As lawmakers demand solutions over reports that the US navy carried out a follow-up strike that killed survivors throughout an attacked on an alleged drug boat within the Caribbean, a profession Navy SEAL who has spent most of his 30 years of navy expertise in particular operations can be accountable for offering them.
He’s additionally no stranger to strikes and the authorized necessities surrounding categorised operations, a number of sources who served with him advised NCS.
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, a Navy SEAL officer who now leads US Special Operations Command, heads to Capitol Hill on Thursday to brief members of Congress on what occurred as a part of that September 2 strike in addition to the best way the navy is finishing up its marketing campaign that has destroyed greater than 20 boats and killed 83.
In current days, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has pinned accountability for the follow-on strike on Bradley, who was the commander of Joint Special Operations Command on the time of the strike.
Bradley is broadly respected by Republicans and Democrats alike, and sources who served alongside him or under him praised him as a quintessential Naval officer.
A supply acquainted with Bradley described him as stoic, meticulous, and “very level-headed.” He has largely approached the thought of talking with Congress positively and with an understanding that that is what the job requires, the supply mentioned.
For a lot of his profession he has prevented the highlight, per the method taken by most particular operators who undertake extremely categorised missions. But in the end, he would slightly or not it’s he who bears the accountability for answering questions on navy strikes to Congress than somebody extra junior, they mentioned.
“He’s a guy who has done thousands of strikes over his career,” the supply acquainted mentioned. “This was his 37th month at [Joint Special Operations Command] — he knew what he was doing.”
‘Gold Standard’
Bradley is probably going to face a slew of questions over the legality of the September 2 strike, in addition to the greater than 20 different strikes carried out in opposition to alleged drug boats.
He is intimately acquainted with maritime legislation given his expertise as a SEAL commander, the supply acquainted with him mentioned. A supply who served under Bradley within the navy mentioned that he persistently consulted with the command’s legal professionals throughout operations like hostage rescue and counter-terrorism missions.
A senior navy officer who served alongside Bradley advised NCS “they simply don’t make better people” than him.
“He is a leader of courage, integrity, professionalism and unmatched skill,” the officer mentioned. “He is also smart as hell and a master communicator. He’s the gold standard not just for the Navy and Naval Special Warfare – but for the military profession of arms.”
A 1991 Naval Academy graduate, Bradley has commanded Joint Special Operations Command; the command accountable for particular operations within the Middle East, Special Operations Command Central; and Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or SEAL Team Six. He additionally “worked counternarcotics missions across South and Central America,” in accordance to testimony earlier than the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this yr, and served as the chief officer for former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford.
Bradley and his spouse are each from navy households; she the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and infantry officer, and he the son of an Army Air Corps Master Sergeant and World War II veteran, in accordance to his opening assertion at his affirmation listening to this summer season. The two have 4 kids, together with one son who can be a SEAL.
The supply acquainted with Bradley advised NCS he’s “not one of those people that has bad relationships or bad blood with people,” and he usually places folks comfortable.
The supply who served under Bradley described him as “cool, calm, and deliberative” when in command, not overly talkative or somebody who sought reward and a focus for his actions.
That’s a repute that extends to lawmakers.
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson mentioned Tuesday he’s “a highly decorated, highly respected” officer. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly mentioned Bradley has a “stellar reputation” and mentioned any determination to perform a follow-on strike is the fault of the tradition fostered by Hegseth and Trump.
“This is the kind of thing that happens when you have a president who says we’re going to go out and kill people. It’s not what presidents normally say,” Kelly mentioned. “And when you have an unqualified secretary of defense, a guy who has basically zero qualifications for this job that runs around on a stage you know, talking about lethality and warrior ethos and killing people, and we’re going to hunt and kill people.”
While little recognized to the general public for most of his navy profession, Bradley’s identify and picture have all of a sudden turn into ubiquitous because the Trump administration tries to clarify what occurred throughout the assault on September 2.
NCS beforehand reported {that a} supply acquainted with the strikes mentioned that Defense secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the navy to guarantee everybody on the boat was killed, nevertheless it was not clear if he knew there have been survivors earlier than a second strike was carried out.
Hegseth and his spokespeople railed in opposition to reporting of the second strike, with Hegseth calling it “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting.” Just days later, nevertheless, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the second strike occurred, and mentioned Bradley was the one who ordered it.
Hours after Leavitt’s feedback, Hegseth appeared to shift accountability for the strike, posting on social media that he stands by Bradley “and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.” And on Tuesday, throughout a cabinet meeting on the White House, Hegseth mentioned he noticed solely the preliminary strike stay earlier than leaving to attend to different conferences. He mentioned he discovered concerning the second strike hours later.
Some officers, together with Republican and Democrats alike, have seen Hegseth’s feedback as an try to distance himself from the choice to strike once more, putting the accountability solely on Bradley amid questions across the operation’s legality.
Bradley will face lawmakers who will count on him to present an sincere accounting of what occurred throughout the September 2 operation, and who will undoubtedly grill him within the categorised briefings on the orders he each acquired and gave as a part of the strikes.
A private good friend of Bradley’s described him to NCS as somebody who “exemplifies honor and integrity.”
“Admiral Bradley is an exceptional human being,” the good friend mentioned.