The Strange Rescue Attempt

American forces launched a rescue attempt in hopes of liberating an American and others held captive by al Qaeda forces in Yemen.  The captives were shot by al Qaeda when the rescue party was spotted near the compound where the hostages were being held.  No American troops were hurt, but the captives died of their gunshot wounds shortly after they were freed.  President Obama announced that he had authorized the mission after he had intelligence that there was an imminent threat to the lives of the hostages.

This is a sad story, and another indication of the bestial nature of the terrorists.  Nevertheless, there is one very strange aspect to the tale.  Some of the media reports say that an NGO in Yemen which had been negotiating for the release of these hostages had reached an agreement which would have freed the hostages today.  That's one day after the raid.  So far, none of the news reports even identify the name of the NGO (although that may soon come.)  Is this a true story?  If so, why did Obama launch the rescue mission?  Is this a phony story put out by friends of al Qaeda to make the raid look foolish?  If so, why are the media reporting it without mentioning that possibility? 

It seems to me that someone ought to get to the bottom of these questions.  Also, none of the reports tell us what happened to the captors of these hostages.  Were they killed?  Did they escape?