New information suggests that the raid in Yemen that claimed the life of Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens as well as some civilians, including an American girl, was planned for months by the Obama administration.
President Trump gave the go-ahead for the mission shortly after taking office, and the mainstream media have been quick to place the blame at his feet.
Other outlets are arguing over what really happened. Here’s one take from the New York Post:
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.
The timing may seem coincidental, but one of the aspects being looked at by officials was the need for a “moonless night” to provide cover for the Navy SEALs, something they did indeed have during the raid on al Qaeda headquarters in the town of Al Bayda.
Still, the mission fell apart and tragically, lives were lost – the first time this has happened under President Trump.
Perhaps Trump’s most egregious error was to place trust in the operational planning put forth by Obama’s Pentagon team and approve the mission so quickly without extensive research by his own team.
NEW: US service member killed in Yemen raid ID'd as Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, according to statement from Sec. James Mattis. pic.twitter.com/2vQbSfzr3n
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 30, 2017
According to the Pentagon, information obtained in Saturday’s raid is already being used to foil potential terrorist plots.
President Trump reached out to the family of the fallen SEAL, then made a secret visit to honor Owens and his service and sacrifice to our country.
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Trump has left the White House on Marine One on an unannounced trip, White House has not disclosed destination
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) February 1, 2017
Cross-posted at the Mental Recession
