Was a Gold Star Mother justified in demanding an apology from the CJCS after his Ramadi remark?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 12:07:59 -0400

General Dempsey recently said that the Iraqi city of Ramadi is not symbolic in the international fight against D'aesh. A Gold Star Mother, mother of the first Navy SEAL killed in combat in that war-torn city, took extreme offense on behalf of the herself and the other Gold Star Families who lost their Service-members.

Does every place where a US Service-member falls become sacrosanct? If so, does it become so to the point where it cannot be discussed in raw, realistic, strategic terms? Was this a faux pas on the part of the CJCS?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/04/21/in-apology-to-gold-star-mother-u-s-general-draws-distinction-between-wars-in-iraq/

In apology to Gold Star mother, U.S. general draws distinction between wars in Iraq

When Debbie Lee heard what Gen. Martin E. Dempsey had to say about the Iraqi city her son was killed in, the tears fell.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 22 at 2015 12:33 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 12:33:01 -0400

I understand all the sides of this argument. I have personally struggled with the pain of the irrelevance of the bits of dirt where friends of mine lost their blood.

But the death of a SM in a place doesn't make it a strategic national interest.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 22 at 2015 12:51 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 12:51:24 -0400

"Just because it's personal, doesn't make it more important.[sic]"

- Jingo, Sir Terry Pratchett