MT SEAL Vet Describes Challenge of Hostage Rescue Ops In Israel

Ryan Zinke served in a hornets nest called Fallujah. I served in a hornets nest called Ramadi. Any attempt to rescue these American and Israeli hostages that are being held in this terrorist stronghold of Gaza would also place rescue forces right into the middle of another hornets nest.

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT) is a Navy SEAL veteran who also served as a commander at the legendary SEAL Team 6. Needless to say, we wanted to get his insight in hostage rescue operations. He also served on President Trump's cabinet as Secretary of the Interior.

Rep. Zinke: It is likely that the hostages now are distributed, they're not going to keep them in one place. We don't have an element of surprise, and operations of this scale with multiple places- unfortunately, it becomes not a hostage rescue, but a body recovery. We're talking very difficult, room to room. Oftentimes the decision is- kill the hostages before you set them free. And this is very, very difficult. And you know, my prayers go out. This is going to be a tough slug.

Zinke also talked about his support for Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. As of 230 in the afternoon on Tuesday, the House of Representatives still had not elected a Speaker of the House.

Rep. Zinke: To me, it's about rules Aaron. As a SEAL, I was involved with rules, with rules of engagement. As a former football player I had rules. The House had that magnificent set of rules. But they're not rules anymore, they are preferences. Because when you can violate a rule with no consequence and vote against the caucus or vote against Republicans without consequence- you're seeing what happens in any organization. So, I'm hopeful that Jim Jordan- I'm 100% behind him- but what it does is it distracts us from getting things done.

 

Full audio of our chat with Congressman Zinke- along with Congressman Rosendale and Senator Daines from Tuesday morning- is below: