“Anyone who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology to the life and service of Chief Owens.”
White House press secretary Sean Spicer raised eyebrows Wednesday when he argued that anyone questioning the success of a controversial U.S. military raid in Yemen last month was dishonoring Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens, the Navy SEAL who died in the operation.
Amid reports about a lack of adequate intelligence and sufficient ground support, the White House has faced mounting pressure to justify its authorization for the Jan. 29 operation against suspected al Qaeda militants in Yemen’s al Bayda province. The raid claimed the lives of Owens and several civilians, including women and children. Three other Americans were wounded, and a U.S. aircraft was lost.
The surprise attack, the first counterterrorism operation President Donald Trumpauthorized since taking office, was supposed to gather intelligence about al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Despite the heavy loss of life, the White House has insisted that the raid was “highly successful.” Spicer doubled down on that assessment during Wednesday’s White House press briefing, suggesting that whoever was saying otherwise was not only wrong, but also doing a disservice to Owens.
“Anyone who would suggest otherwise doesn’t fully appreciate how successful that mission was,” Spicer said in response to a question from NBC’s Kristen Welker. “Anyone who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology to the life and service of Chief Owens.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, hadtold reporters on Tuesday after receiving a briefing on the operation that he would not call the raid a success.
More: Sean Spicer Says Questioning Success Of Botched Yemen Raid Is Offensive To Dead Soldier
Sounds like more "circular reasoning" from Sean Spicer. Also, what about the 8-year-old girl who was killed?
White House press secretary Sean Spicer raised eyebrows Wednesday when he argued that anyone questioning the success of a controversial U.S. military raid in Yemen last month was dishonoring Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens, the Navy SEAL who died in the operation.
Amid reports about a lack of adequate intelligence and sufficient ground support, the White House has faced mounting pressure to justify its authorization for the Jan. 29 operation against suspected al Qaeda militants in Yemen’s al Bayda province. The raid claimed the lives of Owens and several civilians, including women and children. Three other Americans were wounded, and a U.S. aircraft was lost.
The surprise attack, the first counterterrorism operation President Donald Trumpauthorized since taking office, was supposed to gather intelligence about al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Despite the heavy loss of life, the White House has insisted that the raid was “highly successful.” Spicer doubled down on that assessment during Wednesday’s White House press briefing, suggesting that whoever was saying otherwise was not only wrong, but also doing a disservice to Owens.
“Anyone who would suggest otherwise doesn’t fully appreciate how successful that mission was,” Spicer said in response to a question from NBC’s Kristen Welker. “Anyone who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology to the life and service of Chief Owens.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, hadtold reporters on Tuesday after receiving a briefing on the operation that he would not call the raid a success.
More: Sean Spicer Says Questioning Success Of Botched Yemen Raid Is Offensive To Dead Soldier
Sounds like more "circular reasoning" from Sean Spicer. Also, what about the 8-year-old girl who was killed?