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| Slain SEAL’s dad wants answers: ‘Don’t hide behind my son’s death’ | ||
| 2017-02-27 | ||
Owens’ father, Bill, had learned only a short time before the ceremony that Trump was coming. Owens was sitting with his wife, Marie, and other family members in the solemn, living room-like space where the loved ones of the fallen assemble before they are taken to the flight line. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to see him,’’ Owens recalled telling the chaplain who informed him that Trump was on his way from Washington. “I told them I don’t want to meet the President.” It had been little more than 24 hours since six officers in dress uniform knocked on the door to Owens’ home in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. It was not yet daylight when he answered the door, already knowing in the pit of his stomach what they had come to tell him. Now, Owens cringed at the thought of having to shake the hand of the president who approved the raid in Yemen that claimed his son’s life — an operation that he and others are now calling into question. “I told them I didn’t want to make a scene about it, but my conscience wouldn’t let me talk to him,” Owens said Friday, speaking out for the first time in an interview with the Miami Herald. Owens, also a military veteran, was troubled by Trump’s harsh treatment of a Gold Star family during his presidential campaign. Now Owens was a Gold Star parent, and he said he had deep reservations about the way the decision was made to launch what would be his son’s last mission. Ryan and as many as 29 civilians were killed Jan. 28 in the anti-terrorism mission in Yemen. What was intended as a lightning raid to grab cellphones, laptops and other information about terrorists turned into a nearly hour-long firefight in which “everything went wrong,” according to U.S. military officials who spoke to the New York Times. Bill Owens said he was assured that his son, who was shot, was killed early in the fight. It was the first military counter-terrorist operation approved by the new president, who signed the go-ahead Jan. 26 — six days into his term. “Why at this time did there have to be this stupid mission when it wasn’t even barely a week into his administration? Why? For two years prior, there were no boots on the ground in Yemen — everything was missiles and drones — because there was not a target worth one American life. Now, all of a sudden we had to make this grand display?’’ In a statement from the White House Saturday, spokesman Michael C. Short called Ryan Owens “an American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of his country.” The White House did not address his father’s criticisms, but pointed out that the Department of Defense routinely conducts a review of missions that result in loss of life. Bill Owens and his wife sat in another room as the President paid his respects to other family members. He declined to say what family members were at the ceremony. Trump administration officials have called the mission a success, saying they had seized important intelligence information. They have also criticized detractors of the raid, saying those who question its success dishonor Ryan Owens’ memory. His father, however, believes just the opposite. “Don’t hide behind my son’s death to prevent an investigation,” said the elder Owens, pointing to Trump’s sharp words directed at the mission’s critics, including Sen. John McCain. “I want an investigation. … The government owes my son an investigation,” he said.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #11 White House said today there will be an investigation. If there was a tip off, this will add gravity to the cause of finding those who are leaking to undermine the White House. |
| Posted by: Nero White 3083 2017-02-27 18:12 |
| #10 Mr. Owens is being stress-pumped by every interviewer and any/every response is distorted at 'print' time. This increases the sticky-ad view frequency and click interval. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-02-27 12:57 |
| #9 You lose a son, nearly everyone can be the enemy. My sympathy to the family for sure. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-02-27 12:00 |
| #8 Sock Puppet of Doom, Grief doesn't always make sense. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2017-02-27 11:54 |
| #7 I just don't understand why this guy is blasting away at Trump...the mission was developed under the sheep in sheep's clothing president and went FUBAR as soon as their skids hit the ground. Its been in the media several times that the mission was compromised and this guy blames Trump? Well, looking at it this way, he's grieving and he's hurt and he's still in the denial/anger phase of the process. He is lashing out just because he can't do anything else...we should pray for him and his family and we should pray for the SEAL's immortal soul. God bless this family. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2017-02-27 10:39 |
| #6 Almost all missions go tits up in the beginning. You train for the fact that Mr. Murphy will be there trying to fuck you every way he can. Our troops are good because they can adapt and still complete the mission when Plan A, B, C and D go all to hell. It is always good to have a AAR (After Action Review) to dissect what went wrong, but unless their is gross incompetence you never blame anyone. This is more of a media witch hunt to try to further discredit Trump. There were raids that got US soldiers killed under Obumble and there wasn't one goddamn peep about it from the MSM. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2017-02-27 10:02 |
| #5 ^ yep. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2017-02-27 09:21 |
| #4 Looks like the media is once again looking for its Cindy SheHag. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2017-02-27 08:05 |
| #3 Almost never do you not have an OP not compromised anymore. Just look at the MOG. The issue was is it necessary. This OP was Meet and Right to DO. It has been in the pipeline for a vary long time. Removing Emotion from some of the actual necessities for living in such lush and peaceful Homeland, requires some introspection. Many Faithful appreciated the short time they had before they saved many. Most are not worried about that decision after Death, I assure you. |
| Posted by: newc 2017-02-27 04:34 |
| #2 People say the mission was leaked and the enemy were prepared. If so, the leakers should face a military firing squad. |
| Posted by: Thraiter Spawn of the Geats4611 2017-02-27 00:33 |
| #1 Typical of the media to give a megaphone to Gold Star parents who are critical of a GOP president, while denying same to Gold Star parents who were critical of Obama. It's good to own the megaphone. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2017-02-27 00:28 |