U.S. Navy Presses On With Board Review Of SEAL Eddie Gallagher Despite Trump's Tweet
Speaker 1: 00:00 The Navy is attempting to remove seal Eddie Gallagher and three others from special operations. Setting up a potential show down with president Trump. KPBS military reporter Steve Walsh says the problems in Naval special operations go beyond one case. Speaker 2: 00:19 The seals have an almost mythical reputation, one that's been a powerful recruiting tool. Just listen to this promotional video from 2013 their actions are typically Swift and decisive striking with surprise, speed and appropriate use of force, but that reputation has been tested by, among other things, the Gallagher case, the Navy seal was accused of murdering an unarmed detainee in Iraq during the trial plagued with misfires. He was found not guilty of the most serious crimes. Last week, the president restored Gallagher to chief petty officer in a seeming rebuke of the white house. We are Admiral Collin green has begun the process to remove Gallagher in three others from the seals Thursday. The back and forth continued when the president tweeted that Gallagher will not lose his Trident, but this is also just the latest example of a storied military institution in crisis. After the Gallagher trial ended in July. Green issued a letter to his commanders writing. We have a problem. Speaker 3: 01:19 We haven't done enough to have moral conditioning when they come in. Speaker 2: 01:23 Green ordered seal commanders to read the book, a tactical ethic by Dick couch. The author of Vietnam era. Seal himself says he and Admiral green have discussed the challenges faced by today's seals. Speaker 3: 01:35 You know, you gotta be tough, you gotta be smart, you gotta be professionally proficient, but you also have to be morally intact. You are an American warrior. Speaker 2: 01:43 While president Trump was tweeting and support for Gallagher last summer, green had another disciplinary problem on his hands. The Admiral recalled another platoon from seal team seven from Iraq over allegations that included drinking and unprofessional conduct. He removed seal team seven's top three leaders again, former seal Dick couch. Speaker 3: 02:02 I think there's a lack of leadership and the insistence or right moral conduct. That's the key thing. And that has to be changed and turned around and those falling short have to be separated. Excommunication is a wonderful thing. Speaker 2: 02:15 Admiral green ordered seals to ditch unofficial insignias and get back to Navy haircuts. But there are larger issues like lengthy deployments, special operations command made an effort to shorten duty tours, but couch believes that some of the damage may have already been done. Speaker 3: 02:31 The more senior guys that have seen an awful lot of combat and a couple of them seem to be damaged by that and that bleeds into the younger guys Speaker 2: 02:40 to truly restore Navy seal culture, the focus will probably have to extend beyond disciplinary actions. Dr Pauline Kerryn teaches professional military ethics at the Naval war college. Speaker 3: 02:52 If everything is centered on the discipline issues and there's no discussion of culture, our broader ethical, Speaker 2: 03:01 she says modeling ethical behavior starts at the top. Seals are also watching to see who wins the back and forth battle between their command in the white house. The Victor is likely to set the tone for special forces going forward. Steve Walsh, KPBS news Speaker 1: 03:17 rear Admiral Charlie Brown, chief of information issued a statement Thursday saying the Navy follows the lawful orders of the president. We will do so in case of an order to stop the administrative review of Edward Gallagher's professional qualification. We are aware of the president's tweet and we are awaiting further guidance.
