger. Such specialized and elite assets are required for the task because it is so demanding - a mission even other special operations forces are not considered qualified to conduct. This might make it appear all the more tragic when - as has occurred multiple times - non-American hostages are killed during the course of an American-led rescue attempt. The United States' stubbornness not to negotiate can seem rather callous, if not outdated and inhumane, especially when numerous European nations have taken to either paying the ransoms or at least not standing in the way of businesses or families who choose to do so. They were understandably left devastated and angry, even in the face of AQAP's promise to murder him the following day if their demands were not met. It's impossible not to feel for the family of the British-born Somers. On the other hand is the high-profile and dramatic rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates - again, by SEAL Team Six.īut this cursory look at obvious examples is incomplete. She suffered grievous wounds during the course of the operation and died after being extracted. Such arguments frequently cite other failed rescue attempts, such as the attempt in 2010, also conducted by the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU, aka SEAL Team Six), to rescue British aid worker Linda Norgrove in Afghanistan. ![]()
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