Cal Thomas: “I want justice. I want accountability.”

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Thursday, August 10th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

PAUL BUTLER, HOST: And I’m Paul Butler. This month marks the 2nd anniversary of the deadly terrorist bombing at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. It happened during the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country in 2021. More than 150 Afghans trying to leave the country were killed, along with 13 U.S. servicemen and women.

BROWN: This week, we heard from parents of those troops at a hearing in California. Here’s Kelly Barnett, mother of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover.

BARNETT: I want justice. I want accountability. Why didn’t they just not say, “We made a mistake. Our plan was wrong. I’m so sorry.”? That would have been something. You know, I understand war is hell. I understand that. But no, we didn’t get that.

BROWN: Barnett then read the names of each serviceman and woman killed.

BARNETT: Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover; Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss; Sgt. Nicole Gee; Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo; Cpl. Humberto Sanchez; Cpl. Hunter Lopez; Cpl. William Daegan Page; Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza; Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum; Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola; Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui; Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak. They deserve justice.

BUTLER: That’s a short excerpt of the more than hour long forum. WORLD Commentator Cal Thomas listened to the entire thing, and he says you should, too.

CAL THOMAS, COMMENTATOR: This past Monday, Republican Representative Darrell Issa held a forum in Escondido, California for parents of the thirteen service members killed at the Kabul Airport nearly two years ago. During the forum, parents claimed there has been a cover-up and insensitivity to their concerns from the Biden Administration.

Unlike many hearings in Washington where members posture and occasionally talk more than witnesses, Congressman Issa allowed the parents to pour out their hearts. They did and while doing so they also criticized President Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley for not responding to their numerous requests for information on how and why their child had to die. It was gripping and highly emotional.

One parent said a Marine had the terrorist in his gun sight but could not get permission from higher-ups to fire. Another parent said his son’s cell phone was returned to him, but without the SIM card that might have contained pictures, messages and other information he might have wanted them to have.

Anyone watching the entire episode must have been moved by the pain expressed by each parent. Two said they had “protected” their child while he or she was growing up and had faith that the Marines would do the same while under their care.

At a minimum, many of the parents want an apology from the government, an admission by President Biden that mistakes were made, and the resignation or firing of people who made those mistakes that caused the deaths of their loved ones. That’s unlikely to happen because as we’ve seen in too many instances, when you are in government, being wrong is more likely to get you a promotion than a pink slip.

The parents of Marine Corps Sergeant Taylor Hoover accused the Biden Administration of lying to them to evade public accountability for mistakes they made. His mother, Kelly Barnett, claimed: “We are told lies, given incomplete reports, incorrect reports, total disrespect.” She labeled the military and civilian leadership “incompetent cowards” and “evil.”

Defense Secretary Austin issued a statement at the time of the terrorist attack in which he said, “We mourn alongside the families of those who were lost, and we will never forget your loved ones’ heroism and sacrifice. They gave their lives trying to save the lives of others. And I know that you share my pride in them.” The families say they have heard little or nothing since.

You can watch the entire hearing on YouTube. It is riveting and emotional.

Predictably, some Democrats are saying President Biden and the military leadership did nothing wrong. Watch the video and make up your own mind. I’ve made up mine. Those young servicemembers deserved better.

I’m Cal Thomas.

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