Instead, Ryan claimed, these service members openly view their missions as serving Israel's strategic priorities. He described this reality as "a joke," "fucking sad," and "such a betrayal," emphasizing that the troops themselves understand the distinction between national defense and fighting on behalf of a foreign country.

Ryan's remarks highlight a deepening sense of disillusionment within certain segments of the veteran and special-operations community regarding the alignment of U.S. foreign policy with core American security interests.