TPM - "Pentagon Points Finger of Blame at Trump" (I hope it was the middle one)

[NRaleighLiberal]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/pentagon-points-finger-of-blame-at-trump

By JOSH MARSHALL Published FEBRUARY 1, 2017, 11:59 PM EDT

It now seems clear the special ops raid in Yemen did not go according to plan and it went badly. This Times account relates a "a chain of mishaps and misjudgments that plunged the elite commandos into a ferocious 50-minute firefight that also left three others wounded and a $75 million aircraft deliberately destroyed." Chief Petty Officer William Owens was killed in the operation. There also appear to have been a large number of civilian casualties.

Obviously, not every military operation is successful. But there is an extraordinary passage in this article just out from Reuters. What Reuters identifies as "U.S. military officials" says that "[President] Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations."

As a result, three officials said, the attacking SEAL team found itself dropping onto a reinforced al Qaeda base defended by landmines, snipers, and a larger than expected contingent of heavily armed Islamist extremists.
The Pentagon directed queries about the officials' characterization of the raid to U.S. Central Command. The latter pointed only to its statement on Wednesday.

This is an extraordinary and yet also ambiguous statement. It suggests that Trump somehow jumped the gun, approving the mission without adequate intelligence or support. But of course missions come to the President through a chain of command. If there's not enough operational intelligence, he should be told that by his military advisors. It's not like the President can dial into troops in the region directly and order a strike. Available reports suggest that the decision was made at a dinner the President had with Secretary Mattis, the Joint Chiefs Chairman Dunford, Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, Jared Kushner and Vice President Pence. Dunford is the President's chief military advisor and Mattis is the immediate link in the chain of command. So the highest level people were there to give the President whatever information he needed.

snip

more

and as usual lately,

[Cha]

1. blotus is on record for not trusting American Intelligence sources.. did putin screw him over?

Obviously, not every military operation is successful. But there is an extraordinary passage in this article just out from Reuters. What Reuters identifies as "U.S. military officials" says that " Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations."

[uponit7771]

14. +1, good point... he doesn't trust the intel so of course he isn't going to listen

[Cha]

20. JHC.. a SEAL killed in his first 2 weeks or however long asshole has

been in charge.

The gd buck stops @ trump

[brush]

2. Heard on Progress radio that Obama rejected the raid because intelligence was not sufficient

trump screwed up by trying to show up Obama and to show what a strong, decisive leader he is.

Translation: "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

[Cha]

17. Thank you for that.. trump got a SEAL killed and Propaganda

Central will blame it on Obama or anyone who isn't trump.

[braddy]

3. Planning has frequently been an issue with navy spec ops.

[uponit7771]

13. has this happened elsewhere? I've not heard about such a fubar'd op

[braddy]

22. From it's earliest days SEAL team 6 has been seen by some as too Hollywood, too full of itself and

somewhat undisciplined for what they should be like, notice that you know little about Delta for example and hear almost nothing about them or their missions and little about Special Forces.

https://theintercept.com/2017/01/10/the-crimes-of-seal-team-6/

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/world/asia/the-secret-history-of-seal-team-6.html?_r=0

[uponit7771]

32. Interesting... Real killers do operate in silence

[Cha]

19. trump approved it iike an idiot

[ProudLib72]

4. The Pretender in Queef

likes to play with little green army men. Usually ends with him biting the heads off a couple, though.

[madaboutharry]

5. It seems like some voices aren't being

listened to.

It could be Trump is influenced by the hot heads.

[elleng]

7. My bet is that trump is the hot head,

not (easily) contained UNTIL they start saying NO.

[madaboutharry]

11. I was thinking Flynn and Bannon.

Two psychos.

[elleng]

21. Yes, #1 bannon, #2 flynn.

[montana_hazeleyes]

30. He hears voices alright.

[uponit7771]

33. +1

[sarcasmo]

6. Wait until 45 and Bannon call an air raid on Iraq.

[Blue_true]

38. Iran? nt

[sarcasmo]

39. 45 said we should have took the Iraqi oil.

[applegrove]

8. Leaks are everywhere. People sure do love their country in the civil service.

Last edited Sat Feb 4, 2017, 04:36 AM - Edit history (1)

[GP6971]

9. Well, we all know that Trump

knows more than the generals. It's obvious (as it has been since he uttered that incredibaly stupid remark) that he knows jack s**t. And now it has gotten people killed.

And he could care less.

[uponit7771]

10. ... and now Benedict Donald begins with the US military. See how long this last

[KittyWampus]

12. Neither Mattis nor Dunford are military intelligence though, are they? Isn't that someone

who should have been there?

[uponit7771]

15. Benedict Donald, knows more than the generals

[GusBob]

16. Well one version I read

The mission was compromised as the enemy knew they were coming ( heard low flying drones or something)

The SEALs coming in intercepted radio transmissions that indicated their cover was blown and no element of surprise

They went in anyway into a hornets nest

So if true whomever made that decision really mucked up the show

If that person decided he could not face an angry CIC or take the blame for an abortive mission because #MAGA GOD DAMMIT! Well God have mercy, the heat of battle on all

But in their after action review I have a feeling that commander will be faulted and hopefully cashiered

[Rex]

18. But Shithead said he knew better than all the military generals combined.

He needs to tone his shit back. Trump will have burnt all his bridges by May.

[Blaukraut]

23. Someone needs to take the toys away from him and put him in time out. NOW!

If he is left alone, he'll get us all killed.

[burrowowl]

24. Who will take his toys away????

[Blaukraut]

25. It'll have to be congress, sadly

Not holding out much hope for that until that craven cabal has milked Trump dry for their own agenda.

[Jopin Klobe]

26. "... the highest level people were there ..." ...

... Secretary Mattis, the Joint Chiefs Chairman Dunford, Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, Jared Kushner and Vice President Pence ...

... seriously? ...

"... the highest level people were there ..." ??? ...

... there are people in repeat anger management classes that are of a higher level ...

[fishwax]

27. why would anyone expect him to do his homework just because lives are on the line

Details are hard.

Obviously, not every military operation is successful. But there is an extraordinary passage in this article just out from Reuters. What Reuters identifies as "U.S. military officials" says that " Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations."

[ProudProgressiveNow]

28. #TRUMPGHAZI

#TRUMPGHAZI

[myrna minx]

29. God! This is just a fucking game to them. Ryan and McConnell own this.

[Drahthaardogs]

31. BENGHAZI!

Come on now, say it!

[Achilleaze]

34. draft-dodger-in-chief Comrade Casino accepts full responsibility for the FAIL

[lindysalsagal]

35. Is POTUS supposed to make pressers about Seal deaths?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that tip off our enemies when we go public with their successes? Are we supposed to make all of this public?

But the bigger question is will fRump ever feel the least bit guilty about this death and the injuries and the $75mil?

I guess this is how he'll make our military better.....

[Gothmog]

36. Trump is incompetent and his stupidity killed this Seal

[yardwork]

37. Kick

[jmg257]

40. Pretty Incredible that the Pentagon is blaming the president. A mission being planned for months

suffers from lack of intelligence??? J-SOC? Special Forces?? WTF??

This is an extraordinary and yet also ambiguous statement. It suggests that Trump somehow jumped the gun, approving the mission without adequate intelligence or support. But of course missions come to the President through a chain of command. If there's not enough operational intelligence, he should be told that by his military advisors. It's not like the President can dial into troops in the region directly and order a strike. Available reports suggest that the decision was made at a dinner the President had with Secretary Mattis, the Joint Chiefs Chairman Dunford, Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, Jared Kushner and Vice President Pence. Dunford is the President's chief military advisor and Mattis is the immediate link in the chain of command. So the highest level people were there to give the President whatever information he needed.

[NNadir]

41. How can the military compare a military operation with the importance of Apprentice ratings?

They obviously have their priorities wrong.

I wonder what their reaction will be when they're ordered to invade Mexico, or drop nukes on Australia?

[Takket]

42. i look forwards to the dozens of Benghazi-esque hearings to expose Trump's idiocy!

[keithbvadu2]

43. Don't forget that Pence also approved it.

[IronLionZion]

44. Are we going to have lots of hearings on this for many years?

Congressional investigations?

Didn't think so.