The White House is sticking by its recent authorization of a clandestine raid at an al Qaeda facility in Yemen, despite the military acknowledging that civilian casualties were likely, a U.S. Navy SEAL was killed and mounting questions over the operation’s timing.
“It’s hard to ever call something a complete success when you have the loss of life or people injured,” Spicer told reporters on Thursday. “But I think when you look at the totality of what was gained to prevent the future loss of life here in America and against our people and our institutions, I think it was a successful operation by all standards.”
The raid, led by the Navy’s SEAL Team 6, took place this weekend and resulted in the first military death under President Trump’s watch and injuries to four other U.S. service members. Reports say the 8-year-old daughter of the late Anwar al-Awlaki was also killed.
Spicer confirmed the Washington Examiner’s reporting on Wednesday that the initial plan for the operation had been pitched under the Obama administration, but was postponed because defense officials said it should take place on a “moonless night,” which didn’t occur until after Trump took office.
Spicer went on to provide additional details – the “tick tock,” as he called it – on why Trump ultimately decided to authorize the raid and how the plan reached the president’s desk.
According to Spicer, U.S. Central Command first submitted the proposal to the Defense Department on Nov. 7 and legal teams “were involved immediately” to review it and offer recommendations.
“On Dec. 19, the plan was approved by the department of Defense and recommended that it be moved ahead,” he said, noting that it was then sent to the National Security Council at the White House.
Interagency meetings that occurred on Jan. 6 resulted in the recommendation that the operation be held and executed on a moonless night. Weeks later, once Trump had entered the Oval Office, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis read through the plan and voiced his support.
“On Jan. 25, Trump was briefed by [White House national security adviser] Gen. Michael Flynn on Mattis’ recommendation,” Spicer explained. Trump saw Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford that evening, along with Vice President Pence and several of his senior aides, for a dinner and extensive briefing on the operation.
“On Jan. 26, President Trump signed the memo authorizing the action,” Spicer said, adding that “this was a very, very well thought-out and executed effort.”
