Complete the passage: pick from possible candidates.

The element of surprise was lost in a failed U.S. military raid to rescue two hostages being held by al Qaeda militants in Yemen, a senior Defense Department official said Saturday. American photojournalist Luke Somers and South African Pierre Korkie, a "respected teacher" who was to be released on Sunday, were fatally shot in the compound by a terrorist as the secret mission unfolded, a U.S. official said. The relief group Gift of the Givers, which was helping secure Korkie's release, had recently informed his wife that "the waiting is almost over." "Three days ago, we told her 'Pierre will be home for Christmas,'" said the group, which identified the South African hostage as Korkie. "We certainly did not mean it in the manner it has unfolded."

It was the second such attempt by

OPTIONS:
- American forces in two weeks.
- CNN forces in two weeks.
- Christmas forces in two weeks.
- Defense Department forces in two weeks.
- Gift of the Givers forces in two weeks.
- Korkie forces in two weeks.
- Luke Somers forces in two weeks.
- Pierre forces in two weeks.
- Pierre Korkie forces in two weeks.
- Somers forces in two weeks.
- South African forces in two weeks.
- State Department forces in two weeks.
- U.S. forces in two weeks.
- Yemen forces in two weeks.
- al Qaeda forces in two weeks.


American forces in two weeks.