Gen. Martin Dempsey Apologizes to Slain Navy SEAL's Mother

Gen. Martin Dempsey Apologizes to Slain Navy SEAL's Mother

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey. (Allison Shelley/Getty Images)

Tuesday, 21 Apr 2015 10:54 AM

By Melanie Batley

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Martin-Dempsey-slain-SEAL-Ramadi/2015/04/21/id/639804/

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has written a letter of apology to the mother of a Navy SEAL who accused him of dismissing the sacrifice of her son's life when he suggested that the recent capture of the city of Ramadi, Iraq, by the Islamic State (ISIS) was not of symbolic significance.

"I've read your letter, and I do apologize if I've added to your grief. Marc and so many others died fighting to provide a better future for Iraq. He and those with whom he served did all that their nation asked. They won their fight, and nothing will ever diminish their accomplishments nor the honor in which we hold their service," Dempsey wrote.

We are in a different fight now, with a different enemy, and with a different relationship with the Government of Iraq. They must determine the path and pace of this fight. That's what I intended to convey."

Debbie Lee, whose son was killed in Ramadi in 2006, told "America's Forum" on Newsmax TV that she was "pleasantly surprised" to receive the letter from Dempsey.

"This general did the right thing, stepped up to the plate," she said. "I am supposed to be having a phone call with him today."

She did, however, take issue with Dempsey's assertion that the conflict and the nature of the threat had shifted.

"I do disagree with that and we're still fighting the same enemy that we were fighting when Marc sacrificed his life and Ramadi is the capital of the largest province in Iraq, primarily the Sunni province over there and that's where it's going to make the difference."

Lee said that during her expected call with the general that she planned to "reiterate the importance of honoring our troops and the sacrifices they make in whatever combat they're in. Supporting, honoring, remembering and accepting those who gave their final breath for the freedoms we have."

Last week during a joint press conference with Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Dempsey appeared to dismiss the capture of the city.

"The city itself is not symbolic in any way. It's not been declared part of the [ISIS] caliphate or central to the future of Iraq, but we want to get it back," Dempsey said. "The issue here is not brick and mortar, it's about defeating [ISIS]. I would much rather that Ramadi not fall, but it won't be the end of the campaign should it fall — we've got to get it back, and that's tragic for the people."

Following the comments, Lee penned an open letter to Dempsey saying, "My son Marc Lee was the first Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in Ramadi Iraq Aug 2, 2006. His blood is still in that soil and forever will be."

She also appeared on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV demanding an apology.

"I was outraged, I was ticked, I was deeply hurt by that ridiculous comment," Lee said Monday.

"How insensitive and the pain that was inflicted on not only me but every mother, every father, every husband, every wife, every teammate who had a fallen brother who gave his life in Ramadi.

"It was just unconscionable and uncalled for and I'm demanding an apology. That was just over the top."

Arizona Sen. John McCain waded into the controversy, saying that Dempsey's comments sent a message to the terrorist group, "We don't care."

"He never fails to surprise me with his insensitivity and sort of willingness to knee-jerk whatever way he can to support the moral bankruptcy of this failed foreign policy of [President] Barack Obama," McCain said in an appearance on Fox News on Monday.

Martin Dempsey

Martin E. Dempsey was the chief of staff for the U.S. Army, and is the chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Note: James E. Cartwright was the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a U.S. Marine Corps general, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. was the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a U.S. Navy admiral, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Joseph W. Ralston was the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a U.S. Air Force general, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Colin L. Powell was the chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee, the Harlem Children's Zone, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, is Emma Bloomberg’s father, and the founder of Everytown for Gun Safety.

Emma Bloomberg is Michael R. Bloomberg’s daughter, and was a senior planning officer for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Harvey Weinstein is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation, and a co-founder & co-chairman for the Weinstein Company.

Weinstein Company is the producer for SEAL Team Six.

Michael G. Mullen is an advisory board member for Everytown for Gun Safety, was the vice chief of naval operations for the U.S. Navy, the vice chairman of review board that investigated the 2012 attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2013, and the chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thomas R. Pickering was the chairman of review board that investigated the 2012 attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2013, is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

William A. Owens was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a U.S. Navy admiral, and the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

James E. Cartwright was the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a U.S. Marine Corps general, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. was the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a U.S. Navy admiral, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Joseph W. Ralston was the vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a U.S. Air Force general, and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Chuck Hagel was the chairman for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and is the secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense for the Barack Obama administration.

U.S. Special Operations Command is a unified combatant command for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Joint Special Operations Command is a division of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Stanley A. McChrystal was a director at the Joint Special Operations Command, a U.S. Army general, and a staff director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group is a special force for the Joint Special Operations Command.

SEAL Team Six

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAL_Team_Six

The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), or DEVGRU, is a U.S. Navy component of Joint Special Operations Command. It is often referred to as SEAL Team Six, the name of its predecessor which was officially disbanded in 1987.^[1][2] DEVGRU is administratively supported by Naval Special Warfare Command and operationally commanded by the Joint Special Operations Command. Most information concerning DEVGRU is classified and details of its activities are not usually commented on by either the White House or the Department of Defense.^[3] Despite the official name changes, "SEAL Team Six" remains the unit's widely recognized moniker. It is sometimes referred to in the U.S. media as a Special Mission Unit.