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

[eleny]

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]

1. A week isn't long enough to plan an operation like that

No wonder it went wrong.

[bravenak]

2. He's stupid

[eleny]

4. I imagine that Trump was hoping to be able to crow about the raid until things went wrong

Now it's "crickets" from the White House about it.

[jmg257]

5. It wasn't...The militarys Joint Special Operations Command had been planning the mission for months

The military’s Joint Special Operations Command had been planning the mission for months, according to three senior American officials. Obama administration aides had deliberated extensively over the proposed operation, weighing the value of any information that might be recovered against the risk to the Special Operations forces plunging into hostile territory. But administration officials ultimately opted to hand the decision on the mission to their successors

.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/world/middleeast/american-commando-killed-in-yemen-in-trumps-first-counterterror-operation.html

[BainsBane]

8. That directly contradicts the OP

Which says contrary to previous reporting.

[jmg257]

9. Sort of - Obama did NOT approve it. But trump did.

"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]

3. Great - J-SOC screws up a raid Obama's team thought might not be worth it.

The military’s Joint Special Operations Command had been planning the mission for months, according to three senior American officials. Obama administration aides had deliberated extensively over the proposed operation, weighing the value of any information that might be recovered against the risk to the Special Operations forces plunging into hostile territory. But administration officials ultimately opted to hand the decision on the mission to their successors.

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]

6. I can imagine the press release the WH was planning...

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]

7. Trump would have approved it but not planned it.

The SEALS take their chances and understand the risks.

[eleny]

11. Understood - But you know he was planning to crow if it was a success and now there's silence

I haven't heard a word of appreciation or condolence from the White House.

[jmg257]

15. I agree with your 'planning to crow' notion - for sure. But be aware the WH has

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]

17. I haven't seen it yet about this mission. It's not too soon

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]

19. Nevermind - discussed below! Cheers!

[eleny]

18. Thanks. That was short and sweet. Yeah, I'm still not giving them an inch.

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]

20. Oh no doubt - I am sure he would have done just what you said! Now they are trying to keep

it on the low-down.

[Doreen]

10. What Trump will say about the little girls death,

"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]

12. I haven't seen a single word so far honoring the Seal who lost their life

[Doreen]

13. I do honor the Navy Seal and thank him for his service.

I apologize he and the little girl had to die because of dictator Trump.

[eleny]

14. Oh, hon, I meant from the White House!

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]

16. Yeah, not a peep. What assholes.

[BainsBane]

21. I wonder if he will write the family?

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.