Why not? Would rescuing them have been “Islamophobic”?
“Western governments KNEW where 80 Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram were – but no-one tried to rescue them,” by Keiligh Baker, MailOnline, March 20, 2016:
The US and British governments knew where at least 80 of the Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram were but failed to launch a rescue mission, it has been revealed.
Terrorists stormed a secondary boarding school in the remote town of Chibok in Borno state, northern Nigeria in April 2014, and seized 276 girls who were preparing for end-of-year exams.
Although 57 of the girls managed to escape the rest have remained missing and have not been heard from or seen since apart from in May that year, when 130 of them appeared in a Boko Haram video wearing hijabs and reciting the Koran.
Terrorists stormed a Government Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok in Borno state, northern Nigeria in April 2014, seizing 276 girls who were preparing for end-of-year exams.
Dr Andrew Pocock, the former British high commissioner to Nigeria, has now revealed that a large group of the missing girls were spotted by British and American surveillance officials shortly after their disappearance, but experts felt nothing could be done.
He told The Sunday Times that Western governments felt ‘powerless’ to help as any rescue attempt would have been too high risk – with Boko Haram terrorists using the girls as human shields.
Dr Pocock said: ‘A couple of months after the kidnapping, fly-bys and an American eye in the sky spotted a group of up to 80 girls in a particular spot in the Sambisa forest, around a very large tree, called locally the Tree of Life, along with evidence of vehicular movement and a large encampment.’
He said the girls were there for at least four weeks but authorities were ‘powerless’ to intervene – and the Nigerian government did not ask for help anyway.
He said: ‘A land-based attack would have been seen coming miles away and the girls killed, an air-based rescue, such as flying in helicopters or Hercules, would have required large numbers and meant a significant risk to the rescuers and even more so to the girls.’
He added: ‘You might have rescued a few but many would have been killed. My personal fear was always about the girls not in that encampment — 80 were there, but 250 were taken, so the bulk were not there. What would have happened to them? You were damned if you do and damned if you don’t.’
In an investigation by Christina Lamb for the Sunday Times Magazine, Dr Pocock said the information was passed to the Nigerians but they made no request for help.
The Magazine has also seen brutal rape videos which show schoolgirls are being used as sex slaves by the terrorists.
Ms Lamb reports: ‘They film schoolgirls being raped over and over again until their scream become silent Os.’
Some of the girls who managed to escape told Ms Lamb they were kept in ‘women’s prisons’ where they were taught about Islam. Boko Haram fighters would visit and pick their wives.
The girls were powerless to resist as even then the men would be heavily armed. They were shown videos of people being raped, tortured and killed as a threat of what would happen to them if they tried to run away….

Jay Boo says
A bigger issue the refusal of is US and UK officials to call Islam by its true name.
Bear Tom says
This is no surprise. We remember the “justifiable grievences” claim of Obama, the threat of sanctions against Jonathan Goodluck for his action against Boko Haram, and the commission under Samantha Powers going to Central Africa, next door, not to Nigeria.
I’m sure every one of those girls would have preferred a 25% chance of surviving a saving raid, than to be committed to a life of torture and slavery under Islam. This is not being really worried about their lives, just an excuse to justify non-action. BT
Jay Boo says
I remember how NPR was promoting Obama’s threat of sanctions against Jonathan Goodluck for his action against Boko Haram with self-righteous indignation as if Jonathan Goodluck was the real problem and not Islam.
Obama’s response to Muslim aggression is predictable.
Rather than indignation or talk about seeking JUSTICE which might risk offending Muslims, Obama instead issues a statement such as (We are saddened by this unfortunate situation) as if it were the result of an act of nature.
Look at Michele’s facial expression (so SAD) no one once of indignation to cause offence to Muslims.
Shmooviyet says
Agreed– and where is the word PLEASE on that cardboard?!
gravenimage says
True, Jay Boo–Goodluck Jonathan was pretty hapless, but this was largely because half the country is Muslim and *supports* Boko Haram–including many in the military and with police.
I don’t believe Obama has threatened sanctions against Nigeria since Muslim Muhammadu Buhari took power.
And here is Obama threatening Nigeria back in 2013 for daring to take *any* action against Boko Haram:
“Obama Administration threatened sanctions if Nigeria fought against Boko Haram in 2013”
http://www.theeventchronicle.com/news/africa/obama-administration-threatened-sanctions-nigeria-fought-boko-haram-2013/#
The Obama administration did not even name Boko Haram a terrorist organization until late 2013, when they had already massacred thousands of people.
Karen says
Michele’s expression – “hey, I’m a victim too!”.
African infidel says
US, UK Won’t Help Fight Boko Haram Until Nigeria Accepts Homosexuality, Birth Control, Bishop Says:
http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/us-wont-help-fight-boko-haram-until-nigeria-accepts-homosexuality-birth-control-bishop-says-5344466437144576
Jay Boo says
Then the US should stop financial aid to Pakistan and other Islamic hell-holes.
Marty says
The Bishop, like most of his ilk, is ill informed.
If backward countries refuse to adopt humane attitudes, that is no reason
not to protect them from terrorism that threatens the whole World.
The origins of Boko Haram & similar associations of savage nitwits
is Saudi Arabia.
The US & the UK lick Saudi sandles & the UK certainly allows these vile
heathens to open schools in the UK.
Schools that are producing, at best, ill educated misfits, at worst, criminals
& terrorists.
The problem is islam per se. not attitudes to birth control or homosexuality.
linnte says
I absolutely agree with bear Tom! I know what it’s like, to a degree. For sure not as horrible as these girls situation. And so what are we doing about them NOW? Most are probably pregnant and or, have a child. Damnit!
It infuriates me that our soldiers can sneek in and kill Osama bin Ladin, but can’t figure out a way to save the lives of 200+ girls!
Shmooviyet says
Repeatedly raped, impregnated, gave birth to (hopefully male future soldier) children, then thrown away. Or if sufficiently attractive, kept as prizes.
“You were damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
( the admins. forbade us getting involved in Boko business.)
AvantiBev says
What makes you think Obama would ask the military he so despises for a strategy? It would never get that far. His leftism is in bed with his islamism.
Angemon says
They would need authorisation from the Nigerian government – after all, it would be a rescue operation, not a “kill terrorist leader” operation…
gravenimage says
He said: ‘A land-based attack would have been seen coming miles away and the girls killed, an air-based rescue, such as flying in helicopters or Hercules, would have required large numbers and meant a significant risk to the rescuers and even more so to the girls.’
He added: ‘You might have rescued a few but many would have been killed…
…………………….
This may be so. But at this point all of the girls have been used as sex slaves or suicide bombers, forcibly converted and “married” off to Jihadists, or just murdered outright.
So much for “Bring Back Our Girls”–never anything more to the Obama’s than a hashtag…
And now that Boko Haram knows that they can mass kidnap girls with no repercussions whatsoever, there are bound to be many more victims.
Champ ッ says
#2016Can’tComeSoonEnough!
UNCLE VLADDI says
I always knew that they knew – they have satellites which can read your license plates from space, and your diary over your shoulder, so how could they have not known it all along?
linnte says
How is it that we forget what you pointed out? Darned straight they knew! It would be kinda hard to not see that many people trooping around. Damnit!
Panmelia says
Let’s tread carefully, let’s pussy-foot around. Let’s not offend our muslim friends, let’s pretend that we don’t know. Let suffering go on though we could end it.
We can’t hear those silent screams, they’re only girls anyway – no one important on the world stage.
Islam is ‘the religion of peace’, so let them peacefully rape those girls. Tiptoe away, let’s not disturb them.
PeteyGunn says
How is this surprising, Rotterdam? Cologne? Sweden? Western Politicians don’t care about their own girls, why would they care about African Girls???