Former President Donald Trump revisits the controversial Afghanistan withdrawal, labeling it a ‘botched’ operation and using it as a key point in his ongoing critique of the Biden administration’s foreign policy.
On Monday, former President Donald Trump labelled the US withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 as “gross incompetence” while attending a commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery for the 13 troops who lost their lives during that period. Moreover, he criticized White House officials for refusing to attend the function honoring these brave soldiers.
The Abbey Gate attack resulted in the deaths of eleven marines, a soldier, and a Navy medic. Additionally, 170 Afghan civilians lost their lives during the tragic incident on August 26th, 2021. The Islamic State (IS/ISIS) claimed responsibility for this terrible bombing that occurred amidst desperate evacuations from Kabul airport. This occurrence happened at an extremely vulnerable time when Afghanistan’s US-supported government had already crumbled ten days before to allow control by the Taliban forces.
On his Truth Social account, Trump stated that the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle remains a source of humiliation for our country even as we mark its third anniversary.
The accusation was leveled at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, blaming them for the death of 13 troops and numerous civilians due to their “gross incompetence.” This deficiency has led many countries across the globe to ridicule America.
Harris, the Democratic nominee for president was nominated after Biden withdrew from being a candidate last month. Trump is now running against her in the current election race.
READ ALSO: Taliban Marks Three Years Since U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan (VIDEOS)
Honoring the 13 service members who perished at Abbey Gate and those injured, Trump attended a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday. He solemnly placed three wreaths alongside family members of the fallen soldiers at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier.
Biden and Harris were not present at Arlington. Biden’s latest public appearance was during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week, while on the other hand, Harris offered a written statement via the White House website commending Biden for putting an end to America’s longest war in a brave manner.
The statement called for unity as a nation on this important day to pay tribute and respect those who sacrificed their lives three years ago in service of the United States and its values. It acknowledged that our country is grateful, saddened by loss but takes pride in honoring them. The message urged us all to recommit ourselves to upholding the same cause they believed in― safeguarding democracy―as we remember these fallen heroes’ legacy today.
Biden has faced previous backlash for neglecting fallen soldiers and their loved ones. In August 2021, he was observed glancing at his watch while the remains of troops arrived at a Delaware Air Force base.
Ten innocent Afghan civilians, most of whom were children, were killed in the drone strike meant as a response to Abbey Gate massacre. However, it was later discovered that the Taliban had already eliminated the actual mastermind responsible for planning and executing this suicide bombing by April 2023.
The Biden administration and US military faced no consequences for their shortcomings in Afghanistan. The sole person who spoke out against the withdrawal process and called for answerability – Colonel Stuart Scheller of the US Marine Corps – was detained and discharged from duty.
