As President Joe Biden marked the second anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, it was hard not to notice a glaring omission. In his recap of the event, he somehow overlooked the 13 brave U.S. service members who tragically lost their lives during a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport on Aug. 26, 2021.
This bombing, which also took the lives of 170 Afghans, was a dark cloud over what was already a controversial exit strategy. Many questioned the Biden administration’s approach, from the timing during peak Taliban fighting season to the decision to remove troops before ensuring the safe evacuation of all civilians. Additionally, the closing of the Bagram airfield, one of the nation’s premier air bases, prior to the final pullout raised eyebrows, especially when forces were relocated to Hamid Karzai International Airport—a single-runway airport amidst a bustling city.
The president’s choice appeared even more bewildering given the advice he received. High-ranking military officials such as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and Gen. Kenneth McKenzie had strongly recommended maintaining a presence of 2,500 soldiers. Their advice went unheeded.
However, Biden’s statement on the anniversary painted a very different picture, one of success and gratitude. He expressed deep appreciation for the military personnel, diplomats, and intelligence professionals who served in the two-decade-long Afghan mission, and he praised the evacuation of approximately 120,000 people as one of the largest airlifts in history.
The president also highlighted the resettlement of over 117,000 Afghans who had supported the U.S. military mission in their homeland. He emphasized his commitment to standing by them, urging Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide these Afghans a pathway to permanent legal status in the U.S.
However, amidst these acknowledgments, Biden’s failure to specifically mention the 13 service members who paid the ultimate price was deeply felt, especially by their grieving families. The pain of this oversight was exacerbated by past actions, such as the president checking his watch during the dignified transfer ceremony for these fallen heroes at Dover Air Force Base.
Gold Star families have voiced their frustrations and anguish over the lack of acknowledgment and accountability. The sentiments shared by Carol Briseno, mother of slain Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, encapsulates this feeling: “Biden never said the 13 names. He didn’t say the names because he knows that he failed.”
Biden’s selective narrative of the Afghan withdrawal isn’t just a matter of oversight. It’s a painful reminder that in the broader strokes of policy and politics, the individual sacrifices made by brave men and women can sometimes be forgotten. As the nation moves forward, it’s crucial to remember and honor all aspects of our history, especially those who gave their lives for the freedoms we cherish.
