Republicans swore to not overlook the 13 servicemembers that died in Afghanistan on the two-year anniversary of their deaths, and blamed the loss on President Biden’s withdrawal from the nation.
The servicemembers and almost 200 Afghan civilians have been killed on the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at a congested airport gate.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, ordered for the flags on the U.S. Capitol to be lowered to half-staff to honor the servicemembers who died whereas serving to allies flee the nation.
“Two years ago today, we tragically lost 13 brave servicemen and women in Afghanistan,” Mr. McCarthy mentioned on X, the platform previously often called Twitter. “I have directed the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be lowered to half-staff in honor of these American heroes.”
House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik mentioned the lack of the servicemembers “was a direct result of President Biden’s catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal.”
The Biden administration blamed former President Donald Trump for the messy withdrawal earlier this yr, saying that President Biden was “severely constrained by conditions” created by Mr. Trump who had beforehand negotiated the withdrawal.
Ms. Stefanik, New York Republican, accused the Biden administration of stonewalling investigations into the sudden and chaotic withdrawal from the nation after 20 years, however vowed that House Republicans are dedicated to getting justice for the servicemembers.
The House Oversight Committee launched a probe and held a listening to on the administration’s dealing with of the withdrawal earlier this yr to get solutions on the exit, which left troops lifeless, Kabul within the arms of the Taliban, and behind navy tools price billions of {dollars}.
“We will never forget their courageous service and sacrifice on behalf of our great
Nation,” Ms. Stefanik mentioned on X. “That day, House Republicans vowed that we would hold President Biden and his Administration accountable for their disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Cory Mills has launched an impeachment decision towards Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Mr. Mills, Florida Republican, accused the Pentagon chief of deliberately abandoning Americans in Afghanistan and that Mr. Austin did not adequately put together for the withdrawal.
Mr. Austin mentioned in a press release Saturday that servicemembers undertook a “tremendously difficult task amid hazardous conditions” throughout the ultimate days of the struggle in Afghanistan.
“As we mark this painful milestone, my heart is with the families of these 13 American heroes,” Mr. Austin mentioned. “Today, the entire Department of Defense stands in sorrow with them — along with all of the families whose loved ones gave their lives during our 20 years in Afghanistan. We will never forget what they gave to serve this country that we love.”
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