As the anniversary of the tragic Kabul airport bombing approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris has released a statement commending President Joe Biden’s “courageous” decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, despite the withdrawal leading to the deaths of 13 US service members and 170 Afghans.
Harris, who is expected to take over as the Democrat Party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election following Biden’s removal due to health issues, claimed she mourns and honors the memories of the fallen Americans every day but did not take any responsibility for the errors that led to their deaths.
Instead, Harris praised President Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, claiming it ended America’s longest war while still allowing the government to counter terror threats. However, this assertion contradicts statements made by Gen. Erik Kurilla, the current commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), who said in 2023 that the botched withdrawal had led to a reduction in resources and intelligence assets for the US, making it more difficult to track al-Qaeda and ISIS activities.
The Biden administration has also faced criticism for its response to the Kabul bombing, which resulted in an innocent Afghan aid worker and his family being killed during a botched retaliatory strike. Despite this tragedy, no one within the administration or the Pentagon has been held responsible. Furthermore, new evidence uncovered by CNN in April 2024 suggests that the attack may have included more gunfire than initially reported, with dozens of victims potentially killed by U.S. Marines rather than the bombing itself.
As the anniversary approaches, many are still struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss of life caused by the Kabul airport bombing. The victims and their families deserve a full account of what happened and for those responsible to be held accountable.