Republicans remember servicemembers lost in Afghanistan withdrawal

(The Center Square) – Many North Carolina Republicans publicly remembered Monday as the third anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and remembering the 13 American servicemembers who lost their lives.

It has been an occasion to rehash concerns with how the Biden administration conducted the withdrawal, with Republicans calling it “disastrous” and “tragic.”

“3 years ago today, 13 brave Americans – 11 Marines, a soldier, and a sailor – were tragically killed in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” posted U.S. Sen. Ted Budd on social media. “We must never forget their sacrifice & we owe it to their families to hold those responsible for the disastrous policy decisions accountable.”

Democrats from the state have been largely quiet on the anniversary, opting instead to post about everything from National Dog Day to Women’s Equality Day, which just happen to both share anniversaries with the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Republicans have taken a much firmer stance, calling out the Biden administration for its role in leaving the country in the hands of the Taliban, along with billions of dollars of American military equipment.

American troops losing their lives that day were Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, and Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.

“Three years ago, 13 U.S. service members were killed in the Abbey Gate terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan during the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal. America will never forget our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson posted about the importance of remembering the names of the soldiers who lost their lives, while also calling out Vice President Kamala Harris’ role in the withdrawal.

“Kamala Harris was the last person in the room when the decision was made to withdraw from Afghanistan,” Hudson said. “She was ‘comfortable’ with the decision that resulted in 13 U.S. servicemembers dead. An absolute embarrassment to our country and a devastating decision to these families.”

President Joe Biden falsely said during the first presidential debate against Trump that no soldiers died under his watch.

“The truth is, I’m the only president this century that doesn’t have any this – this decade, that doesn’t have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like [Trump] did,” Biden said.

Even state-level Republicans have spoken out.

“Today we remember the 13 brave American service members who tragically lost their lives during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal from the incompetent and weak Biden/Harris Administration,” said Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor in the state. “We will never forget about them. May God rest their souls.”