Had the Nov. 17 strike succeeded, Israel's latest clash with Palestinian fighters, then in its fourth day, could have easily devolved into a protracted and devastating ground war.
Why did the strike succeed?
But the sitdown strikes succeeded too well.
The decision was made after US forces on the ground found fewer than expected Yazidi refugees because the Kurds had already rescued many and US air strikes succeeded in beating back Isis forces.
Drone strikes succeeded in reducing that number and making "Al Qaeda Central" largely ineffective.
Alekhina has become a vocal advocate for prisoners' rights, a sort of jailhouse lawyer who has exposed numerous violations, filed copious complaints, and, in May, held an 11-day hunger strike that succeeded in changing conditions in her penal colony.
Others, who said they had gotten used to the fact that no terrorist strike had succeeded in the city since the Sept. 11 attacks, were now suddenly faced with a reminder of how suddenly and randomly it could happen.
Savchenko's supporters have concerns for her health, but say they believe her hunger strike could succeed in persuading Moscow to free her in order to avert a political scandal.
I'm not attacking him for taking a holiday, I keep saying, but am just curious to understand how he reconciled such a PR gift to his enemies with his desire for the strike to succeed.
Spruance judged that, though the range was extreme, a strike could succeed and gave the order to launch the attack at around 06:06.
