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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSEAL, American Girl Die in First Trump-Era U.S. Military Raid
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/seal-american-girl-die-first-trump-era-u-s-military-n714346"In what an official said was the first military raid carried out under President Donald Trump, two Americans were killed in Yemen on Sunday one a member of SEAL Team 6 and the other the 8-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, the New Mexico-born al Qaeda leader who himself was killed in a U.S. strike five years ago.
The raid in southern Yemen, conducted by the supersecret Joint Special Operations Command, was intended to capture valuable intelligence, specifically computer equipment, according to a senior U.S. military official. Three al Qaeda leaders were killed, according to U.S. officials.
Contrary to earlier reporting, the senior military official said, the raid was Trump's first clandestine strike not a holdover mission approved by President Barack Obama. The mission involved "boots on the ground" at an al Qaeda camp near al Bayda in south central Yemen, the official said.
"Almost everything went wrong," the official said."
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)No wonder it went wrong.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)eleny
(46,166 posts)Now it's "crickets" from the White House about it.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/world/middleeast/american-commando-killed-in-yemen-in-trumps-first-counterterror-operation.html
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)Which says contrary to previous reporting.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)"not a holdover mission approved by President Barack Obama."
"But administration officials ultimately opted to hand the decision on the mission to their successors"
Not sure which is right, maybe both.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)They did kill a bunch of Al Qaeda though - and a bunch of others.
"the military said that about 14 Qaeda fighters were killed during a nearly hourlong battle. A Qaeda leader a brother-in-law of Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born cleric and top Qaeda leader in Yemen, who died in a drone strike in 2011 was believed to have been killed...After initially denying that there were any civilian casualties, American officials said they were assessing reports that women and children had died in the attack."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/world/middleeast/american-commando-killed-in-yemen-in-trumps-first-counterterror-operation.html
eleny
(46,166 posts)They'd crow about how Obama was feckless because he didn't go ahead with it. But the mighty Trump went ahead with it and it succeeded. Except it didn't succeed and they're probably formulating some alternative facts to explain it away when questioned about the mission.
rickford66
(5,524 posts)The SEALS take their chances and understand the risks.
eleny
(46,166 posts)I haven't heard a word of appreciation or condolence from the White House.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)passed appreciation and condolences several times now.
In a statement, Trump said: A life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism, and said his deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member.
Spicer also did so today in the presser.
eleny
(46,166 posts)I'm not giving them an inch, jmg257. All the bullshit he's into right now stops when a mission of this magnitude goes south and a Seal dies, imo.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)eleny
(46,166 posts)If it had been a success it would be 15 tweets in a row. But when there's a mission gone south it's a short thanks and move along everyone, not much to think about here.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)it on the low-down.
Doreen
(11,686 posts)"Ho hum" "simple casualty of war" "ho hum." He does not flippin care about a child born to an Al Qaeda leader. In his mind she probably deserved it.
eleny
(46,166 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)I apologize he and the little girl had to die because of dictator Trump.
eleny
(46,166 posts)I believe that they intended to crow and crow about how the mighty Trump made a better decision than Obama. But things went south and now I haven't seen a peep. When they do speak about it it'll be wall to wall alternative facts.
Doreen
(11,686 posts)BainsBane
(53,035 posts)Obama personally wrote the families of every service person killed under his watch. I can't imagine Trump is even capable of thinking about the family's grief.