What's striking me as odd about the story so far is that the four man crew seems to have gotten widely scattered? No info on whether they were unusually beat up which brings some doubt into the notion of them running into a large tribe? The incident seems to be taking place around 10,000 ft which would indicate really difficult evasion if they stumbled into a beehive.
I'm trying to be patient waiting for details but this mission is taking on the sound of a Jimmy Carter/Iran/clusterflock.
Absolutely incorrect! On a number of accounts (and let's not rehash the American hostage rescue attempt in Iran - it was much closer to being a success then most people think)
You say "beat up"? What exactly are you inferring here? - The fact is their site was overrun by 100 + al Qeade / Taliban fighters - They were engaged and trying to E & E after this initial engagement took place -
"difficult evasion" you suggest - Without a doubt! Thus one of the reason for the Team breaking up - Another quite real possibility is one of the SEALs being wounded during the initial engagement and the others putting him in a hide site and then continuing away from him (drawing fire).
The fact is none of us know exactly what went down and none of us should be questioning any of their judgment! (we were not there!) - These are some of the most skilled warriors in the World, they know their craft inside and out.
To suggest this was any type of clusterfk is simply ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous at this time. The fact is that any of these warriors made it out alive is probably going to be a miracle when all the facts come out (if they do, and that is a big if - the general public still does not know all the facts behind the American hostage rescue attempt in 1980).
Let's continue to pray for the remaining missing SEAL - That we bring him out alive as well - I also hope we did not lose these two other SEALs within the past 24 to 36 hours (because we could not get to them in time).
An additional fact here is that if not for a lucky RPG shot (most likely) the QRF would have probably pulled these SEALs out and none of this entire story would be known.
These SEALs as well as our other U.S. SOF have thousands of successful missions that are never talked about, are never known about. No one should forget this. (or start questioning these same warriors every time a Op doesn't go perfectly).
Totally disagree.....things happen , batteries in NVG's go bad, comm is lost, gear breaks, plan A , B and C goes to hell in a nano shake. Aside from the super human image folks have of these guys they are human in physical ability but mentally they are warriors...SEAL's. I have no idea what happened and if it saves lives of others I don't need to know. With operatinal security and classified need to know only after action reports comes ability to complete the next mission and the next.
I am happy to know these folks are badasses that can think on their feet undre fire. But they bleed. But understand this....we'll only get what the DOD wants the MSM to know...true or not. Prayers up for these guys , their family and friends .
Just my opinion......but publicity, good or bad, hurts the spec ops community.
I think maybe your're assuming facts not yet in evidence. I would submit that perhaps there is more to the story than has yet been released. I'm just sayin'.