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On Wednesday it was learned that the U.S. launched a special operations mission over the summer to rescue American hostages, which included journalist James Foley.  The American hostages are being held by the Islamic terror group ISIL, but as the administration disclosed on Wednesday they didn’t find them.

The special operations mission was launched after intelligence agencies had information where they believed the hostages were being kept.  Real Clear Defense wrote, several dozen special operations forces dropped by aircraft into Syria did not find them at that location and engaged in a firefight with Islamic State militants before departing, killing several militants. No Americans died but one sustained a minor injury when an aircraft was hit.

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco commented on the raid in a statement, “The U.S. Government had what we believed was sufficient intelligence, and when the opportunity presented itself, the President authorized the Department of Defense to move aggressively to recover our citizens. Unfortunately, that mission was ultimately not successful because the hostages were not present.”

Monaco also stated, “The President authorized action at this time because it was the national security team’s assessment that these hostages were in danger with each passing day in ISIL custody.”

The question that I have is why release details of this failed raid? This gives this terror group valuable information and makes subsequent military operations that much more difficult.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday, two Defense Department officials, who spoke separately on the condition of anonymity because of the operation’s delicate nature, expressed anger at the administration for revealing the mission. One of the officials said the aborted raid had alerted the militants to the Americans’ desire and willingness to try to rescue the hostages, and, in the aftermath, had probably forced the captors to tighten their security.

The Times continued, But, the official said, the conference call on Wednesday revealed new details that ISIS is not likely to have known. “This only makes our job harder,” the official said.  “I’m very disappointed this was released. We knew any second operation would be a lot harder.”

Caitlin Hayden, the National Security Council spokeswoman, said the administration had “never intended to disclose this operation” but decided since media affiliates where reporting on the story it had to get in front of this. “An overriding concern for the safety of the hostages and for operational security made it imperative that we preserve as much secrecy as possible,” she said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

Even though other media affiliates were going to report on this failed raid, why not just deny it, as they have on so many other issues.

Currently, it is being reported that the U.S. Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the killing of journalist James Foley; but should this be criminal matter or an act of war?

Why is the Justice Department leading a criminal investigation, shouldn’t this be better handled by the Defense Department as an act of war against the U.S.?

U.S. strategy in Iraq is still chaotic and without a viable strategy the U.S. will continue to muddle through in Iraq and Syria.