Disaster befalls even the well-intentioned and competent and not at all negligent

Algeria expects heavy hostage toll as West defends ally

Says Reuters,

Algeria's Interior Ministry had reported on Saturday that 23 hostages and 32 militants were killed during the assaults launched by Algerian special forces to end the crisis, with 107 foreign hostages and 685 Algerian hostages freed.

However, Minister of Communication Mohamed Said said this would rise when final numbers were issued in the next few hours. "I am afraid unfortunately to say that the death toll will go up," Said was quoted as saying by the official APS news agency.

On the other hand, none of the terrorists survived, they said.

So, not a complete disaster.