White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Wednesday said anyone questioning the success of a U.S. military raid in Yemen last month, which resulted in dozens of deaths, is doing “a disservice” to the American soldier who was killed in the operation.
Spicer’s comments came just after Yemen reportedly withdrew permission for the U.S. to conduct ground operations in the country in response to the botched raid.
Criticism of the operation has been widespread. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who chairs the Armed Services Committee, told NBC News, “When you lose a $75 million airplane and, more importantly, an American life is lost…I don’t believe you can call it a success.”
During Spicer’s daily briefing on Wednesday—where he has been known to make Orwellian comments on recent events—NBC News‘ White House correspondent Kristen Welker asked, “Yemen has withdrawn permission for the United States to run special operations and ground missions against suspected terrorists in the wake of the recent raid there that claimed so many civilian lives. Do you stand by your assessment that it is a success?”
“It’s absolutely a success, and I think anyone that would suggest it’s not a success does a disservice to the life of Chief Ryan Owens,” Spicer said.
“But even Senator John McCain—” Welker began.
“I understand that. I think my statement’s very clear on that, Kristen,” Spicer said. “I think anybody who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology and… [it’s] a disservice to the life of Chief Owens.”
Watch the exchange below:
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