Debbie Lee, whose heroic Navy SEAL son was killed in action in Ramadi, Iraq, says Gen. Martin Dempsey's dismissal of the possible fall of the Middle East city is an "insensitive" slap at Marc Allen Lee's sacrifice.
"I was outraged, I was ticked, I was deeply hurt by that ridiculous comment," Lee said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newmsax TV.
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"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."
During a press conference at the Pentagon last Thursday, Dempsey said he's more concerned about protecting the city of Beiji from the Islamic State (ISIS) because of its oil refinery that he is about Ramadi.
"The city itself is not symbolic is 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."
In 2006, Marc Allen Lee became the first Navy SEAL killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, after which his mother founded America's Mighty Warriors, which helps veterans and their families.
"Marc stood up in the direct line of fire three times that day [he died] on purpose [and] willingly gave his life to save his teammates and for the freedoms that we have. He did that for you, he did that for me.
"His blood to this day remains in that soil along with so many others and their sacrifices."
Lee said she believes Dempsey knows how brave Americans troops are and the suffering of their families.
"He has got to know the sacrifice, the pain, the struggle that we go through as loved ones as we try to walk through every day without them, as we celebrate holidays without our hero at our table," she said.
"He more than anyone else should know this pain and know the sacrifice. I got a call from his [spokesperson] Saturday morning trying to explain to me how much he loves the troops, how much he cares for them.
"I said then if he really cares, he will have no problem standing up and giving a public apology for the lack of wisdom in the words that he used."
And will she get one?
"There probably won't be an apology," Lee said.
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