President Trump once again touted the success of a raid in Yemen last month that left a Navy SEAL dead and a government helicopter destroyed.
“I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, ‘Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies,'” Trump said Tuesday night in a joint address to Congress. “Ryan’s legacy is etched into eternity.”
Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens was killed in a January raid against al Qaeda in Yemen that also wounded four other U.S. service members and destroyed a V-22 Osprey.
There was some question following the raid about what was collected during the operation and reports suggested that the action yielded no significant intelligence. U.S. Central Command posted videos online to show the success of the raid, but the videos were later taken down after reports showed that they had been public knowledge for nearly a decade.
The White House also clashed with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., over whether the raid was a success. McCain said that a mission should not be deemed a success, even if objectives are completed if an American is killed. But White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that saying so is a “disservice” to the life of Owens.
“I think anyone who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology and disservice to the life of Chief Owens,” Spicer said. “The raid, the action that was taken in Yemen was a huge success. American lives will be saved because of it. Future attacks will be prevented.”
Owens’ widow attended the speech to Congress as a guest of Trump and received one of the longest applauses of the evening, with tears streaming down her face.
“Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom — we will never forget him,” Trump said.
