Politics SEAL, American Girl Die in First Trump-Era U.S. Military Raid

Not Trump's plan. Unlike Benghazi, air support was called in by those on the ground and they weren't left to fend for themeselves.

http://nypost.com/2017/02/02/after-obama-waited-trump-quickly-approved-botched-navy-seal-mission/

The botched military operation in Yemen that killed a US Navy SEAL and over a dozen al Qaeda terrorists and civilians had been in the works for months before President Trump approved it shortly after taking office, according to a published report.

In the waning months of his presidency, Barack Obama was hashing out with the Pentagon the Yemen attack plan that was aimed at gathering intelligence on al Qaeda for future strikes against the jihadist group to wipe them out, CNN said.

Obama administration officials cited “operational reasons” for pushing back the date of the raid for sometime after Jan. 20, leaving it in the hands of the newly minted president to determine its course, CNN reported.

One aspect of the plan that gave Obama pause was the need for a moonless night so the SEALs would be camouflaged by the cover of night, as they were during Saturday’s raid on the al Qaeda headquarters in the town of Al Bayda, the network said.

Trump greenlighted the operation almost immediately after taking the oath of office.

US military officials on Wednesday announced they were investigating the raid that claimed the life of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens and “likely” killed civilians.

About 30 people, including 10 women and children, also were killed, according to media reports.

The SEALs and a United Arab Emirates special forces team were spotted by the terrorists as they approached the compound, sparking the firefight on the ground, CNN said.

After the SEALs called for aerial support, military aircraft flew in and opened fire, likely causing the civilian casualties, CNN said.

 

No free pass. The president ordered the go ahead.

To claim it wasn't vetted or reviewed by at least 2 generals plus all the people that planned it is just silly.

Unlike Benghazi, when those on the ground called for help, they got it.

Worse than Benghazi?

 

There's one line from unnamed sources saying he didn't have sufficient intelligence.

No indication what intelligence he had, who had reviewed it prior, who he consulted after receiving whatever intelligence he had, how highly-placed or credible those unnamed sources were, what the basis for their statement was, whether intelligence on this mission had changed materially between the time when the previous administration authorized it and now...Just one line making a vague unsubstantiated claim.

No doubt, the loss of life is still on the CiC, but the report you linked certainly doesn't provide enough information to support your narrative. The one thing it does suggest to me is that he (unsurprisingly) doesn't have the requisite experience to be able to ask the right questions necessary to be able to properly vet a military operation before authorizing it. Mattis, however, was also there (per the tweet @Rastapopoulos provided), so I'd hope he at least leaned on the general's knowledge and experience.

 

Denny made mention of personal insults yesterday so WE all need to stop it.