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.
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"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.
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