President Carter/Delta Force: Operation Eagle Claw

[lakhota]

Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light or Operation Rice Bowl)[1] was an American military operation ordered by President Jimmy Carter to attempt to put an end to the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 Americans held captive at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran on 24 April 1980. The public, humiliating debacle that ensued damaged American prestige worldwide and is believed by many, including Carter himself, to have played a major role in his defeat in the 1980 presidential election.[2]

The plan called for a minimum of six helicopters; eight were sent in.[3] Two helicopters could not navigate through a very fine sand cloud (a haboob) which forced one helicopter to crash land and the other to return to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Six helicopters reached the initial rendezvous point, Desert One, but one of them had damaged its hydraulic systems. The spares were on one of the two helicopters that had aborted. From the early planning stages, it had been determined that if fewer than six operational helicopters were available, then the mission would be automatically aborted, even though only four were absolutely necessary for the operation.[3] In a move still debated,[4] the commanders on the scene requested to abort the mission; Carter gave his approval.

As the U.S. force prepared to leave Iran, one of the helicopters crashed into a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft containing fuel and a group of servicemen. The resulting fire destroyed the two aircraft involved[3] and resulted in the remaining helicopters being left behind and the deaths of eight American servicemen. Operation Eagle Claw was one of the first missions conducted by Delta Force.[5]

More: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw

THE POINT OF THIS THREAD: Many of you may not remember Operation Eagle Claw and Delta Force that conducted it, but many of you certainly remember President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages. Point being, if Obama's plan had failed to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, no one would be publicly bashing the SEALS - they would be bashing Obama like Carter was bashed (and unfairly still is). BTW, did you ever hear anything about Delta Force being publicly bashed after the failed rescue mission? I never did, nor did I ever criticize them. I'm sure they gave themselves more than enough criticism. The buck stops with the president - good or bad.

To this day, I praise President Jimmy Carter and Delta Force for their valiant efforts. They all did their best to free the hostages.

[lakhota]

Operation Eagle Claw

www.helis.com/featured/eagle_claw.php

[lakhota]

Operation Eagle Claw: The Iran Hostage Rescue Mission

In military history one can stand out as a splendid example or a disastrous reminder. The brave men who attempted to rescue American hostages in Iran in April of 1980 unfortunately became a disastrous reminder of the need for unity of command, joint training, and good communications, and the dangers of overly complex and needlessly compartmented planning. The failure of their mission, Operation Eagle Claw, would be a prime motivator in the subsequent formation of US Special Operations Command.

By the end the prestigious group of special operations Delta Force had lost 8 of its members, 7 helicopters, a C-130 aircraft, and had not even made contact with the enemy. The mission was a complete disaster.

www.airpower.au.af.mil/apjinternational/apj-s/2006/3tri06/kampseng.html

[lakhota]

So, this operation was a major disaster - and President Carter took the blame. Was that fair? Sadly, yes, because he was president.

The peanut farmer from Georgia was an honorable President.

[txbo]

May 5, 2011 2:00:37 GMT -5 @lakhota said:

Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light or Operation Rice Bowl)[1] was an American military operation ordered by President Jimmy Carter to attempt to put an end to the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 Americans held captive at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran on 24 April 1980. The public, humiliating debacle that ensued damaged American prestige worldwide and is believed by many, including Carter himself, to have played a major role in his defeat in the 1980 presidential election.[2]

The plan called for a minimum of six helicopters; eight were sent in.[3] Two helicopters could not navigate through a very fine sand cloud (a haboob) which forced one helicopter to crash land and the other to return to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Six helicopters reached the initial rendezvous point, Desert One, but one of them had damaged its hydraulic systems. The spares were on one of the two helicopters that had aborted. From the early planning stages, it had been determined that if fewer than six operational helicopters were available, then the mission would be automatically aborted, even though only four were absolutely necessary for the operation.[3] In a move still debated,[4] the commanders on the scene requested to abort the mission; Carter gave his approval.

As the U.S. force prepared to leave Iran, one of the helicopters crashed into a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft containing fuel and a group of servicemen. The resulting fire destroyed the two aircraft involved[3] and resulted in the remaining helicopters being left behind and the deaths of eight American servicemen. Operation Eagle Claw was one of the first missions conducted by Delta Force.[5]

More: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw

THE POINT OF THIS THREAD: Many of you may not remember Operation Eagle Claw and Delta Force that conducted it, but many of you certainly remember President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages. Point being, if Obama's plan had failed to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, no one would be publicly bashing the SEALS - they would be bashing Obama like Carter was bashed (and unfairly still is). BTW, did you ever hear anything about Delta Force being publicly bashed after the failed rescue mission? I never did, nor did I ever criticize them. I'm sure they gave themselves more than enough criticism. The buck stops with the president - good or bad.

To this day, I praise President Jimmy Carter and Delta Force for their valiant efforts. They all did their best to free the hostages.

[domeasingold]

SEE ALSO "BLACKHAWK DOWN". Clintons involvement.

[lakhota]

txbo, thanks for the karma. However, karmas mean absolutely nothing to me. I post from the heart - not for karmas.

In fact, if I get very many I will probably delete my account and start over.

But thanks anyway...

[deziloooooo]

May 5, 2011 2:43:22 GMT -5 @lakhota said:

So, this operation was a major disaster - and President Carter took the blame. Was that fair? Sadly, yes, because he was president.

The peanut farmer from Georgia was an honorable President.

He was honorable, on some things a victem of circumstances, and on the Iranian rescue attempt , Special Operations were not That developed as they are today, equipment no where what we have today, resources put into it , not anywhere what they have today, see some where were I responded to a post of Marsha's yesterday, {wee hours of todays am actually } Obama budget of over 6 billion for special operations for more equipment, 2800 more operators and the same back in 2010 plus the $ that Bush pumped into the program...

There were political failures with carter, possible some very bad decisions, I know our interest rates were unthinkable, terrible for all, except seniors , like my MOM, were getting 17 % on CD's and who called me and questioned if she should hold out, a shorter time period , in case they went even higher, as she and her friends were investing their hard earned savings, the max on a CD was five years at 17 % per...had to explain what the rest of us were feeling, then on retired and told her to lock it up as long as possible, spread it around in case needed some of the $, wouldn't have to cash in all...but to tie it up as soon as possible max, they wouldn't stay like that long, if they did the country was finished. LOL

She did, it was good,....for her, good old MOM.