Name: Families of Service Members Killed in Kabul Attack Demand Accountability 2 Years After Afghan Withdrawal
Uploaded: 2023-08-30T08:45:58.000Z
Description: WASHINGTON–Anger, grievance, and heartbreak filled a hearing room on Capitol Hill as family members of the 13 U.S. service members killed in an ISIS terrorist attack on Aug. 26, 2021, at the Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, voiced their feelings just over two years since the bombing.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

WASHINGTON–Anger, grievance, and heartbreak filled a hearing room on Capitol Hill as family members of the 13 U.S. service members killed in an ISIS terrorist attack on Aug. 26, 2021, at the Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, voiced their feelings just over two years since the bombing.

There were calls for accountability, transparency, and even resignations directed at President Joe Biden and his administration.

Representatives of eight of the 13 service members took part in the almost-three-hour-long roundtable discussion, hosted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). The only Democrat member of the committee in attendance was Rep. Madeline Dean (D-Pa.), who was serving as ranking member in lieu of Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.).

During the discussion about the attack, which occurred as the United States and its allies were withdrawing from Afghanistan following the 20-year war, Mr. McCaul read a statement he had just received from Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.

"We owe them transparency, we owe them honesty, we owe them accountability. We owe them the truth about what happened to their loved ones," he said in a statement <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/milley-says-we-dont-like-outcome-afghanistan-vows-accountability-gold-star-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported</a> by Fox News.

"I trust the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps did the best they could in briefing the families who had loved ones killed at Abbey Gate," the four-star general continued. "I believe the briefers gave every piece of information that they could. If there were issues with that, we need to take whatever corrective action is necessary. And our hearts go out to those families.

"This is a personal thing for all of us in uniform. We don't like what happened in Afghanistan. We don't like the outcome of Afghanistan. We owe it to the families to take care of them. Their sacrifices were not in vain."

Nonetheless, family members of those lost on that day did not hold back.

"In his note, Gen. Milley mentions that he apologizes for any lack of information provided during these briefings that we all had in our homes," said Herman Lopez, who lost his son, Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, in the bombing.

"The issue is not the briefing. The issue is not the lack of information during those briefings," the Gold Star father continued. "It is the disregard of intelligence. It is the disregard of planning. That's what you should be apologizing for."

"We're knee-deep in bulls***," said Mark Schmitz, whose son Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz was killed. His ire was directed toward President Biden as he delivered scathing remarks about that fateful day, lamenting the lack of responsibility and resignations from the Biden administration.

Mr. Schmitz stated that President Biden's reputation as "the family man" can no longer be touted due to his "disgusting and cowardly" treatment of him and his fellow Gold Star relatives of the fallen service members. He called for Mr. Biden's resignation.

"You are a disgrace to this nation," the grieving father said as if he were speaking to the commander-in-chief. "You have no business having ultimate command over our military."

Mr. Schmitz wished he had said that to President Biden at the ceremony on Aug. 29, 2021, when the bodies of the 13 service members arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. During the transfer ritual, the president came under fire for appearing to glance at his watch, though some said there was the possibility President Biden, a Catholic, was looking at his rosary.

"While I stood there on the tarmac, watching you check your watch over and over again, all I wanted to do was shout out, 'It's two-[expletive]-30, a**hole!" Mr. Schmitz said angrily.

But out of respect for the grieving families, he said he refrained from doing so.

Nevertheless, he said he was done "biting [his] tongue."

"You, Sir, stole their lives, their futures, their dreams," he said.

During the discussion, Mr. McCaul and Ms. Dean vowed to get answers from the Biden administration about the tragedy.

In addition to Lance Cpl. Schmitz and Cpl. Lopez, the service members who were killed that day include Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan Page, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Pichardo and Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) read a statement from <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/21/us/california-mother-loses-two-sons/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shana Chappell</a>, the mother of Lance Cpl. Nikoui. In her statement, Ms. Chappell recalled that she had declined to shake President Biden's hand or speak to him at the transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, but changed her mind. When she approached him to tell him about her son, she said the president interrupted her twice and talked about his own son, Beau Biden, who had served in the U.S. Army and died of cancer in 2015. He had never served in Afghanistan.

Ms. Chappell noted that on Aug. 9, 2022, her oldest son committed suicide because "he wanted to be with Kareem, and the pain in his heart was too unbearable.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/families-of-service-members-killed-in-kabul-attack-demand-accountability-2-years-after-afghan-withdrawal-5482735">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Videos

afghanistan

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Lawmakers

exit

Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

Jackson Richman

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.