The father of a Navy SEAL who died on a mission in Yemen during the first week of the Trump administration says he’s upset with Trump and even refused to meet with Trump or shake his hand when his son’s remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base. William Owens, the father of William “Ryan” Owens told the Miami Herald:
“I told them I don’t want to meet the president. I told them I didn’t want to make a scene about it, but my conscience wouldn’t let me talk to him.”
Why does Owens feel this way? Because he says he questions the decision made by Trump to approve the raid just six days after takin the oath of office:
“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?”
And the still grieving father added that he wants an investigation into the failed mission:
“Don’t hide behind my son’s death to prevent an investigation. I want an investigation. … The government owes my son an investigation.
Owens also thinks Trump’s controversial Muslim ban may have led to the death of his son:
“It just doesn’t make any sense to do something to antagonize an ally when you’re going to conduct a mission in that country. Did we alienate some of the people working with them, translators or support people. Maybe they decided to release information to jeopardize the mission.
“I think these are valid questions. I don’t want anybody to think I have an agenda, because I don’t. I just want the truth.”
Administration officials have deemed the Yemen raid a success, but the loss of an American soldier and the associated deaths of as many as 30 Yemeni civilians has led some military analysts to question the wisdom of the mission, which had been repeatedly delayed in the final days of the Obama administration.
Featured Image Via Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
