The plane of New Jersey congressman Donald Payne was the target of mortar fire as it departed a Mogadishu airport earlier today. A spokesman for the militant group Al Shabab claimed responsibility, saying, “We fired on the airport to target the so-called democratic congressman sent by Obama.” It’s unclear whether the attack was part of the promised retaliation for the rescue of Captain Phillips or just standard, anarchic Somalian violence. Either way, Payne was unharmed in the incident and probably has no great desire to return for another fact-finding mission anytime soon. [Fox News]
