Questions rise about Trump-ordered raid in Yemen

[mystery-ak]

Questions rise about Trump-ordered raid in Yemen
By Rebecca Savransky - 02/02/17 08:04 AM EST

The first military operation ordered by President Trump may have resulted in as many as 30 civilian deaths and the killing of an American operative, according to several reports questioning the intelligence behind the raid in Yemen.

U.S. military officials told Reuters that the operation was approved without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup operations.

Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens died in the raid, along with 14 militants. President Trump flew to Dover Air Base in Delaware on Wednesday to visit with Owens's family.

Trump approved the early Sunday morning raid, but it had been in the works under the Obama administration for months.

more
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/317501-trump-ordered-raid-in-yemen-approved-without-sufficient-intelligence

[Frank Cannon]

U.S. military officials told Reuters that the operation was approved without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup operations.

Well who's fault is that? Sounds to me like it my be this unnamed military source.

[r9etb]

U.S. military officials told Reuters that the operation was approved without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup operations.

Well who's fault is that? Sounds to me like it my be this unnamed military source.

According to other stories, the mission was planned while Obama was still president, and had to wait until there was no moon.

Not Trump's fault.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

According to other stories, the mission was planned while Obama was still president, and had to wait until there was no moon.

Not Trump's fault.

Nobody's fault until we figure out why Obama sat on it for a few months.

[LonestarDream]

U.S. military officials told Reuters that the operation was approved without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup operations.

Well who's fault is that? Sounds to me like it my be this unnamed military source.

Seal team six not prepared?  Ohhhhkay.


Yet another O' mess that Trump will have to clean up.


@don-o

[ABX]

Nobody's fault until we figure out why Obama sat on it for a few months.

That makes sense. I wonder what the Joint Chiefs advised Trump about the operation... oh wait, never mind...

[don-o]

it appears al Qaeda fighters in Yemen were tipped off to the approaching forces from the United States and United Arab Emirates.

Anyone have any doubt that Mattis will get to the bottom of this?

@LonestarDream

[LonestarDream]

Anyone have any doubt that Mattis will get to the bottom of this?

@LonestarDream

Not me.  Donald brought in the true professionals.

@don-o

[r9etb]

That makes sense. I wonder what the Joint Chiefs advised Trump about the operation... oh wait, never mind...

They asked for a GO/NOGO decision -- says to me that they "advised" in the affirmative.

[geronl]

I thought we were going to let the military run it, but we have the same micro-managing as always

[geronl]

Not me.  Donald brought in the true professionals.

@don-o

Send Bannon over there to figure it out in person

[Bigun]

Those same "Military Officials" need a quick and very hard lesson in how to keep their damned mouths shut in public if you ask me!

[skeeter]

After eight straight years of obsequious obeisance to the Obama administration. I guess we should get used to a scandal erupting in the media every-damn-time someone in the Trump administration takes a crap.

Get over the election a**holes or when something really does require a closer look no one will be paying any attention to you.

[LonestarDream]

Send Bannon over there to figure it out in person

Generally, this is  a question for The Generals that Trump brought on...

[geronl]

Generally, this is  a question for The Generals that Trump brought on...

Bannon is not under their command.

[HonestJohn]

Nobody's fault until we figure out why Obama sat on it for a few months.

Probably due to the fact that...

U.S. military officials told Reuters that the operation was approved without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup operations.

[HonestJohn]

They asked for a GO/NOGO decision -- says to me that they "advised" in the affirmative.

The JCS don't sit in the NSC anymore.

I highly doubt Trump could have been advised when he kicked them out.

[r9etb]

The JCS don't sit in the NSC anymore.

I highly doubt Trump could have been advised when he kicked them out.

You do know that the NSC doesn't order military strikes, right?

[HonestJohn]

You do know that the NSC doesn't order military strikes, right?

Derp.  So much derp in that.

Who advises the President as to our capabilities and chances of success, then?  Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks?

[r9etb]

Derp.  So much derp in that.

Who advises the President as to our capabilities and chances of success, then?  Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks?

Sigh.

[Bigun]

Sigh.

Apparently, @HonestJohn is under the delusion that just because President Trump relieved the JCS from having to attend every dumbassed meeting of the NSC on the docket they somehow became completely unavailable to him!   

[txradioguy]

In all honesty what should have happened is that they should have put a 2-3 week hold on the boots on the ground raids until 1) the new POTUS and SecDef were full up to speed on them and b) during said pause have the G-2 and J-2 at the Pentagon...DIA...NSA et al review their intel...update as necessary and then resume these type of operations as necessary.

That way they aren't set up for failure by their predecessors like what seems to be the case here.

They could still call a pause...explain why and put the blame for that dead SEAL squarely on the last administration.

[Night Hides Not]

U.S. military officials told Reuters that the operation was approved without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup operations.

Based on my own "limited" experience from 8+ years as an Air Defense Artillery officer, I never saw an operations order that was based on "sufficient intelligence, ground support, or adequate backup operations."

These "U.S. military officials" quoted need to resign their commissions, IMO. Where the hell were they when this operation was being orchestrated? IMO, these officers were more concerned about their careers than the success of the mission.

Being a leader demands that you speak up when the need arises. Even if things work out because you spoke up, that doesn't necessarily mean that your career will benefit. I experienced that on more than a few occasions, but I had never planned on a career anyway.

I pray that our officer corps is transformed from a group of Courtney Massengales to Sam Damons.

[txradioguy]

Based on my own "limited" experience from 8+ years as an Air Defense Artillery officer, I never saw an operations order that was based on "sufficient intelligence, ground support, or adequate backup operations."

These "U.S. military officials" quoted need to resign their commissions, IMO. Where the hell were they when this operation was being orchestrated? IMO, these officers were more concerned about their careers than the success of the mission.

Being a leader demands that you speak up when the need arises. Even if things work out because you spoke up, that doesn't necessarily mean that your career will benefit. I experienced that on more than a few occasions, but I had never planned on a career anyway.

I pray that our officer corps is transformed from a group of Courtney Massengales to Sam Damons.

That's true...you can never have "enough" intel.

I'm afraid that the Officer Corps has become too political...you won't have many that rise to the rank of general that will step up and speak the truth about something even though it flies int he face of what is being said.  Sr. NCO's are becoming just as political as well I'm afraid.

It's become more about protecting your own career than doing what's right for the soldiers you lead.

[Bigun]

U.S. military officials told Reuters...

Why?  Whose interests were served by needless running off at the mouth to the press?