Just a few days ago, I set aside my critique of Admiral McRaven and gave him an atta-boy because he responded to a child's letter to him (and included a challenge coin).
I thought it was just cool.
But the next day I read that Navy SEALs were involved in a raid in Somalia. via The Washington Times.
American commandos carried out raids on Saturday in two far-flung African countries in a powerful flex of military muscle aimed at capturing fugitive terrorist suspects. American troops assisted by F.B.I. and C.I.A. agents seized a suspected leader of Al Qaeda on the streets of Tripoli, Libya, while Navy SEALs raided the seaside villa of a militant leader in a predawn firefight on the coast ofSomalia.This whole thing seems orchestrated. McRaven letting news of his response to a child being released to the public...and now news of the raid in Somalia.
The SEALs culturally seem to love publicity.
I hope Retired Lt General Vaughn is wrong but I see the wisdom in his words.....
“Now I’m going to tell you, one of these days, if you keep publishing how you do this, the other guy’s going to be there ready for you, and you’re going to fly in and he’s going to shoot down every damn helicopter and kill every one of your SEALs. Now, watch it happen. Mark my words. Get the hell out of the media,”The SEALs had to call in air support for this mission.
The firefight lasted for over an hour.
I don't know cause I wasn't there but from the outside looking in, this thing was dicey. A firefight that lasts for over an hour? In Somalia? SEALs might soon going to go from being the hunters to being the hunted.
Confirmation of participation in raids of this type is only going to feed the desire of terrorist world wide to take a SEAL scalp (literally).
McRaven needs to follow Vaughn's advice. Stay out of the media, keep the missions secret and don't even acknowledge having done the work. It'll be less news for me to comment on, less news for the news media but it might help keep some of those Sailors alive.
