A lawmaker and former Navy SEAL is requesting a briefing from the Pentagon on the U.S. response to troops involved in a firefight in Afghanistan this week that left one special operator dead.
In addition to a formal briefing to Congress, Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., is also considering ordering a hearing or investigation into the mission in Marjah this week after learning from other special operators that bureaucratic hurdles and restrictive rules of engagement may have delayed the response to assist the U.S. forces taking fire.
“To think that these guys were abandoned by Washington while they were under fire is unthinkable and frankly against everything the U.S. military stands for,” Zinke said in a statement. “If there was a decision to delay the [quick reaction force] or call off airstrikes on enemy combatants after the ground commanders ordered it, that is a clear dereliction of duty.
“I will be getting to the bottom of this. Staff Sgt. Matthew McClintock, his family and his unit deserve for the truth to be out there, and we need to make sure this does not happen again,” Zinke continued.
The Pentagon pushed back against these allegations, saying U.S. forces responded as quickly as possible to the troops on the ground in need of help.
“I’m happy to listen to whatever concerns the congressman may have, but there’s no indication there was any delay whatsoever,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said.
McClintock died and two were wounded during the attack on Tuesday when U.S. special operators began taking fire in Marjah. The Pentagon said the troops were on a train, advise and assist mission with Afghan special operators.
Two helicopters were called in to evacuate the wounded troops. One was waved off before reaching the site of the attack, while the other landed safely but was unable to take off after its rotor hit a wall.
Cook said hours after the death was reported that the firefight was still going on and it was unclear if casualties had been evacuated. Despite that, he said the U.S. strategy to support Afghans taking the lead in the fight is working.
