Former President Donald Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday to honor U.S. service members who died during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago.
Trump was at Arlington National Cemetery with family members of the victims. Bill Barnett, the grandfather of Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, who was killed in the attack, accompanied Trump as they placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
President Biden and Vice President Harris also paid tribute to the service members killed years ago, as well as those who died over the past two decades in Afghanistan.
"They were sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, spouses and friends," President Biden wrote in a statement. "No matter how much time passes, the pain of their loss will remain real and raw. And so will the pride we feel in their service.
"These 13 devoted patriots represent the best of America, putting our beloved nation and their fellow Americans above themselves and deploying into danger to keep their fellow citizens safe," Harris said in a statement.
A government investigation revealed that a suicide bomber from the Islamic State group was responsible for the attack that killed the service members and more than 100 Afghans. The attack happened four days before the U.S. withdrew from the country, ending the longest war in American history.
The withdrawal plans were started under Trump and followed through under Biden. The Biden administration oversaw the United States’ evacuation from the country, following Trump’s peace agreement with the Taliban to end the war.
A military review of the bombing determined the attack was not preventable “without degrading the mission to maximize the number of evacuees.”
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Trump has been critical of the Biden administration for the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the chaotic scene that unfolded in August 2021. However, the Biden administration has put the onus on conditions it was left by Trump. A previous report on the withdrawal from the administration said its choices were “severely constrained” by conditions created, while a state department report said “during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow."
Trump continued his criticism on Monday while speaking at the National Guard Association of the United States conference.
"Caused by Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, the humiliation in Afghanistan set off the collapse of American credibility and respect all around the world,” Trump said, as he’s sought to tie Harris to Biden’s record.
Vice President Harris called the decision to end the war “right” and “courageous.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration inherited a mess from Donald Trump. Trump wants America to forget that he had four years to get out of Afghanistan, but failed to do it. All he did was continue our longest war. Trump cannot be trusted to keep us safe, but Vice President Harris is a proven leader on the world stage and will use her expertise to ensure America’s security, defeat our adversaries, and stand with our allies around the world,” Harris campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa aid.
Meanwhile, Trump also vowed to fire senior officials tied to the “Afghanistan calamity” and indicated he would not have “given up” Bagram Air Base. He argued that there had been greater global peace under his administration.
“Never been anything like it. It's the wrong base. Shouldn't have taken the soldiers out first. Should have taken the soldiers out last. That's where you'd want to be. They took the soldiers out first, and they had a field day at our expense and our reputation,” Trump said.
However, officials dispute his claims of planning to keep forces at Bagram Air Base.
The agreement reached between the Trump administration and the Taliban did not include provisions to keep the base, according to a senior administration official.
"Trump wanted completely out of Afghanistan. I don't recall any mention of retaining Bagram Air Base, let along keeping U.S. troops there to secure it,” a former senior administration official said.
“That was never part of the discussion with him. The plan President Trump was briefed on was a plan to go to zero,” a retired senior military official said, also pointing out, “He put a hold on it at 2,500 when he left office and left the ultimate decision up to President Biden.”
Biden and Harris reiterated the commitment to prevent attacks in their statements.
“Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaida and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones,” Harris said in the statement.
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The administration assesses that the landscape in Afghanistan is challenging for terrorist groups, according to a senior administration official. The intelligence community assesses al-Qaida has a minuscule presence and hasn’t reconstituted it since August 2021, and doesn’t have the capability to launch attacks against the US from Afghanistan, according to a senior administration official. ISIS-K’s capabilities in Afghanistan are said to have been degraded.
And one retired senior military official warned of the ability to see into Afghanistan, specifically al-Qaida and ISIS-K.
“I think that the odds of an attack occurring are higher every month because of our inability to see into Afghanistan, which is actually quite limited and our ability to string into Afghanistan, which is even more limited,” the retired official said. They explained that with other events in the region, “the problem is there’s just not enough intelligence gathering resources to go around.”
In the three years since the Taliban took control of the government, there have been concerns over human rights, the gutting of women’s rights and food crises.
The relocation and resettlement efforts started during the US withdrawal, meanwhile, have continued.
That’s impacted 165,000 people from Afghanistan since August 2021, according to the group #AfghanEvac, which has sought to work with the administration on efforts. It met with officials again last week.
“It sends a message that this stuff matters to this administration and to the national security leaders in our country," said group president Shawn VanDiver. "It matters what our volunteers and members are doing. It matters that we're continuing to raise the voices of Afghans and their families who are waiting their ultimate resettlement here and the administration, it's been like pushing on an open door. They're navigating complex laws and bureaucracy, and we're adding a lot of pressure."
While VanDiver has praised the administration’s work, the group is also looking to see humanitarian parole applications adjudicated more quickly and a program that puts the onus on the US government rather than applicants.
VanDiver estimates there are between 200,000 and 400,000 people left.
“We are going to push no matter who wins the election,” VanDiver said.
On the anniversary of the third year since the bombing, the group stated, in part, “Today, as we mourn the lives lost, let us also reaffirm our commitment to securing the future for those who were forced to leave everything behind in pursuit of safety and freedom. The memory of Abbey Gate must serve as a rallying cry—a reminder that we must never forget the lives lost that day, and a reminder that our work is not finished until every Afghan who stood with us has a chance to live the life they deserve.”
On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would be awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the families of the 13 service members killed on Aug. 26, 2021.
