Three years after the Abbey Gate attack in Afghanistan, a Gold Star father whose son died in the tragedy slammed Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she "owns this" as much as President Biden. Grieving parents of service members lost in the attack also criticized the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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Gold Star Dad Blasts Harris: 'She Owns This' Afghanistan Attack Anniversary
On the three-year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Afghanistan's Kabul airport, Gold Star father Mark Schmitz, whose son Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz was killed in the Abbey Gate attack, joined "Fox & Friends" to express his outrage towards Vice President Kamala Harris.
"She owns this as much as he [Biden] does," Schmitz said. "She's following the policies that Joe Biden has ushered in during his presidency and obviously, neither one of them know what the heck they're doing. And that terrifies me, because we know we can't bring our kids back."
Gold Star Dad Blasts Harris: 'She Owns This' Afghanistan Attack Anniversary
Schmitz's son was one of 13 U.S. service members killed in the attack on August 26, 2021. Schmitz said he holds both Biden and Harris responsible for the deaths of these service members.
"But what we want to see is the military that is out in the field right now – those families are never going to be put through what we've been put through. It's been absolutely shameful," Schmitz said.
Gold Star Dad Blasts Harris: 'She Owns This' Afghanistan Attack Anniversary
Vice President Harris issued a statement on Monday addressing the anniversary of the attack, listing the names of those lost and making a pledge to "fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our troops and their families" and "always honor their service and sacrifice."
"Today and everyday, I mourn and honor them. My prayers are with their families and loved ones. My heart breaks for their pain and their loss. These 13 devoted patriots represent the best of America, putting our beloved nation and their fellow Americans above themselves and deploying into danger to keep their fellow citizens safe," the statement read in part.
Gold Star Dad Blasts Harris: 'She Owns This' Afghanistan Attack Anniversary
She continued later, "As I have said, President Biden made the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war. Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones. I will never hesitate to take whatever action necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people and the homeland."
However, Gold Star dad Schmitz and other grieving parents dismiss these words as empty platitudes. They believe the Biden-Harris administration is responsible for the deaths of their loved ones and has failed to hold those responsible accountable.
Gold Star Dad Blasts Harris: 'She Owns This' Afghanistan Attack Anniversary
"I blame Biden for the death of my son, so anything I have to say to the Biden-Harris administration would probably not be something that could be shared on the news," said Gold Star mom Shana Chappell, who lost her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, in the attack.
"The Biden administration is 100% at fault for why my son lost his life, and now I look at the way our country is going, and I think this is not what my son died for. He did not die to watch our country go down the path that's going," she added.
In the aftermath of the attack, the National Security Council issued a statement expressing President Biden's "gratitude" for U.S. service members, acknowledging the dignified transfer of the fallen service members and emphasizing the debt owed to them.
However, Gold Star families like the Schmitz and Chappell families believe these gestures are insufficient and that the Biden-Harris administration has failed to live up to its promises to care for the families of fallen service members and honor their sacrifices.
"Our country owes them a great deal of gratitude and a debt that we can never repay, and we will continue to honor their ultimate sacrifice," NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
As the anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack passes, Gold Star families continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones and advocate for accountability from the Biden-Harris administration. They believe that both President Biden and Vice President Harris bear responsibility for the deaths of their children and that they must be held accountable for their actions.
