The Atlantic

How Trump Is Failing to Honor Fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens

The White House should stop taking credit for the raid as a success while passing the buck for its failures.
Source: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

President Trump’s invocation of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens was one of the most polarizing moments in his address to Congress. Those who praised the moment are correct that men and women who risk their lives on America’s behalf, discharging missions not of their choosing, deserve public recognition of their burdens and valor. It is heartening that military families saw their sacrifices praised.

Trump critics are equally correct that a succession of presidents have engineered similar moments to exploit goodwill toward warriors for political purposes, at times even to bolster ill-conceived missions that

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