White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby faced intense criticism on Thursday after mistakenly sending a missive against veterans critical of the administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal to Fox News.
In an email intended for members of his staff, the former admiral wrote that there was “no use” in attempting to engage with veterans irate with President Joe Biden’s 2021 decision to expedite the exit of American forces from the Middle Eastern nation more than two decades after first entering the country in response to 9/11. Kirby’s thoughts were in reaction to an inquiry from Fox about veterans’ latest remarks on the botched withdrawal on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks.
(POLL: Who Do YOU Think Won The Debate? VOTE NOW)
“Obviously no use in responding. A ‘handful’ of vets indeed and all of one stripe,” Kirby wrote, emailing his staff but accidentally copying Fox as well. A reporter with the conservative outlet responded asking Kirby why he felt compelled to share his unvarnished opinion; he “didn’t realize you were on the chain” Kirby wrote back, according to the Daily Caller. The exchange came while he was traveling with President Biden to multiple stops honoring victims of the attacks and was being asked to respond to four quotes from notable veterans critical of the withdrawal.
The Afghanistan War remains the longest in American history and was initially planned to be ended under the tenure of former President Donald Trump. However, delays in negotiations with the Taliban left an exit in the hands of President Biden who ran on a campaign promise to end the war by whatever means necessary. That promise came back to haunt the Democrat in many ways as tragic scenes of Afghans falling from the wheels of departing American aircraft captured the world’s attention. A suicide bombing at a packed Kabul International Airport killed 13 American service members and hundreds of locals, a deadly incident that remains a focus of Republicans’ criticism over Biden’s handling of the withdrawal.
Other consequences of the speedy exit include the capture of billions of dollars in weaponry left behind. Following their exit, American soldiers left an estimated $7 billion worth of small arms, artillery, and transports in the country that have since fallen into the hands of the Taliban. An increasingly zealous turn by the Muslim authorities has seen a clampdown on women’s rights and secular activities that were previously allowed under American control.
Republicans were quick to pounce on Kirby’s dismissal of veterans’ thoughts. “This is how the Biden-Harris administration talks about the well-founded concerns of our nation’s veterans?” Sen. John Thune (R-SD) wrote on X. “Just days after the anniversary of the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal. On the anniversary of 9/11. Our Gold Star families deserve better.”
<!–
backup code
backup creatives
–>
“Retired Rear Admiral Kirby’s comments are appalling, but sadly not surprising. The Biden-Harris administration has consistently disregarded our veterans, servicemembers, and Gold Star families over their botched withdrawal from Afghanistan,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) wrote in a statement obtained by the New York Post.
At a New York ceremony honoring victims of 9/11, some family members used their opportunity at the podium to criticize the Biden administration’s failed attempt to reach a plea deal with masterminds behind the attack. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has since killed the agreement which would have spared architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed the death penalty.
