House Speaker Mike Johnson honored 13 U.S. service members with the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery in the Afghanistan withdrawal. The ceremony was bipartisan, with both Democrats and Republicans supporting the legislation to honor the troops who lost their lives in a suicide bombing in Kabul. Johnson, a Republican, criticized the Biden administration for the chaotic withdrawal, saying the government should have done more to protect the troops. The event took place amidst a heated debate over who is to blame for the withdrawal.
The Pentagon reviews have found that the suicide bombing was not preventable, and troops did not see the would-be bomber beforehand. Despite this, Trump and some Gold Star families have criticized the handling of the evacuation, with Trump making it a central issue of his campaign. House Republicans released a scathing report on the withdrawal, blaming Biden and his national security team for the consequences.
Democrats have pushed back against the report, accusing Republicans of politicizing the issue ahead of the election. Both Trump and Biden share responsibility for the end of the war in Afghanistan, with Trump’s 2020 deal with the Taliban and Biden’s decision to proceed with the withdrawal both playing significant roles in the collapse of Afghan security forces. The partisan debate over the withdrawal continues to be a central issue in the political landscape.
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