Trump passes blame for Yemen raid to his generals: ‘They lost Ryan’

[BoomerFan]

Trump passes blame for Yemen raid to his generals: ‘They lost Ryan’

Weeks after a U.S. Navy SEAL was killed in a covert mission in Yemen, Trump has resisted accepting responsibility for authorizing the mission and the subsequent death of Senior Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens.

In an interview with Fox News that aired Tuesday morning, Trump said the mission “was started before I got here.”

He noted that the operation was something his generals “were looking at for a long time doing.”

“This was something that was, you know, just — they wanted to do,” Trump said. “ And they came to see me and they explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected.”

“And they lost Ryan,” Trump continued.

Owens is the first U.S. service member killed in the line of duty during Trump's administration.

Trump traveled to greet Owens’s body when it was returned to U.S. soil. Later, Owens’s father said that he refused to meet Trump that day and has called for an investigation into the decision-making that led to the operation.

Trump offered sympathy for the officer’s father, William Owens.

“I can understand people saying that,” Trump said. “I’d feel — you know, I’d feel, what’s worse? There’s nothing worse.”

But never did Trump acknowledge his responsibility as the senior-most leader in the United States military chain of command in authorizing the operation.

Facing criticism after the military disclosed that the raid left civilians dead in addition to Owens, the White House has repeatedly stated that the mission had been approved by the Obama administration.

“Not only was it a very, very thought-out process by this administration, and it started back on November 7th in terms of — clearly, well before that, but it was moved forward by Centcom on November 7th,” Spicer said during a White House press briefing Feb. 2.

An Obama administration official disputed the White House's account, suggesting that it was an attempt to pass the blame.

“In a nutshell, Trump and his team owns the process and the ultimate decision — and the consequences,” said Colin Kahl, a national security official in the Obama administration, on Twitter.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

You can delegate your authority, but not your responsibility. That was a shameful display of a lack of leadership and cowardice to accept the responsibility of his position.

[*bfine32*]

I would recommend reading the actual comments without the interpretation from WaPo.

He praised his Generals and to suggest that saying "They lost Ryan" as a casting of blame has never been around Military talk.

The boys went on a raid and they lost Ryan. That is to say they suffered a loss. Not that they caused it or was responsible for it.

He is not saying "They are responsible for the loss of Ryan".

Of course there will be those that consider this "defending" Trump and that's fine. I find it reprehensible that folks will manipulate these words to try to satisfy their desire to hate.

[Benton]

It's going to happen, and is one more reason I'd prefer we were much less involved in militarized logistic services. But at the end of the day, it is on the "well respected" generals (not sure how their public perception matters in their ability to plan operations).

On the other hand, if you're too busy to attend security briefings because you're up late Tweeting or out golfing, then you've got to own that perception that you're incompetent.

[hollodero]

That topic is too American for me to weigh in, so sorry in advance. Just quickly and cautious, these SEALS are brave men going on risky missions, possible casualties are always part of the deal. I never understood the public blame game that followed, and I don't understand it here. Go after Trump for one of the 10.000 more valid reasons, not for that one. Could have happened under any president.
I don't know if blaming Trump really honors the fallen. But well, too American, sorry, I'm out.

[GMDino]

And naturally he calls it a great success that he will take credit for at the same time.

Again, I can't blame the POTUS for every military loss.  Too many variables.  But I can suggest they did something poorly like rush into it too soon to prove they are "doing something".  Or sleeping through their first authorized military operation after campaigning that the other candidate didn't have the stamina for the the job.

[Bengalzona]

(03-01-2017, 01:32 AM)bfine32 Wrote: I would recommend reading the actual comments without the interpretation from WaPo.

He praised his Generals and to suggest that saying "They lost Ryan" as a casting of blame has never been around Military talk.

The boys went on a raid and they lost Ryan. That is to say they suffered a loss. Not that they caused it or was responsible for it.

He is not saying "They are responsible for the loss of Ryan".

Of course there will be those that consider this "defending" Trump and that's fine. I find it reprehensible that folks will manipulate these words to try to satisfy their desire to hate.

That interpretation doesn't jive with his other comments about the generals just before he said "And they lost Ryan":

Quote:"This was something that was, you know, just — they wanted to do,” Trump said. “ And they came to see me and they explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected.” “And they lost Ryan,” Trump continued.

He appears to be saying, "My generals wanted to do this thing and they lost Ryan."

If that was not what he intended to say, perhaps he should think more carefully before he speaks.

Or maybe that was what he intended to say.... 

[Griever]

(03-01-2017, 01:32 AM)bfine32 Wrote: I would recommend reading the actual comments without the interpretation from WaPo.

He praised his Generals and to suggest that saying "They lost Ryan" as a casting of blame has never been around Military talk.

The boys went on a raid and they lost Ryan. That is to say they suffered a loss. Not that they caused it or was responsible for it.

He is not saying "They are responsible for the loss of Ryan".

Of course there will be those that consider this "defending" Trump and that's fine. I find it reprehensible that folks will manipulate these words to try to satisfy their desire to hate.

maybe next time they should plan accordingly and not rush into things

maybe next time he should also be in the situation room monitoring whats going on, instead of sleeping or tweeting about meryl streep

[hollodero]

(03-01-2017, 08:47 AM)Griever Wrote: maybe next time he should also be in the situation room monitoring whats going on

Would that have changed anything though.

[Griever]

(03-01-2017, 09:05 AM)hollodero Wrote: Would that have changed anything though.

no

but when you campaign against hillary and use "her sleeping" during benghazi, you should expect the same if you arent there for your first mission

he should at least pretend he cares

[hollodero]

(03-01-2017, 09:13 AM)Griever Wrote: no

but when you campaign against hillary and use "her sleeping" during benghazi, you should expect the same if you arent there for your first mission

he should at least pretend he cares

Maybe so. He is a hypocrite, many examples, no disagreement here. I wonder if there aren't better suited instances to attack Trump, though. That one uses a tragic outcome that could have happened under any president.

It feels like slightly in bad taste to me. And sure he had bad taste too, but that doesn't necessarily mean the opposition has to adapt to his standards. I don't know, and as I said it's too American for me. I just think one might better let that one be and just honor the brave fallen one without these political overtones.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(03-01-2017, 07:39 AM)hollodero Wrote: That topic is too American for me to weigh in, so sorry in advance. Just quickly and cautious, these SEALS are brave men going on risky missions, possible casualties are always part of the deal. I never understood the public blame game that followed, and I don't understand it here. Go after Trump for one of the 10.000 more valid reasons, not for that one. Could have happened under any president.
I don't know if blaming Trump really honors the fallen. But well, too American, sorry, I'm out.

It isn't about blame. It is about responsibility. It was Trump's decision making authority which green lit the mission. Instead of accepting his responsibility he instead blamed the generals. 

Anything that does or doesn't happen on a mission is the leader's responsibility. Even if something goes wrong and wasn't your fault or beyond your control, it's still your responsibility. I can't tell my company or battalion commander, "Well, my squad leaders wanted to do it." Leaders at the lowest level of the Army should know this. I would have fired a squad leader if he told me me, "Well, they wanted to do it." Is he the Commander in Chief or the Blamer in Chief. Apparently, Tiny Hands has BBs for balls. 

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(03-01-2017, 09:34 AM)hollodero Wrote: Maybe so. He is a hypocrite, many examples, no disagreement here. I wonder if there aren't better suited instances to attack Trump, though. That one uses a tragic outcome that could have happened under any president.

It feels like slightly in bad taste to me. And sure he had bad taste too, but that doesn't necessarily mean the opposition has to adapt to his standards. I don't know, and as I said it's too American for me. I just think one might better let that one be and just honor the brave fallen one without these political overtones.

Trump's picture was in the news greeting the SEAL's casket when it arrived at Dover AFB. Did the Trump administration use it as a photo op or was the press there coincidentally to take the picture?

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(03-01-2017, 01:32 AM)bfine32 Wrote: I would recommend reading the actual comments without the interpretation from WaPo.

He praised his Generals and to suggest that saying "They lost Ryan" as a casting of blame has never been around Military talk.

The boys went on a raid and they lost Ryan. That is to say they suffered a loss. Not that they caused it or was responsible for it.

He is not saying "They are responsible for the loss of Ryan".

Of course there will be those that consider this "defending" Trump and that's fine. I find it reprehensible that folks will manipulate these words to try to satisfy their desire to hate.

Yeah, but the generals. They wanted to do it. 

[xxlt]

(03-01-2017, 01:12 AM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: You can delegate your authority, but not your responsibility. That was a shameful display of a lack of leadership and cowardice to accept the responsibility of his position.

Almost as shameful as his exploitation of the widow in last night's speech.

[xxlt]

(03-01-2017, 07:48 AM)GMDino Wrote: And naturally he calls it a great success that he will take credit for at the same time.

Again, I can't blame the POTUS for every military loss.  Too many variables.  But I can suggest they did something poorly like rush into it too soon to prove they are "doing something".  Or sleeping through their first authorized military operation after campaigning that the other candidate didn't have the stamina for the the job.

Others in the administration have admitted that calling the mission a great success is another lie. Claims they got great intel were greatly exaggerated.

[xxlt]

(03-01-2017, 10:12 AM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Trump's picture was in the news greeting the SEAL's casket when it arrived at Dover AFB. Did the Trump administration use it as a photo op or was the press there coincidentally to take the picture?

They faked it. More fake news. They took a picture of him and photo shopped in a casket. Too busy making up news to cover it. The failing media strikes again.

[Griever]

(03-01-2017, 12:19 PM)xxlt Wrote: Almost as shameful as his exploitation of the widow in last night's speech.

exactly, and all the crazies on the right are mad because some of the dems refused to play into her exploitation by standing and clapping

[*bfine32*]

(03-01-2017, 08:25 AM)Bengalzona Wrote: That interpretation doesn't jive with his other comments about the generals just before he said "And they lost Ryan":




He appears to be saying, "My generals wanted to do this thing and they lost Ryan."

If that was not what he intended to say, perhaps he should think more carefully before he speaks.

Or maybe that was what he intended to say.... 

Well if he's saying My generals and saying they came to him then isn't he taking ownership of the situation? "I sent one of my platoons on a raid last night and they lost a Soldier." Does that now mean I have shunned responsibility?

Or maybe, just maybe folks are trying to hard to play gotcha.

[*bfine32*]

(03-01-2017, 12:19 PM)xxlt Wrote: Almost as shameful as his exploitation of the widow in last night's speech.

This is just folks that can find nothing else to bytch about, but they gotta bytch about something. I sure she was not forced to be there, nor was she surprised that her husband was going to be honored.