Shortly after the Israeli commando raid protesters throughout Europe and the Middle East took to the streets to demand the end of the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
VOA: standard.2010.06.10
But authorities decided against a commandoraid, instead refueling the plane and giving food in return for the release of 10 more hostages.
America operates a spy network there and recently launched a special-forces commandoraid from its base in nearby Djibouti to free an American citizen from Somali brigands.
Panetta's assessment came just days before the one-year anniversary of the U.S. commandoraid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that ended a manhunt for the al Qaeda founder that began following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.