Spicer says McCain owes apology to dead Navy SEAL over criticism of mission

LarryW · 02-09-2017, 06:47

I have no right to rant. I'm no QP in any regard other than having a deep respect for the mission and for the work done. But, it chaps my ass that the control of information is so pathetically limp in all areas where information should be respected. Politics and politicians have made our Government a sieve no less than the cheapest tabloid, and the military is placed at risk because of it. IMHO, politics has become a polytheistic religion with lies, bent truths, and down right bullshit as the dogma and sensitive information the currency. This is an example of all of it.

Quote:

Spicer says McCain owes apology to dead Navy SEAL over criticism of mission

Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, Wednesday defended the deadly commando raid in Yemen last month, labeling the mission a success and saying anyone who sees it otherwise owes the Navy SEAL killed during the raid an apology.

Spicer was asked by a reporter-- who mentioned Sen. John McCain’s earlier comments about the raid—and Spicer said, “Anyone who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology and [does] a disservice.”

Spicer never mentioned McCain by name.

The Arizona Republican told NBC News earlier that he did not believe the raid could be called a success because a $75-million plane was destroyed and the commando was killed.

Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens was killed in the assault during the Jan. 29 raid. Another three U.S. forces were wounded in the "hard landing" of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft at a staging area for the mission.

According to Central Command, the firefight included small arms fire, hand grenades and close air support fire. U.S. Central Command said earlier this month that civilians may have been hit by gunfire from aircraft called in to assist U.S. troops.

The State Dept. weighed in on the latest reports. "The United States conducts operations consistent with international law and in coordination with the government of Yemen. We will not relent in our mission to degrade, disrupt and destroy," Al Qaeda and the Islamic State terror group, the department's acting spokesman Mark Toner said.

McCain told NBC News that he did not criticize the mission and recalled the time he was held as a POW during the Vietnam War, when U.S. soldiers attempted to free the captives.

"Unfortunately, the prison had been evacuated. But the brave men who risked their lives in an effort to rescue us prisoners of war were genuine American heroes," he said. "Because the mission failed did not in any way diminish their courage and willingness to help their fellow Americans who were held captive.

"Mr. Spicer should know that story."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017...m-mission.html

RIP, Senior Chief Owens.

glebo · 02-09-2017, 07:27

Haaa, McCain, saying about losing an airplane. Did he forget he almost sank an aircraft carrier????

I wonder how much that "oopsy" cost...??

Oldrotorhead · 02-09-2017, 07:57

When John McCain finished the Navel Academy flight school spote were usually awarded on performance and it wasn't often some one 5 from the bottom of the graduating class got a flight school slot.

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/09/mccains-plane-crashes/
"FULL ANSWER

Update, Oct. 12: We have further updated this article to include details from newly released Navy records of an investigation that found McCain's first crash was due to pilot error, and not, as McCain has stated, an engine failure. The L.A. Times story also pinpointed the dates of early incidents more closely, and we have rewritten and re-ordered some sections to reflect this new information.

Update, Sept 19: This item was originally posted Sept. 5, 2008. We have updated it to include additional details of the 1967 Forrestal disaster from official documents, which differ from McCain's own, widely accepted recollection. We have also included McCain's admission of "daredevil clowning" in an accident that did not result in loss of his plane.

We have had numerous questions about this widely circulated claim. Some say McCain "lost" five planes, others that he "crashed" five planes. All offer this alleged "fact" as evidence that he was a bad pilot. All are incorrect.

McCain did lose two Navy aircraft while piloting them. One crash was found to be be McCain's fault, the other due to an engine failure of undetermined cause.. A third was destroyed on the deck of the carrier USS Forrestal when a missile fired accidentally from another plane hit either the plane next to McCain's or, less likely, his own aircraft, triggering a disastrous fire that killed 134 sailors and nearly killed McCain. A fourth plane was lost when he was shot down over North Vietnam on a bombing mission over Hanoi.

A fifth alleged "crash" turns out to be a misinterpretation of a flight accident that did not result in the loss of the aircraft. McCain admitted to causing that incident through "daredevil clowning" but returned safely."

cbtengr · 02-09-2017, 12:50

The Arizona Republican told NBC News earlier that he did not believe the raid could be called a success because a $75-million plane was destroyed and the commando was killed.

Then in his mind D-Day must have been a colossal failure. Arizona voters, the rest of the country is at your mercy when it comes to flushing this turd.

PSM · 02-09-2017, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbtengr

Arizona voters, the rest of the country is at your mercy when it comes to flushing this turd.

Help us repeal the 17th Amendment. Without it neither he nor Flake would be in the Senate.

With Intel, Tesla, and Lucid investing heavily in AZ, more Californians will be moving here and turning us blue.

Pat

**Box** · 02-09-2017, 14:32

I am perplexed... the main stream media is so incredibly enamored of Senator McCain that it seems almost impossible to believe that he wasn't able to defeat Senator Obama based purely on the weight of his service during the Vietnam war.

For a guy that was dismissed in 2008 by the mainstream media as a typical republican-boys-club-white-guy trying to force his war hero status down the throat of the American voter. This same 'free American press' is now making me feel like the entire nation - every sentient being on the north American continent - owes a never ending unpayable debt; a debt of unquestionable respect and admiration to Senator McCain. The same guy that they routinely dismissed out of pocket as a hack when he was asking to be the president.

Is the media talking about the same John McCain that they actively ridiculed when he attempted to sell himself as a "maverick" and a straight shooter? Maybe we just have our McCains mixed up.

Now all of the sudden, the media is enamored with the distinguished gentleman from Arizona that they worked so zealously to disrespect back in 2008.
My how times change.

In related news, Hillary Clinton lost the election and two of President Trumps most controversial cabinet nominees are now referred to by the honorific term of "Secretary"

Old Dog New Trick · 02-09-2017, 16:42

I think when John McStain dies and arrives at the Pearly Gates he's going to be met by all those POWs who were less fortunate to have an Admiral for a daddy. A daddy that helped his underachieving son reach a level unworthy of his commitment and service.

One could hope COL. J. "Nick" Rowe, is there to help explain: Duty, Honor, Courage and Sacrifice.

Every time I heard the term "Maverick" (2008 Presidential Campaign with Sara Palin) I thought of 'Top Gun' (not the funny James Garner - TV Western) and then I thought of Tom Cruise...and then I had good belly laughing choke on your Copenhagen moment where I have to catch my breath afterwards and slap my thigh.

"Maverick, your family name ain't the best in the Navy..." err, it was before you showed up. Now, where's that..."cargo plane flying rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong?"

Remington Raidr · 02-09-2017, 23:27

He was the only republican out of five US senators involved in the Keating clusterfuck. ANY credibility he had up to that point got flushed. Top Gun Duke Cunningham paid the price for his wrongdoing, but McCain is the "gift" that keeps on giving.

PSM · 02-09-2017, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remington Raidr

He was the only republican out of five US senators involved in the Keating clusterfuck.

Worse, he didn't punch Kerry in the throat when he first met him.

Pat

rsdengler · 02-10-2017, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSM

Worse, he didn't punch Kerry in the throat when he first met him.

Pat

Someone should have punched Kerry in the throat a long time ago. Maybe if McCain did the socking way back when he would have truly been called the Maverick...

I think it is time for him to retire, heck most of them should be retired by now; some of them have been in office since Coolidge was President...pun intended....

Rita

Sohei · 02-10-2017, 07:30

His usefulness ran out years ago. He has become an institution within himself and it's time for him to go home and rest off of the retirement he received as a professional politician.

TC-cat · 02-27-2017, 15:52

I am an old fart and dont understand alot of this new stuff. I dont mean to start any problems but I would be interested in some of your thoughts about WHY or HOW the president would be blamed for this particular raid, being he was only in 1-2 weeks when it went down? Thank you for any light you can shine on this.

Also what do you think when the president says ""And we don’t fight to win,” he said. “We don’t fight to win. We’ve either got to win or don’t fight it at all.” "we dont win any wars any more". When I was in Iraq in 04 we were not sitting on our butts!!

TC-cat · 02-27-2017, 16:05

I am an old fart and dont understand alot of this new stuff. I dont mean to start any problems but I would be interested in some of your thoughts about WHY or HOW the president would be blamed for this particular raid, being he was only in 1-2 weeks when it went down? Thank you for any light you can shine on this.

Also what do you think when the president says ""And we don’t fight to win,” he said. “We don’t fight to win. We’ve either got to win or don’t fight it at all.” "we dont win any wars any more". When I was in Iraq in 04 we were not sitting on our butts!!

Old Dog New Trick · 02-27-2017, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC-cat

I am an old fart and dont understand alot of this new stuff. I dont mean to start any problems but I would be interested in some of your thoughts about WHY or HOW the president would be blamed for this particular raid, being he was only in 1-2 weeks when it went down? Thank you for any light you can shine on this.

One could say he's the CinC and ultimate responsibility lies with him but, that would be disingenuous and dishonest to say the least.

The mission was thoroughly planned for for months in the making and they were waiting for a moonless night. That came after the inauguration and President Trump got to be the one who signed off on the mission. Everything else in the process and manner in which it happened are meaningless excuses by the naysayers. They want to blame someone, they want to blame the President. (A President who has the integrity and honor to drop everything he's doing to receive the first casualty on his watch and show respect.)

Today I read this article http://www.miamiherald.com/news/poli...135064074.html and am at a loss for the emotional feelings being expressed by the father. No one wants to lose their child but every parent of someone who volunteers for the stuff we do should come away with the belief or attitude that death; even accidental death is a risk we all know and accept. This ain't Hollywood, nor a game, once the shooting starts - reality is a bitch.

Those feelings are the anger and bargaining phase of the grieving process and in time the loved ones who knew him will understand he accepted those risk so that other may live.

Other than that, time and the AAR will reveal that overconfidence and hope is not a strategy for success.

RIP CPO Ryan Owens, a grateful nation honors your sacrifice.

**Team Sergeant** · 02-27-2017, 17:50

It really pisses me off when "parents" of dead soldiers, sailors ,marines and airmen decide to make their deaths "political".

As far as I'm concerned the "parents" of such individuals should just shut up and be glad they had someone like him/her.

I feel bad when any of them die, but the ones in Special Operations, we know the deal, we know and accept the risk, we ain't stupid and we don't want our deaths to become politically charged.