Tuesday marked the end of America’s military presence in Afghanistan, but the controversy surrounding its withdrawal has shown no signs of fading away.
That extends to the U.S. troops who died last week in a suicide attack on Kabul’s airport. While House Republicans sought to honor their memory yesterday, according to Breitbart, one Indiana congressman claimed that Democrats didn’t appear to be interested in doing the same.
“We just had a moment of silence on the floor of the House of Representatives for the 12 American heroes that we lost in Afghanistan,” Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) could be heard saying in a video posted to Facebook by Breitbart News.
“Democrats have politicized this”
In fact, Fox News reported that a total of 13 U.S. service personnel died as a result of an ISIS-K suicide bombing at the airport in Kabul, which included U.S. Marines, a U.S. Army soldier, and a U.S. Navy Corpsman.
“Not a single Democrat joined us on the floor of the House in that moment of silence,” Banks complained, adding, “And that is a shame.”
However, Banks went on to say that perhaps he “shouldn’t be surprised” as “Democrats have politicized this, and it is absolutely shameful.”
“This morning, the head of the Democrat National Committee sent out a press release claiming victory, and saying that this president did what no other president could, as if he is some kind of hero,” the GOP lawmaker added.
Later, Banks took issue with how the administration’s estimate regarding how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan appears to shift depending on who is behind the podium at any given time.
Afghanistan bill blocked
According to the Washington Examiner, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher (R) followed the moment of silence by attempting to bring forward a bill demanding answers from the Biden administration over how it conducted the U.S. troop withdrawal from the Taliban-controlled country.
Among its provisions was a request that the White House reveal exactly how much U.S. military equipment was left behind, along with what plans it has in place to ensure that stranded Americans are able to safely return home.
The attempt was gaveled down, provoking an outcry from assembled GOP members. “How can you not read the names?” one lawmaker said of the fallen troops.
“Now is not the time to act like you could not see us on the floor,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) later said. “Now is not the time to hide.”
The post Democrats snub moment of silence for fallen US soldiers in Afghanistan first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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