One of the first controversies that has surrounded the new administration has been the botched raid in Yemen that left one United States solider killed just last month. After Donald Trump and his team declared the raid a "success," the father of the fallen solider has decided to speak out.
Trump's Yemen raid
Chief Special Warfare Operator William Owens, known as "Ryan," was killed last month in one of the first highly publicized military raids of the Donald Trump administration. The raid has been accused of being rushed, especially since it resulted in the deaths of as many as 30 civilians, in addition to Owens.
The White House declared the mission successful due to the fact that 14 al-Qaeda operatives were also killed in the process. In response, critics of the president spoke out, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, a military veteran who spent over a year as a POW in the Vietnam War. As reported by The Hill on February 26, the father of the slain solider is pushing back against the president.
Father of Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid demands investigation into son's death https://t.co/zrYonWaRgU pic.twitter.com/eAos3NnVwY
— The Hill (@thehill) February 26, 2017
Speaking to the Miami Herald, Bill Owens, father of Navy Seal William Owens, is not happy with how Donald Trump has handled the aftermath of the mission, and is demanding an investigation.
"Don't hide behind my son's death to prevent an investigation," Owens said.
Father of dead Navy SEAL refused to meet Trump at ceremony https://t.co/VSOAEoSfK9 via @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/tuZZWudQbT
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 26, 2017
"I want an investigation," Bill Owens went on to say, before adding, "The government owes my son an investigation." Not stopping there, Owens also wondered about the timing of the raid, which he described as "stupid." "Why at this time did there have to be this stupid mission when it wasn’t even barely a week into his administration?" he asked, before repeating, "Why?" Owens also pointed out that there were no "boots on the ground in Yemen" for the last two years, but within a month, Donald Trump sent in ground forces, which resulted in his son losing his life.
Moving forward
As of press time, no investigation is taking place in regards to the raid in Yemen, though critics of Donald Trump continue to call for one to take place. Despite the backlash, the billionaire real estate mogul and his team appear proud of the work they accomplished in taking out al-Qaeda forces, though they did offer their condolences to the family of William Owens, with the president having attended the funeral.