To the editor:

In a letter to the editor in the Friday, Oct. 27 newspaper, John McQuitty joined the chorus on the right attacking Congresswoman Frederica Wilson for “listening in” on the condolence call by President Trump to the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, one of the Green Berets killed in Niger. The letter was long on emotion, but short on facts.

The family was en route to the Dover Air Force Base to receive the body when the call came in and was put on speaker phone, so the whole family could hear the president’s words. Ms. Wilson was in the limousine because she is considered family. Gen. John Kelly was criticized for telling blatant falsehoods about the congresswoman.

This whole controversy began because Trump dodged the original question (and still refuses to answer) of what happened and why. Here are some related facts.

Trump announced a new travel ban and, although both the State and Defense opposed it, Chad was included in the ban. Chad has one of the best trained and equipped armies in Africa and is an ally in the fight against ISIS, Boko Haram and other extremist groups.

When the ban was announced, Chad (no doubt incensed by the slap in the face) withdrew its forces from Niger. Two days later, the ambush occurred.

I think the real story here is Trump’s bumbling ineptitude may have caused the deaths of these four young men.