House Speaker Mike Johnson is organizing a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to 13 U.S. service members who died during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. The bipartisan effort to honor these fallen heroes, along with over 170 Afghan civilians, in a suicide bombing near Kabul’s Airport is set to take place in the Capitol Rotunda. The event occurs amidst ongoing political tensions surrounding the presidential election and criticism over the handling of the withdrawal.
President Joe Biden signed the legislation in December 2021 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 service members. The ceremony is expected to be attended by top leaders from both parties in the House and Senate. The timing of the event coincides with a House report released by Republicans blaming the Biden administration for the mishandling of the withdrawal.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana and a supporter of former President Trump, lauded the House report led by Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, emphasizing the importance of holding the Biden-Harris administration accountable for the events in Afghanistan. In response, the White House criticized the House report, calling it partisan and disputed its accuracy.
Despite ongoing debates over accountability for the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, including a scathing investigation by House Republicans blaming the Biden administration, Pentagon reviews have concluded that the suicide bombing was not preventable. Former President Trump has used the withdrawal as a focal point in his campaign, prompting discussions on leadership accountability during the evacuation.
While attempts are made to link Vice President Kamala Harris to the withdrawal, investigations have not found significant evidence of her influencing decision-making. House Republicans are insistent on seeking accountability from Harris and Biden’s national security team for the aftermath of the withdrawal. The investigation into the withdrawal has faced resistance from the Biden administration, according to Chairman McCaul.
Various assessments have attributed blame to both Trump and Biden for the turbulent end to the Afghan war, with the U.S. government watchdog indicating that Trump’s withdrawal deal with the Taliban was a crucial factor in the Taliban’s resurgence. Biden’s decision to proceed with the withdrawal initiated by Trump further exacerbated the situation in Afghanistan. Despite continuous debates and investigations, the focus remains on ensuring accountability for the tragic events surrounding the Afghanistan withdrawal.
