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Tears of Carryn Owens, widowed by a mission that no one wanted Tears of Carryn Owens, widowed by a mission that no one wanted
(about 9 hours later)
It was a moment that stood out during Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress: a standing ovation for Carryn Owens, the widow of Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens, as she cried and looked skyward for her husband.It was a moment that stood out during Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress: a standing ovation for Carryn Owens, the widow of Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens, as she cried and looked skyward for her husband.
Owens, a navy Seal, died in Yemen on 28 January, in the first military operation Trump authorized as president. His legacy is “etched into eternity”, Trump said on Tuesday night.Owens, a navy Seal, died in Yemen on 28 January, in the first military operation Trump authorized as president. His legacy is “etched into eternity”, Trump said on Tuesday night.
While the president paid tribute to Owens, questions persist about the fateful mission in which the serviceman lost his life. In the hours before the speech, Fox News broadcast an interview with Trump in which he appeared to distance himself from the operation.While the president paid tribute to Owens, questions persist about the fateful mission in which the serviceman lost his life. In the hours before the speech, Fox News broadcast an interview with Trump in which he appeared to distance himself from the operation.
“This is a mission that was started before I got here, this is something that was, they wanted to do”, Trump said, referring to “my generals”, before adding, “and they lost Ryan.” “This is a mission that was started before I got here, this is something that was, they wanted to do,” Trump said, referring to “my generals”, before adding: “And they lost Ryan.”
As the Guardian has reported, Trump personally approved the raid on a location believed to contain information on terrorist activity. The operation was a holdover: according to Central Command (Centcom), military planning for it had begun months before Trump took office. But Barack Obama’s administration did not think the intelligence concerning the raid was sufficient to authorize it.As the Guardian has reported, Trump personally approved the raid on a location believed to contain information on terrorist activity. The operation was a holdover: according to Central Command (Centcom), military planning for it had begun months before Trump took office. But Barack Obama’s administration did not think the intelligence concerning the raid was sufficient to authorize it.
The pre-dawn mission itself was plagued with problems. An MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft carrying Seals malfunctioned, crashed and wounded three of them. Centcom said on 1 February that the Seals took fire “from all sides” and called in air support.The pre-dawn mission itself was plagued with problems. An MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft carrying Seals malfunctioned, crashed and wounded three of them. Centcom said on 1 February that the Seals took fire “from all sides” and called in air support.
Among those killed was an eight-year old girl, Nawar “Nora” Awlaki, who was staying with her mother at one of the raided houses. Centcom is investigating the incident but has already said that an unspecified number of “civilian non-combatants” were likely killed in the operation, a tally that “may include children.” Among those killed was an eight-year old girl, Nawar “Nora” Awlaki, who was staying with her mother at one of the raided houses. Centcom is investigating the incident but has already said that an unspecified number of “civilian non-combatants” were likely killed in the operation, a tally that “may include children”.
According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, nine children were among 25 civilians killed, as well as 14 militants al-Qaida claimed as its own.According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, nine children were among 25 civilians killed, as well as 14 militants al-Qaida claimed as its own.
Awlaki’s grandfather, Nasser – the father of al-Qaida preacher Anwar Awlaki and grandfather of 16-year old Abdulrahman, both killed in US drone strikes – does not believe the US intentionally killed Nawar.Awlaki’s grandfather, Nasser – the father of al-Qaida preacher Anwar Awlaki and grandfather of 16-year old Abdulrahman, both killed in US drone strikes – does not believe the US intentionally killed Nawar.
Instead, Nasser Awlaki blames confusion. Amongst the people raided, Awlaki has claimed, were local potentates fighting the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which would ostensibly put them on the same side as the US in Saudi Arabia’s brutal air war in Yemen. Locals, including women, shot back at the Seals, but out of fear and self-defense, Awlaki claimed.Instead, Nasser Awlaki blames confusion. Amongst the people raided, Awlaki has claimed, were local potentates fighting the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which would ostensibly put them on the same side as the US in Saudi Arabia’s brutal air war in Yemen. Locals, including women, shot back at the Seals, but out of fear and self-defense, Awlaki claimed.
The goal of the raid, Centcom and the White House have said, was to gather intelligence.The goal of the raid, Centcom and the White House have said, was to gather intelligence.
While the Pentagon has stopped short of describing the raid as a success, Trump said in his speech that he was quoting the defense secretary, James Mattis, his chief bridge to the military, in saying: “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 in his speech that he was quoting the defense secretary, James Mattis, his chief bridge to the military, in saying: “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.”
Yet recent reporting has called that into question. According to NBC the raid has thus far yielded no significant intelligence. NBC also suggested an unacknowledged objective of the raid was to kill or capture al-Qaida fighters or leaders.Yet recent reporting has called that into question. According to NBC the raid has thus far yielded no significant intelligence. NBC also suggested an unacknowledged objective of the raid was to kill or capture al-Qaida fighters or leaders.
Carryn Owens attended Trump’s speech but her father-in-law, William, told the Miami Herald he had declined to meet with the president. William Owens said the government “owes my son an investigation” and questioned the need for the raid.Carryn Owens attended Trump’s speech but her father-in-law, William, told the Miami Herald he had declined to meet with the president. William Owens said the government “owes my son an investigation” and questioned the need for 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? For two years prior there were no boots on the ground in Yemen — everything was missiles and drones — because there was not a target worth one American life. Now all of a sudden we had to make this grand display,’’ Owens told the Herald. “Why at this time did there have to be this stupid mission when it wasn’t even barely a week into his administration? Why? For two years prior there were no boots on the ground in Yemen – everything was missiles and drones – because there was not a target worth one American life. Now all of a sudden we had to make this grand display,’’ Owens told the Herald.