Gold Star Families demand answers for deaths of 13 servicememembers during Afghanistan withdrawal

[FAUlty Gator]

Gold Star Families demand answers for deaths of 13 servicememembers during Afghanistan withdrawal

Families appeared in Escondido on August 7 to call for accountability for deaths during a 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport.

www.cbs8.com

Families will appear in Escondido on August 7 to call for accountability for deaths during a 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport.

Author: Chris Gros, CBS 8 Staff
Published: 6:21 AM PDT August 7, 2023
Updated: 6:21 AM PDT August 7, 2023
ESCONDIDO, Calif. — The families of some of the 13 servicemembers who were killed in a deadly blast at the Kabul Airport in 2021 are seeking answers.
At 10 am on Monday, August 7, they will appear at Escondido City Hall to call on the Biden Administration to give them answers and inform the public as to how their loved ones died in a deadly blast as U.S. forces were leaving Afghanistan.

Appearing alongside the families will be senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48).
"For almost two years, the Gold Star Families of the fallen in Afghanistan have waited for answers and accountability for the loss of their loved ones - and they have waited long enough," said Rep. Issa. "At every turn, they've been shut out and ignored by the Biden Administration that prefers to turn the page on its disaster. That stops now.
It's time that the public hears the stories of these heroes and learns of negligence and breakdown of leadership that led to the loss of life that day two years ago."
The majority of the servicemembers killed in the August 2021 Kabul airport attack were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and were based at Camp Pendleton.

The Marines that died that day include Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas; Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, north of Sacramento; Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who was living in Aliso Viejo; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio; Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming; Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga; Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco; Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska; Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana; and Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee and Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio also were killed in the blast.

The hearing is open to the public.

 

[fsu1jreed]

Trump was far more to blame than Biden

 

[Chishawk1425]

Trump negotiated with the Taliban and released their leader and fighters which undermined the Afghan government. He then signed a truce with the Taliban that we would withdraw by May 2021 and they would not attack us anymore. He didn't plan any withdrawal after that as he was orchestrating his coup during those weeks. After January 6th failed he cut our forces to 2500 before disgracefully leaving office setting up President Biden to fail in a near impossible situation. It was quite the accomplishment what they achieved in the withdrawal after the government collapsed that August considering the facts stated and the whys.

 

[Tom Paris]

Middle Eastern asshole set off bomb. Investigation over.

Or what chis said.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Trump was far more to blame than Biden

I think they’re mad at the lack of attention being paid to them and sharing of information with them by the current president.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Umm a bomb blew up and they died.

I don't mean any disrespect to them but the way they talk about them you would think they were the only casualties the US took in Afganistan.

And withdrawals in those situations are messy.

 

[ICHawk-I]

Seems like the right wing distraction machine is being loaded with some of the old favorites given all of Trumps recent and likely upcoming legal trouble.

I expect by next week they'll be questioning Obamas birth certificate and Benghazi all over again.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Seems like the right wing distraction machine is being loaded with some of the old favorites given all of Trumps recent and likely upcoming legal trouble.

I expect by next week they'll be questioning Obamas birth certificate and Benghazi all over again.

Yup. That damned right wing CBS.

I like how any and all news NOT talking about Trump is immediately labeled a distraction. Brilliant.

 

[sober_teacher]

Umm a bomb blew up and they died.

I don't mean any disrespect to them but the way they talk about them you would think they were the only casualties the US took in Afganistan.

And withdrawals in those situations are messy.

I’ve said several times on this. Especially knowing what we know now about the fragility of the Afghan government/military; there’s no way in my mind that withdrawal doesn’t turn into a mess - no matter who was in charge.

MAYBE there were things that could have been done to mitigate it - the early closing of the main military base being the big one imo; but that only would have done so much.

 

[THE_DEVIL]

The families deserve to have their questions heard. They may not get answered to their satisfaction, but they need to be heard.

 

[Torg]

Let’s not forget how many Americans have died there since the withdrawal

 

[ICHawk-I]

Yup. That damned right wing CBS.

I like how any and all news NOT talking about Trump is immediately labeled a distraction. Brilliant.

Consider Darrell Issa (a Republican) is standing with the family to demand answers from the Biden administration says that it has a political bias to it. What answers could they get outside of what they already know? An unfortunate bombing incident killed their family member. Its an awful thing, but what "answers" could they get that would ease their pain? What accountability could they reasonably get? Seems like using a tragedy just to throw mud at the other guy. I do hope they find peace and get what they want, but I doubt that will ever be the case no matter how transparent the government is.

 

[Chishawk1425]

Consider Darrell Issa (a Republican) is standing with the family to demand answers from the Biden administration says that it has a political bias to it. What answers could they get outside of what they already know? An unfortunate bombing incident killed their family member. Its an awful thing, but what "answers" could they get that would ease their pain? What accountability could they reasonably get? Seems like using a tragedy just to throw mud at the other guy. I do hope they find peace and get what they want, but I doubt that will ever be the case no matter how transparent the government is.

It 100% is to try and fling BS on the Biden administration. The families are being used.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

It 100% is to try and fling BS on the Biden administration. The families are being used.

Happens to these gold star people a lot it seems.

Father of Slain Army Officer Humayun Khan Hits Trail for Hillary Clinton

abcnews.go.com

 

[hydro2.0]

This thread is sad not because OP but the ppl replying. Just as brainwashed as their MAGA counterparts

 

[DogBoyRy]

Trump was far more to blame than Biden

Gold.
Total cluster by blinken and slow joe by them wanting a photo op on 9/11 anniversary.
Giving back bagram was a colossal failure and led to the rapid demise of the afgan army and government.

 

[fsu1jreed]

Gold.
Total cluster by blinken and slow joe by them wanting a photo op on 9/11 anniversary.
Giving back bagram was a colossal failure and led to the rapid demise of the afgan army and government.

Given back?!? It was being taken by the Taliban that Trump released

 

[Chishawk1425]

Given back?!? It was being taken by the Taliban that Trump released

And my point above of our drastic troop cut which made it impossible to hold onto everything we needed. Any redeployment by Biden to necessary troop levels would have violated the cease fire Trump got us in with the Taliban which would have ended the agreement putting us in harms away again as well.

 

[FlickShagwell]

It’s not weird if you’re toting a rifle in someone else’s country and they kill you for it.

Did FDR get his time wasted explaining to parents what happened when their sons came home in boxes from Saipan or Normandy?

They went to war and the bad guys killed them.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

Trump was far more to blame than Biden

The military was far more to blame than either of them. Trump gave them a date more than a year out. Biden extended that date by three months. They had a full 18 months to work out the removal of 13,000 troops, and identify and make arrangements for all of our Afghani assets. How did they end up running that shitshow?

 

[BelemNole]

That's a shame. A shame that they're still looking for answers. A shame that Issa is grandstanding.
I guess his truth social job didn't work out and he's looking to get back into politics.

 

[NoleinATL]

Trump made a bad deal which is not a surprise, Biden's failure was honoring a bad deal. The Biden admin chose to proceed with that withdrawal plan, and it was a failure. There was ample time to either make changes to the withdrawal or break the agreement. Trying to absolve the Biden admin of any fault is partisan politics rooted in emotion.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

The families deserve to have their questions heard. They may not get answered to their satisfaction, but they need to be heard.

There are nearly 2,400 other families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

I'm pretty sure this is just part of the burden of the office. It's a terrible situation, but I think it's pretty common throughout history. Grief sucks.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

It’s not weird if you’re toting a rifle in someone else’s country and they kill you for it.

Did FDR get his time wasted explaining to parents what happened when their sons came home in boxes from Saipan or Normandy?

They went to war and the bad guys killed them.

The GOP needs another Benghazi.

 

[Chishawk1425]

Trump made a bad deal which is not a surprise, Biden's failure was honoring a bad deal. The Biden admin chose to proceed with that withdrawal plan, and it was a failure. There was ample time to either make changes to the withdrawal or break the agreement. Trying to absolve the Biden admin of any fault is partisan politics rooted in emotion.

Lol. We would have violated the agreement putting us in harms way and also in the middle of a civil war. This is not a good take.

 

[sober_teacher]

Gold.
Total cluster by blinken and slow joe by them wanting a photo op on 9/11 anniversary.
Giving back bagram was a colossal failure and led to the rapid demise of the afgan army and government.

I think by then the collapse of their army/government was already underway. Maybe holding onto Bagram longer would have bought more time, maybe not; we’ll never know on that front.

Trump made a bad deal which is not a surprise, Biden's failure was honoring a bad deal. The Biden admin chose to proceed with that withdrawal plan, and it was a failure. There was ample time to either make changes to the withdrawal or break the agreement. Trying to absolve the Biden admin of any fault is partisan politics rooted in emotion.

Yeah I don’t think any of the past four administrations are devoid of responsibility. Four different presidents failed to make sure they were helping build a government/army that could stand on its own when we inevitably left. Instead, they had a government that failed to win broad, deep support from its people, and armed forces that never developed the capacity to support its forces alone; and all the corruption that crept in as well.

 

[gamedayron01]

Gold Star Families demand answers for deaths of 13 servicememembers during Afghanistan withdrawal

Families appeared in Escondido on August 7 to call for accountability for deaths during a 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport.

www.cbs8.com

Families will appear in Escondido on August 7 to call for accountability for deaths during a 2021 bombing at the Kabul Airport.

Author: Chris Gros, CBS 8 Staff
Published: 6:21 AM PDT August 7, 2023
Updated: 6:21 AM PDT August 7, 2023
ESCONDIDO, Calif. — The families of some of the 13 servicemembers who were killed in a deadly blast at the Kabul Airport in 2021 are seeking answers.
At 10 am on Monday, August 7, they will appear at Escondido City Hall to call on the Biden Administration to give them answers and inform the public as to how their loved ones died in a deadly blast as U.S. forces were leaving Afghanistan.

Appearing alongside the families will be senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48).
"For almost two years, the Gold Star Families of the fallen in Afghanistan have waited for answers and accountability for the loss of their loved ones - and they have waited long enough," said Rep. Issa. "At every turn, they've been shut out and ignored by the Biden Administration that prefers to turn the page on its disaster. That stops now.
It's time that the public hears the stories of these heroes and learns of negligence and breakdown of leadership that led to the loss of life that day two years ago."
The majority of the servicemembers killed in the August 2021 Kabul airport attack were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and were based at Camp Pendleton.

The Marines that died that day include Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas; Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, north of Sacramento; Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who was living in Aliso Viejo; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio; Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming; Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga; Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco; Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska; Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana; and Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee and Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio also were killed in the blast.

The hearing is open to the public.

Better ask Trump.

 

[NoleinATL]

Lol. We would have violated the agreement putting us in harms way and also in the middle of a civil war. This is not a good take.

We had already violated the agreement by moving the withdrawal date, and clearly, the US and numerous assets were already in harm's way. A bad take was failing to understand the position poor decisions had put the US in prior to the withdrawal.

 

[DogBoyRy]

I think by then the collapse of their army/government was already underway. Maybe holding onto Bagram longer would have bought more time, maybe not; we’ll never know on that front.



Yeah I don’t think any of the past four administrations are devoid of responsibility. Four different presidents failed to make sure they were helping build a government/army that could stand on its own when we inevitably left. Instead, they had a government that failed to win broad, deep support from its people, and armed forces that never developed the capacity to support its forces alone; and all the corruption that crept in as well.

Some selective memory and also just wrong points.
Slow joe and blinken actually thought a force of 500 marines would be able to protect the embassy and the afgan military could hold by using our equipment.
Total clusterfrick.
Some posters here might want to revisit the senate hearings after the withdrawal where joe was again proven as a liar and blinken again shown as a stooge.
Joe checking his watch a couple times during the ceremony for the fallen servicemen was also a nice touch.

 

[Chishawk1425]

We had already violated the agreement by moving the withdrawal date, and clearly, the US and numerous assets were already in harm's way. A bad take was failing to understand the position poor decisions had put the US in prior to the withdrawal.

We did but we told them we were still leaving so we weren't attacked. Any additional forces sent in we would have been.

 

[NoleinATL]

We did but we told them we were still leaving so we weren't attacked. Any additional forces sent in we would have been.

What do you mean we were not attacked? That is what the OP is concerning, the death of 13 soldiers.

The Biden admin failed to execute the withdrawal properly, and that failure cost lives, all the what ifs in the world will not change that fact.

 

[sober_teacher]

Some selective memory and also just wrong points.
Slow joe and blinken actually thought a force of 500 marines would be able to protect the embassy and the afgan military could hold by using our equipment.
Total clusterfrick.
Some posters here might want to revisit the senate hearings after the withdrawal where joe was again proven as a liar and blinken again shown as a stooge.
Joe checking his watch a couple times during the ceremony for the fallen servicemen was also a nice touch.

Sigh.

im not defending bidens decisions. Just arguing that imo, it was always Going to end badly, given what we know now.

or do you think trump would have done better? Based on what?

 

[Jan Itor]

Trump was far more to blame than Biden

Uneducated response

 

[DogBoyRy]

Sigh.

im not defending bidens decisions. Just arguing that imo, it was always Going to end badly, given what we know now.

or do you think trump would have done better? Based on what?

I think trump would have followed his military leadership vs state dept. who actually thought we could keep an embassy there.
This would keep bagram open to provide air support for the afgan army.

 

[Jan Itor]

Trump made a bad deal which is not a surprise, Biden's failure was honoring a bad deal. The Biden admin chose to proceed with that withdrawal plan, and it was a failure. There was ample time to either make changes to the withdrawal or break the agreement. Trying to absolve the Biden admin of any fault is partisan politics rooted in emotion.

Why didn’t Biden listen to his joint chiefs recommendations on the withdrawal?

 

[DogBoyRy]

Uneducated response

Why didn’t Biden listen to his cabinet’s recommendations on the withdrawal?

He listened to the state dept over the military. Blinken is a disaster.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Why didn’t Biden listen to his joint chiefs recommendations on the withdrawal?

I still remember his lying to george stepenoplis (sp) in his softball interview.

 

[Jan Itor]

He listened to the state dept over the military. Blinken is a disaster.

Some disrespect for the Gold Star families in this thread. I thought that was Taboo.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

We had 18 months to slowly and surely exit that shithole in an orderly manner. If it had been done right it should have begun the day after the agreement was signed starting with the Afghani nationals we should have protected. Instead nothing was done until the clock was about to run out. Completely ridiculous and the majority of that responsibility lands squarely in the laps of the DOD. Ridiculous.