Staff Reports
In honor of the soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan two years ago, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ordered that the flags at the US Capitol be flown at half-staff. In a statement, McCarthy said that he had ordered the flags to be lowered to honor the American heroes.
It is an appropriate tribute to the brave individuals who gave their lives for the country. Their names should be remembered and honored. Some of the individuals who were killed included Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Lance Cpl. Daegan Page, and Sgt. Johanny Pichardo.
Two years ago today, we tragically lost 13 brave servicemen and women in Afghanistan. I have directed the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be lowered to half-staff in honor of these American heroes. pic.twitter.com/BTMrRNl5Av
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) August 26, 2023
It is very disappointing that the Senate Democrats did not show any sign of support for McCarthy's decision to lower the flags at the Capitol.
Other Republican congressmen also spoke out about the anniversary of the deaths of the soldiers in Afghanistan. Elise Stefanik, the House Conference Chair, noted that the Republican Party would hold Joe Biden accountable for the US' disastrous withdrawal from the country. Mark Green, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the president for not taking responsibility for the safety of the American troops and allies in the country.
Despite the controversy surrounding his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, President Biden still maintains that he was right in his assessment of the situation at that time. His Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, also praised the service members who died in Afghanistan but did not acknowledge any wrongdoing.
It is clear that the Democrats are more concerned with protecting their own interests than with honoring the 13 soldiers who lost their lives. It is a sad day when politics overshadows the heroism and sacrifice of these soldiers.
