Emotional outcries from Gold Star families marked the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, criticizing the Biden-Harris administration's accountability in the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
Breitbart reported that on the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, Gold Star families voiced sharp criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The Gold Star family members, who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident at Kabul International Airport, publicly condemned President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for what they describe as a failure in leadership and accountability.
The event, remembered for the vast loss of life, including 13 U.S. service members, has left a lasting impact on the families of those who perished.
Family members of Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, and Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez attended the event. Their grief was palpable as they spoke out during a press call alongside Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance (OH), and Representatives Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT).
Cheryl Juels, the aunt of Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, shared her profound disappointment, stating that the administration has never extended condolences for her niece's death.
Her frustration underscored the perceived disconnect between the administration’s narrative of success and the realities experienced by these families.
Juels criticized the administration’s approach to handling reports and information about the bombing.
She argued that the investigations into the incident have been inadequate, claiming, “Every report we get is flawed. It doesn't contain everything that happened. It’s just cherry-picked — what they want to put in it — and they just want to close the whole thing and wrap it up, say, ‘Everything was a success,’ and it wasn’t.”
Alicia Lopez, mother of Hunter Lopez, also expressed her dissatisfaction with how the current administration managed the aftermath.
She highlighted the concern for her other son who is still serving in the military, emphasizing the administration's casual approach to transitioning into what they seem to regard as a new chapter.
Mark Schmitz, Jared Schmitz's father, directed his anger not only toward the Biden-Harris administration but also toward Democrat members of Congress.
In various committee hearings that involved high-profile figures like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he noted a lack of rigorous questioning, which he believes indicates a broader issue of inadequate leadership and responsibility within American politics.
Mark Schmitz continued his critique by addressing the political handling of the Afghanistan issue, stating, “This is not a Republican versus Democrat issue. This is an American issue.
This is a lack of leadership, and this is the result, and America needs to recognize that when choosing a leader.” His commentary extended to the conduct of various congressmen and senators, whom he accused of evading responsibility and placing undue blame on previous administrations.
The echoing sentiment among these families and their supporters reflects a profound disenchantment with how the Afghanistan withdrawal was managed and communicated to the American public and, most crucially, to the families who bore the most direct and painful consequences.
The calls for justice and accountability grow louder as these families continue to share their narrative, which starkly contrasts with the administration’s public declarations of a successful end to the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.
The disparity between the official accounts and the experiences of these families fuels their ongoing demands for more honest and thorough investigations into the events surrounding the Abbey Gate bombing.