Joe Biden faces backlash for 'callously' honouring US soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Marking the anniversary of the horrific Kabul airport attack that claimed the lives of 13 American service members in 2021, US President Joe Biden issued a statement without mentioning the name of the soldiers. Following  this, he was lambasted by the Gold Star families who said the POTUS treated them "callously" as he was just focusing on his watch at their dignified transfer ceremony and was more concerned about the loss of his late son Beau — in the wake of their sons’ and daughters’ demise.  

In the White House press release, Biden wrote, "We will forever honour the memory of the 13 service members who were stolen far too soon.” There was no mention of the names of those who were killed and he did not order to lower the flags at the executive mansion.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) hit out at Biden and said that he should be impeached for the handling of the exit at the time.

Biden's statement was issued six hours after Speaker Kevin McCarthy lowered the flags of the US Capitol in mourning. On August 27, 2021,  two suicide bombers and gunmen pounded at the Kabul’s airport. The US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021. With that, the US brought an end to America's longest war with a frantic final exit. The abrupt US withdrawal had claimed the lives of more than 180 Afghans and 13 US servicemen.  The Taliban took over immediately after Biden ordered the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, in August 2021.

US speaker honours the American soldiers 

Taking to X, formally known as Twitter, Speaker McCarthy said he has directed the flags at the US Capitol to be lowered to half-staff in honour of these American heroes.

Two years ago today, we tragically lost 13 brave servicemen and women in Afghanistan. I have directed the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be lowered to half-staff in honor of these American heroes. pic.twitter.com/BTMrRNl5Av

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy)

In the following tweet, he shared the names and photos of the 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one Army sergeant. The US troops -- aged between 20 and 31 -- lost their lives after an ISIS-K suicide bomber assaulted the crowd at the airport’s Abbey Gate during Biden’s chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.