Recently, Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, delivered a scathing critique of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. His condemnation focused on what he described as their misleading treatment of the tragic situation in Afghanistan, particularly the untimely deaths of 13 U.S. servicemen during the precarious withdrawal process in 2021.
Sen. Vance had the honour of addressing Gold Star Family members, who carry the memory of their loved ones who fell in service to their country. Among the mourned was Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, and Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz. This meeting was further solemnized by its occurrence on the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, a horrific event that claimed the lives of their loved ones.
Vance imbued his speech with empathy, understanding the deep pain and anger of these grieving families. Many were distressed not just by the loss of their beloved family members or by the fact that military operations are fraught with perils and risks. But this was different. What left them astounded and angry was the perceived lack of responsibility and accountability from the current administration in the aftermath of this disaster.
In his dialogue with the members, Sen. Vance encapsulated their collective sentiments: they were not simply disappointed by decisions made in combat zones where errors can occur. Instead, their frustrations lay with an administration that wasn’t forthcoming with information linked to these disastrous decisions, leaving them questioning why their loved ones had been taken away so abruptly and senselessly.
‘What infuriates these bereaved families is more than the decisions that were made, it is the apparent lack of consequences for those who made them’, stated Vance. The poignant question that troubled many, ‘Why has no one been held accountable? Why has no one lost their position over this?’ permeated in the air.
Vance highlighted the fact that the lives of the young troops were unjustifiably lost, and yet, there seemed to be no consequence. He emphasized the anger felt by the public who remain in the dark about what transpired and furthermore, no significant action has been taken against those responsible.
Invoking the frustration of the bereaved families, Vance postulated about the current state of national leadership. ‘The fact that we remain uninformed, the fact that there is a lack of action, and the fact that no one has been held accountable all contribute to a worrying portrait of weak leadership,’ he said.
In veering towards future hope, Vance announced that the upcoming 2024 presidential election offers Americans an opportunity for change and to return to a type of governance that owns up to its failures. This kind of transparent leadership could help prevent similar mishappenings in the future, he suggested.
Many Gold Star Family members voiced their concerns and shared their stories during the call. What was abundantly clear from their testimonies was a prevailing sense of dissatisfaction with the current administration’s handling of the aftermath of the deaths of their loved ones, which occurred on August 26, 2021, during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Expressing his gratitude towards these grieving families for sharing their stories, Vance discussed the shocking dishonesty that underscores Vice President Kamala Harris’s political aspirations. He critiqued Harris’s claims of wanting to ‘return decency and common sense to the Oval Office’, suggesting that the administration’s actions, or lack thereof, had rendered such intentions hollow.
Vance boldly argued that true decency or common sense could not and would not come at the expense of losing 13 American lives. The absence of comprehension as to why it happened and the lack of repugnant actions towards those who caused it, signals anything but common sense or decency.
Vance continued, alike with awe and disappointment pointing out the stark contrast between the country’s valiant young servicemen who were willing to sacrifice everything and the current leadership which, in his view, does not measure up to their sacrifice. This perceived imbalance was, according to Vance, a disheartening affront to the nation these servicemen pledged to defend.
In his bid as a vice-presidential hopeful, Vance affirmed his vision to honor the bravery and sacrifices of those who wear the uniform and serve their nation. He resolved that under a potential future President Trump, the mistakes and misjudgments made would be reviewed and rectified.
Peering into the potential future of the nation’s governance with determined conviction, Vance expressed his commitment to ensuring accountability for this tragic event. He assured the Gold Star Family members that no action or inaction that led to the tragic loss of 13 heroic lives would be overlooked.
According to Vance, these families deserve rigorous investigation and accountability from those who were in charge. He considered this not only as a matter of justice but as the ‘very least’ of what their great sacrifice warrants.
In his closing words, Vance couldn’t stress enough the urgent need for accountability and just retribution. These echoed the sentiment of the Gold Star Family members – a call for truth, justice, acknowledgement, and accountability for the service and sacrifice of their loved ones.