Rep. Calvert Calls for Accountability from President Biden One Year After the Afghanistan Attack

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42), the top Republican on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Kabul airport terror attack that claimed the lives of 13 American servicemembers, including his constituent – Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui from Norco, CA:

"As Americans prepare to remember and honor the 13 fallen American heroes whose lives were ended far too soon as a result of the terror attack at Kabul airport, I believe we must renew our commitment to holding President Biden and his administration accountable for the decisions they made leading up to and following that devastating attack.

One year later, President Biden has failed to explain why he chose to put politics before the safety of American troops, citizens, and our allies. We've received no explanation for the strategic decision to abandon Bagram Air Base or the failure to secure the thousands of terrorists and Taliban fighters secured there. The Biden administration refuses to officially name the bomber, despite unofficial confirmation by sources of his name, affiliation with ISIS-K, and that he was among those who escaped from Bagram.

Is the Biden administration refusing to confirm the bomber's identity because it would draw direct connection between Biden's policy decisions and the deaths of 13 American servicemembers? Why did the Biden administration wait until the last days to protect and evacuate our citizens, diplomats, and servicemembers? After being put in an untenable situation, packed into an open-air corridor with credible intelligence they were being targeted, why were our servicemembers not equipped with the best equipment possible, such as thermal binoculars that could have helped them identify the threat sooner and save an untold number of lives? Finally, what has become of the thousands of terrorists that escaped Bagram, where are they now, and did any of them board the evacuation planes that came to America?

If Republicans retake the House in November, these are just some of the questions I will demand the administration answer. One-party Democrat rule in Washington has shielded President Biden, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and the National Security Council from accountability and facing the American people's questions and outrage. I expect a full accounting of events, and these senior military leaders will have to answer for their failure of leadership and the deaths of American servicemembers. Our fallen heroes deserve nothing less."