Trump's disastrous first military strike had previously been rejected by Obama

[Fast Walker 52]

Source: The Week

Saturday's Navy SEAL raid in Yemen — which resulted in the death of an 8-year-old American girl — had previously been rejected by former President Barack Obama, The Guardian reports. President Donald Trump approved of the raid in his first military strike as commander-in-chief:

[Colonel John] Thomas said he did not know why the prior administration did not authorize the operation, but said the Obama administration had effectively exercised a "pocket veto" over it.

A former official said the operation had been reviewed several times, but the underlying intelligence was not judged strong enough to justify the risks, and the case was left to the incoming Trump administration to make its own judgment. [The Guardian]

Yemeni officials say at least 10 women and children were also killed, including the 8-year-old daughter of U.S.-born Anwar al-Awlaki, a senior leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula who was himself slain a 2011 drone strike. Read more about how things went wrong here. Jeva Lange

Read more: http://theweek.com/speedreads/677442/trumps-disastrous-first-military-strike-previously-been-rejected-by-obama

---

surprise!

[C_U_L8R]

1. SEALs may not be flying Trump flags for long.

What a lousy Commander in Chief.... the guy has no clue
and people will die because of his vanity.

[Fast Walker 52]

6. yeah-- I saw on twitter that Trump actually said the dead Seal's wife name publicly

which is a no-no

[Fast Walker 52]

39. also supposedly Trump did a photo-op with the casket

http://abc7ny.com/news/trump-makes-unannounced-trip-to-honor-fallen-navy-seal/1732140/

though I heard the family didn't want it...

[Coventina]

2. The idiot thinks he cannot fail. Didn't he say he was so much smarter than Obama?

Hey Trump!
Have you ended ISIS yet?

[wordpix]

21. "Hey Trump! Have you ended ISIS yet?" LOLOL thanks for

the gallows humor

[Eyeball_Kid]

51. Trumpy uses his own definition of success, which is...

ANYTHING he does is a SUCCESS! It's an airtight illustration of circular reasoning. He can't do anything wrong, because by his own definition, he does nothing wrong!

This is the world he lives in. Unfortunately, it's also become our world.

We're in deep shit.

[wordpix]

59. & yet, he's reported to be pacing alone in the WH

probably mumbling to self.

shades of tricky Dick Nixon

[Achilleaze]

3. The Republican draft Dodger screws it up

What a loser. Sad.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. On record saying he's smarter than the Generals & sexual disease was his "personal Vietnam". nt

[wordpix]

17. but...he went to military school and has more knowledge than the pros

anyone who believes what comes out of Twittler's mouth at this point is a total stooge who needs to go back to clown school

[liquid diamond]

65. Sounds like one of his tweets. Well played.

[keithbvadu2]

5. But Trump said he knows more than the generals.

[dhill926]

7. the silence is deafening about this...

can you even imagine if this cockup occurred under Obama. It would be a non stop shitstorm...

[wordpix]

18. Impeach the dummy NOW, it will only get worse, he's flexing his muscles

mmm, I've got jet fighters, army, every branch of US Armed Forces at my little fingertips.

[Stonepounder]

8. And remember, he suggested going after terrorists' families. Guess he meant it.

[Fast Walker 52]

9. oh wow, great point-- I forgot that

[bigbrother05]

42. Ties in with Kellyanne's comments about the 5 yo separated from his mom

During the immigrant snafu over the weekend a 5 yo boy was kept separated from his mom for hours and KaC commented that anyone that complained just didn't understand how to keep us safe (my paraphrase).

[Dopers_Greed]

10. Sad.

The first of many that this dumb piece of shit is going to get killed

[Solly Mack]

11. Chest thumping braggadocio does not a CinC make.

Trump thinks those awful Steven Seagal movies are documentaries.

No doubt thinks "Rambo" was based on a true story.

I can just hear him quoting "Red Dawn" in the war room.

[hibbing]

14. and then he's scared of the "liberal media" n/t

[Solly Mack]

15. I know! He'll probably blame the media for his disaster in Yemen.

Or Obama.

[wordpix]

19. Wait til he takes over every invetigative branch of gov & media

IRS, FBI, CIA, DHS, DOJ, etc. So many lawsuits, so much work for Donald who'd rather be golfing but could end up disgraced if karma happens soon.

[Solly Mack]

20. here's to karma

happening soonest

[wordpix]

22. if it happens like it's happening to Kissinger, it's only to let him know

history is trending to view him as villainous in Vietnam War debacle/ Nixon admin

[DesertRat]

12. God help us

It's only been 12 days.

[Eyeball_Kid]

54. God won't help. It's up to us.

[Doitnow]

13. Stupid people don't know they're stupid.

[wordpix]

23. no Trump is "smart" b/c he didn't pay taxes - lest we forget that

statement. He's made so many self-incriminating statements like that

[Cha]

16. I would THINK that the Military is taking note of this and who they voted for.

I know not all did but I read the majority did..

[wordpix]

24. we need to fix our educational system NOW

without Betsy deVille

[Cha]

25. Be nice to get rid of the Brainwashing Centrals

[TomCADem]

26. Trump Wanted To Have His Captain Phillips Moment and He Wanted It Now!

Of course, President Obama did not want a Captain Phillips moment. Shooting the Somali pirates was only authorized as a last resort if negotiations failed. I bet Trump was just hoping that a movie would be made featuring him making the call:

Perhaps Trump would have been able to play himself.

[JayhawkSD]

27. No. it was a "dark moon" issue.

Obama reviewed it but neither approved or disapproved it on principle or as to procedure. He did not sign off on it only because the military wanted to do it on a moonless night, and the next such night was not going to occur until after he was out of office.

[KittyWampus]

29. Obama didn't sign off on it because it was too risky. There are multiple reports now.

[JayhawkSD]

41. Then whose fault was that?

I'm sure the military went to Trump and told him of the plan including, "there is not enough intelligence on this, Mr. President, and a great deal we don't know, and our planning is by no means complete. Because of all that it's extremely risky and will almost certainly get some soldiers killed, but we want you to give us the go ahead to jump off tomorrow night."

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

43. If it was planned under Obama

and the military leaders deemed it too risky, why even discuss it with the orange leader? This whole story sounds weird, imo.

[JayhawkSD]

44. The military leaders did not consider it too risky.

That's why the story sounds weird. If the military had considered it too risky they would not have recommended it to one president, let alone two. The military is not saying now that it was too risky. Obama apologists and those who want to discredit Trump are saying it was too risky.

I do not support Trump. I despise the man. I also despise untruth.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

47. Thanks. I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe

nt

[LanternWaste]

57. You appear to predicate your allegations of "Obama apologists" on a premise no one has made.

You appear to predicate your allegations of "Obama apologists" on a premise no one has made.

"Thomas said he did not know why the prior administration did not authorize the operation, but said the Obama administration had effectively exercised a "pocket veto" over it..."


" I also despise untruth..."
Untruths appear not merely in lies, but also in a disingenuous misinterpretation of the sentiments and conclusions of others as well. I mention that as it seems you're wholly unaware of it.

[Hortensis]

48. Obama's last chance in office--it WAS mainly a moonlight issue.

No doubt over time the information about locations of the targets changed, literally day by day--they DO move constantly to avoid being killed, captured, protect their materials etc. However, reliable media report the military wanted a moonless night, and so Obama, America's "chief executioner" as he himself put it, had to leave office without okaying the mission.

Thanks to Jayhawk for posting responsible information.

[Eyeball_Kid]

55. Reportedly, that specific mission was never directly discussed with Obama.

Because of the risk factors, it never reached him personally for consideration.

[yankeepants]

28. Big little man thinks he's playing with toy soldiers.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

30. #TRUMPGHAZI?

#TRUMPGHAZI

[yardwork]

31. Why aren't there hearings?

[wordpix]

60. b/c this issue is not about EMAILS

[AllaN01Bear]

32. so, when are we going to have the endless hearings on this one ?

remember bengazzi which these slobs shoved that down our throats.

[cstanleytech]

33. Of course the rightwing media and Trumps other supporters as few as there are

(I say few because the math doesnt lie and a women (Hillary Clinton) kicked his ass in the popular vote and pulled in almost 3 more million votes than he did) will be twisting more than the performers in a Cirque du Soleil show to either try make this out to be Obamas fault or try to twist this as a success.

[JayhawkSD]

45. It's not anyone's fault.

It is what happens in war. There might be some question about the idiot who made the decision to continue even after the advantage of surprise was lost, but otherwise it was simply the fog of war. It happens. War is not a movie titled "Seal Team Six" in which everything goes per the script, everyone is a dashing hero and everyone comes home safe.

[ck4829]

50. It can become someone's fault

Especially if you are some fool trying to look tough and you get people killed.

Just because the powerful label something "war", it shouldn't absolve them of responsibilities.

[exboyfil]

52. The problem is we now have the Benghazi paradigm

where imperfect information is no longer an excuse. Also by the way lying about the results of the raid (actionable intelligence).

Under normal circumstances I would give the administration a break, but the new standard has been set.

[Eyeball_Kid]

56. One of the things that happen in "war" is that decision-makers can get

reckless and take risks that can increase the danger to military and civilians. Excusing Trumpy for reckless and high risk commands by claiming that the "fog of war" allows for chaos is backwards. Trumpy CONTRIBUTED to the Fog of War! He MADE it foggier, consciously and intentionally. He's not the victim here! He's the perpetrator!

Mattis and Kelly are fools. I don't care what their background and experience is. They reportedly encouraged Trumpy, probably between the mashed potatoes and the pork chops, to go ahead when they KNEW that a comprehensive assessment indicated that they plan more carefully. Did they READ why Obama's team didn't even talk directly to Obama about this specific mission? Certainly, Trumpy didn't read anything.

The president MUST be the smartest person in the room. He doesn't have a choice. Trumpy should have done extensive research BY HIMSELF about the mission so that his subordinates can't pull boners like this. But Trumpy DOESN'T READ!

So, why is it that Trumpy as candidate was described as someone who is "unfit" to be president? THIS IS WHY!

[LanternWaste]

58. Who besides yourself is making that premise?

"War is not a movie titled "Seal Team Six" in which everything goes per the script, everyone is a dashing hero and everyone comes home safe..."

Who besides yourself is making that premise? Or (and I find this more likely) you merely allege that particular sentiment as be held by others so you have something to argue against...

Seems disingenuous for little more than the sake of melodrama.

[Cryptoad]

34. ah this is the kinda shit ur can expect,,,

when u know more than all teh Generals.......

[chelsea0011]

35. Spicer a short few hours after raid stated that the US had captured

information for more attacks. An absolute lie. There is no way that information would be available to him that quickly after the raid.

[Fast Walker 52]

37. everything Spicer says should be considered a lie

same for Trump and Bannon...

[exboyfil]

53. Isn't that the very reason that Clinton

and Rice were hounded (video or no video motivation). This is far more an outright lie that should be followed up on in every interview going forward.

[Sunlei]

36. trump wanted a big weekend victory, instead he killed & wounded a lot of people. ground assault

is to dangerous! was Mathis who was called from the middle of a state dinner when the mission started to fail. looks like trump 'admin' were all coordinated for a big press release.

it's all because Obama insulted trump at WH correspondents dinner at the same time the ground mission to take out bin Laden happened.

trump failed big time trying to fill Obama's shoes. He is responsible for seal 6 woundings and death. President alone says, yea or no these raids.

January 2017.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/21/last-bin-ladens-documents-released-obama-white-hou/

[Fast Walker 52]

38. it's almost like Trump isn't up for this job....

[Sunlei]

40. He's most dangerous near fridays, seems like hes coordinates with republican-fox people

fox remains the only 'media' he called in daily. breibart remains his favorite for darker 'fake news' for his twitter propaganda campaign.

[Fast Walker 52]

63. ughhh, how long can we go like this ???

it seems thoroughly untenable.

[wordpix]

61. "almost?" He's the friggin' MC for his own Amateur Hour

Nothing about him is professional and he knows NOTHING about international affairs except for his own business dealings and what Pooty tells him

[Fast Walker 52]

62. yeah, I left off the sarcasm tag

[SunSeeker]

46. Didn't Trump say he'd have so much winning that we'd be tired of winning?

I now I'm pretty tired of whatever he calls this.

[ck4829]

49. Kick

[nikibatts]

64. Why has no investigation been started? Surely worse than Benghazi!