Father Of SEAL Killed In Yemen To Trump: 'Don't Hide Behind My Son's Death'

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo


By ESME CRIBB Published FEBRUARY 26, 2017, 9:51 AM EDT

The father of a U.S. commando killed during the first counter-terrorism operation of President Donald Trump's term in office said Friday that Trump shouldn't "hide behind" his son's death to avoid an investigation into the mission.

"Don’t hide behind my son’s death to prevent an investigation," William Owens, the father of Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, said in an interview with the Miami Herald. "The government owes my son an investigation."

William "Ryan" Owens died Jan. 28 of wounds sustained during a raid on an al-Qaida base in Yemen. Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware in February to join Owens' family and meet his remains. "I told them I don’t want to meet the President," William Owens said, as quoted by the Miami Herald. "I told them I didn’t want to make a scene about it, but my conscience wouldn’t let me talk to him."

He questioned the decision to launch the raid. "Why at this time did there have to be this stupid mission when it wasn’t even barely a week into his administration? Why?" Owens said. "All of a sudden we had to make this grand display?"

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/william-owens-seal-killed-yemen-raid-donald-trump

[Sunlei]

1. Mr. Owens0 The Repub. and his group of NEWBIES- killed your son and about 30 woman & BABIES

trumps son in law! was one of the people who approved the ground mission and Mr. trump was on the phone earlier that same day with putin.

A call that was never recorded in text official record so I have to use my imagination, IMO trump bragged about the combat ground mission and Russia warned the terrorists.

[DinahMoeHum]

2. The original, from The Miami Herald. . .

Very long piece, with additional disturbing points. (boldface emphasis is mine)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article135064074.html

(snip)
“I’d like some answers about all the things that happened in the timeline that led up to it. I know what the timeline is, and it bothers me a lot,” said Owens, who acknowledges he didn’t vote for Donald Trump.

One aspect of the chain of events that nags at him is the fact that the president signed the order suspending the entry of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on Jan. 27 — the day before the mission. Owens wonders whether that affected friendly forces in Yemen who were assisting with the raid.

“It just doesn’t make any sense to do something to antagonize an ally when you’re going to conduct a mission in that country,” he said. “Did we alienate some of the people working with them, translators or support people. Maybe they decided to release information to jeopardize the mission.”

These are only some of the many questions that Owens believes should be thoroughly examined, including the possibility that the decision to move forward with the mission was motivated by politics.
(snip)

[stuffmatters]

14. The O.P coupled with Miami Heral Story are explosive. Thanks to you both.

Owens drawing connex also between Trump's travel ban ag Yemenis and the failure of the raid possibly due to Yemeni on ground alienation of crucial loyalties is really cogent. I remember the original reports said the main targets had left beforehand, appeared to have been tipped off.

I hope this story gets major and constant MSM and internet news attention. This grieving father has every right and should be given every platform to express his anger at Trump & Co's grandiose incompetence that killed his brave son.

[Sunlei]

3. mark 376

to long to tweet directly but I'm trying for 100 views a minute tweeting to my follow list. just sent to Russia see what happens now

@shaveddinov @navalny Father Of SEAL Killed To Trump: 'Don't Hide Behind My Son's Death' - DU http://demu.gr/10141713393 via @demunderground

[busterbrown]

9. Good Job..N/t

[Sunlei]

11. thanks, first time test, only had to send it to 20 people, a couple in russia lol :P

though I did beg Obama to come post a topic on DU, I doubt he will but you never know!

[groundloop]

4. "make this grand display", "motivated by politics" - HELL YES THAT'S WHAT THIS MISSION WAS ABOUT

45* assuredly already had the speech written which he'd give if this mission had succeeded in any way, shape, or form. He's so fucking jealous of Pres. Obama that he was attempting to gain some credibility as 'commander in chief', and didn't give a fuck if soldiers or civilians were killed in the process.

[heaven05]

5. trump the coward in chief

and that kushner 'advisor' need to go to Afghanistan and be in an ill planned and timed 'secret mission'. Both of them would piss and shit their pants. What fucking cowards the deplorable voters of this country elected to lead them!!!! But I'm beginning to suspect most of them are stupid cowards also. on edit: I wish I could rec this a million times. Don't do twitter but I'm sure someone know how here. This was a totally unnecessary life lost, put into harms way by cowards!!!!!!

[Sunlei]

8. no boots on the ground & what does the No experience Republican do his first week? ground misson of

doom. kills many babies & mothers. wounds and slays navy seals, crashes a 75 MILLION dollar chopper.

[IronLionZion]

6. In honor of William "Ryan" Owens they will investigate Hillary's emails some more

and vote to repeal the ACA a few dozen more times.

It's the ONLY way to honor a fallen soldier.



They are afraid of what would turn up in the investigation. They know they screwed up and that Trump is a failure. Respected military leaders don't want to work with him and have spoken out against his policies.

[Sunlei]

7. ding, DINggg 1k views for DU and I begged some cool people to start 'topics' on DU

game over got to get off twitter now, I got about 300 tracking cookies installed and they're bogging down a monster computer

[Sunlei]

12. a more detailed story here. The Father refused to meet with Trump. He knows Republicans let trump

kill and wound scores of people just so trump could pretend to be a real president. Republicans are to blame for their idiot in the White House.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/26/father-navy-seal-yemen-trump-investigation-stupid-mission

[smirkymonkey]

13. This just makes me angry beyond belief!

How dare he play with people's lives like that! He probably has no remorse and doesn't even give it a second thought.

[SunSeeker]

10. Trump wasted the life of that father's brave son.

[nitpicker]

15. Link to BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39099680