^^^^^^^^^
Indeed. A year ago Delta or Devgru would have been there before it hit the news wire.

Today, the fact that the MSM doesn’t lead with this story at the top of each hour is telling. These Americans being held hostage will be forgotten reminiscent of those we abandoned in Afghanistan.

Being a number in the foreign service today likely just isn’t worth it.

Edited- I’ve said it before, but Jocko Willink has a great podcast with Admiral Bill McRaven. Despite some bad feelings over McRaven and his politics of late, the interview is well worth the FOUR hours to listen. His take on leadership (and ownership) from his various commands in the special operations community is pretty good. He freely admits he made mistakes, and gives a pretty good look at the planning, decision making, and execution of Neptune Spear. (I also find it be pretty funny when something is said when it was brought up that the SEALs were chosen to conduct the raid. McRaven, who is a SEAL, replied “Do you think I’d risk losing a mission on this scale for some paternalistic fluffing? The only available Delta unit had just deployed and these boys were fresh from a deployment”)

I have always resented that we don't have miniguns in towers inside Embassy compounds. Pile the bodies up like cordwood at the wall and it might stop some of this shit.

The Houthi are savages and proxies for IRGC. Show them no quarter. But of course that won't happen.

This is not going to stop spreading until there is another move to obliterate Israel, and we deal with Iran decisively. Blockading Yemen will not help. Blockade Iran and we may get somewhere. But there is no political will.

1. The Marine Security Guards (MSG) are under the command of the Ambassador, NOT the DoD command structure. Once the Ambassador issues a help request or, national command authority directs DoD into action, then those Marines are there to support any in-extremis operations. Central Command can assemble, prepare and move their assets into place but, in a situation like this, they need the Ok from the White House.

2. The MSG detachment at the Yemen embassy I would wager is pretty small, most embassies and its consulates have at least 8, and up to 20 assigned. Hardly enough to make a stand but, in permissive- and semi-permissive environs, that can be enough to stop most attempts. Remember, Benghazi was a consulate that had no Marines assigned to it, I believe it was still a 'in-development' facility and not an 'official mission of the US'.

3. Outside security is provided by the host nation, the Marines handle internal security and destruction of sensitive materials, that's it. Time after time, we've seen failings with host nation security resulting in larger more catastrophic issues. What failings were there with Diplomatic Security and other security agencies here? Did the Ambassador and their chain of command willfully ignore red flags and obvious warning signs?

4. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group with the 11th MEU is sitting off-shore in the Arabian Gulf. There's also the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, created in the aftermath of the Benghazi debacle based in the Persian Gulf region. Not sure where but 5th Special Forces has its Crises Response Force (formerly CIF) based in the region, also created to deal with issues of terrorism and hostage taking. There's many assets nearby however, like Afghanistan, State Dept owns the 'battle space', the Ambassador is equivalent to a 4-star.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
But, this is a failure of the State Department and the administration. The problem we seem to continually have is we tend to put people in a position of power at State that refuse to acknowledge problems with security until we get where we are today. Sending in elements of a MEU to reinforce the embassy weeks ago would have likely stopped this from happening. But, when you possess soft military targets, this is what you get.

Absolutely, State continues to be dominated and ruled by career diplomats and analysts who've refused to get out from under their rock and acknowledge the threats that exist. Because they're employees and how Fed employment agreements are worked out, they can't be fired without cause, thus the culture and the festering attitudes remain. History has shown, over the last 30-40-years, State Dept falls on its face and allows itself to be punk'd, bitch-slapped, humiliated by the local tough-guys.

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
Did I miss something?
Isn't an embassy considered sovereign US territory?

Houthi rebels care nothing about international law or norms.

Given the state of that county, why do we even have an embassy in it?

What BBMW said! What a shithole. Why put American personnel and equipment at risk there? The only diplomacy we need to use in Yemen is with a B-52.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
Did I miss something?
Isn't an embassy considered sovereign US territory?

Houthi rebels care nothing about international law or norms.

Oh, I'm aware of that. I wasn't leading toward what would or would not deter/govern the Houthi actions. I was mostly referring to what "we" would or should or could do in response...

quote:

All good stuff, and let’s hope that there are enough smart people in positions of authority to be doing those things.

Thank you for the great laugh! There isn't anyone in this administration or in positions of authority that has one iota of brains, smarts, or common sense. Bidet and company will quietly give them what they want or quietly let them execute the hostages, neither of which the liberal media will cover. If pushed, they will come out with a statement that this incident was the result of Trump's policies and climate change.

I'm in the Put Multiple Miniguns On The Roofs camp.

Then mow down invading miscreants breaching a gate/fence like nobody's business.

Not having 100% coverage on that fenceline and gate is crazy and asking for it.

It's Yemen, FFS, not Paris/etc.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:


You’re the President: What would you do right now? Seriously.

Me sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office?
State Department is working one side of the coin, doing the "Diplomatic" thing. Let's call it the "Carrot".

Other side of the coin- There's a USMC FAST Co and a squad or two of SEALs on their way right F'n now. We'll call that the "Stick".

One of those two options will work out, but I'll have someone (rather smart) on my staff looking to see if there's a third option that I'm not aware of.

This is the problem with news articles.

There are no Americans involved, this is only caretaker Yemeni “staff” that was employed by the US to take care of the grounds.

All American embassy staff were evacuated in 2015, this is no longer a functioning Embassy.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:


You’re the President: What would you do right now? Seriously.

Me sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office?
State Department is working one side of the coin, doing the "Diplomatic" thing. Let's call it the "Carrot".

Other side of the coin- There's a USMC FAST Co and a squad or two of SEALs on their way right F'n now. We'll call that the "Stick".

One of those two options will work out, but I'll have someone (rather smart) on my staff looking to see if there's a third option that I'm not aware of.

Or just drive a missile into the president of Iran's bedroom.

"Still want to fuck with us?"

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
This is the problem with news articles.

There are no Americans involved, this is only caretaker Yemeni “staff” that was employed by the US to take care of the grounds.

All American embassy staff were evacuated in 2015, this is no longer a functioning Embassy.

Important detail

Anything we could do in response, the Saudis have been doing continuously for a few years now. We just let ourselves get sucked into someone else's war by having an embassy there.

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
Did I miss something?
Isn't an embassy considered sovereign US territory?

Houthi rebels care nothing about international law or norms.

Oh, I'm aware of that. I wasn't leading toward what would or would not deter/govern the Houthi actions. I was mostly referring to what "we" would or should or could do in response...

The Iranians get off on martyrdom, so, counter to everything the western world believes in, their answer would be "bring it on".

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:


You’re the President: What would you do right now? Seriously.

Me sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office?
State Department is working one side of the coin, doing the "Diplomatic" thing. Let's call it the "Carrot".

Other side of the coin- There's a USMC FAST Co and a squad or two of SEALs on their way right F'n now. We'll call that the "Stick".

One of those two options will work out, but I'll have someone (rather smart) on my staff looking to see if there's a third option that I'm not aware of.

Or just drive a missile into the president of Iran's bedroom.

"Still want to fuck with us?"

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
The Iranians get off on martyrdom, so, counter to everything the western world believes in, their answer would be "bring it on".

This world would be a far better, and safer, place with a few more martyrs.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
This is the problem with news articles.

There are no Americans involved, this is only caretaker Yemeni “staff” that was employed by the US to take care of the grounds.

I thought this fact was clear in the articles posted in the OP, but I probably should've emphasized them in bold so thank you for making this point.

quote:

All American embassy staff were evacuated in 2015, this is no longer a functioning Embassy.

I was NOT aware the U.S. embassy in Yemen was not functioning as one, but that would certainly explain why we haven't heard from, or about, the U.S. Yemen ambassador during this incident, or why U.S. Marines weren't mentioned in defense of the compound.

A quick check of the State Department website indicates there is no U.S. ambassador to Yemen, only a Charge`de affaire and a Special Envoy. From statements made, it appears these officials travel to Yemen when diplomatic issues need to be discussed.

I'm not going to post the entirety of recent State Department press briefings, mostly because they include a variety of diplomatic events in different countries in addition to Yemen, but recent briefings on Yemen indicate that there is a Houthi offensive currently going on.

Here is a short excerpt from the 9 November briefing:

Department Press Briefing – November 9, 2021

"QUESTION: Can we just circle back to Yemen and reports of Yemenis who work for the U.S. being detained by Houthi rebels? Do you have any update on that?

MR PRICE: What I can say at this point is that we are extremely concerned by reports of detentions of some of our local Yemeni employees in Sanaa, and we call for their immediate release. We have been unceasing in our behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to secure their release. We’ve seen some progress and we’re continuing to work this critical issue. The majority of those who have been detained are no longer in custody. We are committed to ensuring the safety of those who serve the U.S. Government overseas, and that is why we are so actively engaged on this matter, including through our international partners.

QUESTION: And do you know how many in total were detained and why?

MR PRICE: I don’t have any update I’m in a position to relay at this time. But again, the majority of them have been released, and when we have more details to share, we will. Yes, Lara."

If it is true that the compound wasn't actively functioning as an embassy, then I'm curious what equipment the Houthi rebels were scrounging for.

Worst administration/cabinet ever

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
The Iranians get off on martyrdom, so, counter to everything the western world believes in, their answer would be "bring it on".

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:


You’re the President: What would you do right now? Seriously.

Me sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office?
State Department is working one side of the coin, doing the "Diplomatic" thing. Let's call it the "Carrot".

Other side of the coin- There's a USMC FAST Co and a squad or two of SEALs on their way right F'n now. We'll call that the "Stick".

One of those two options will work out, but I'll have someone (rather smart) on my staff looking to see if there's a third option that I'm not aware of.

Or just drive a missile into the president of Iran's bedroom.

"Still want to fuck with us?"

Coupled with the fact that they lack common sense, and have access to something that resembles a "dirty bomb", launching a missle into Dudes bedroom "may" have unwanted results.

Then again, it's MY ADMINISTRATION,
So line them up at the Aloha Snack Bar! I'll gladly give them a chance to meet with their maker.

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
The Iranians get off on martyrdom, so, counter to everything the western world believes in, their answer would be "bring it on".

Good for them. They can be happy we are killing them. So long as they’re dead.