This outstanding soldier and all members of this command should be commended for their great work under demanding conditions. Her squadron is highly trained and motivated and goes above and beyond their call of duty daily. When it comes to making sure the US and its allies are safe — especially against the Houthi threat — this squadron has performed admirably and this fighter pilot has achieved a milestone in US armed forces history.
The US can celebrate this historic milestone all it wants. But it can't distract from how much its policy in reference to the Houthis and protecting shipping lanes has failed. US policy has come at great cost and done nothing to slow Houthi attacks, as evidenced by the recent drone strike on Israel. The US must change course.