A Familiar Story to Many
Despite the report’s revelations, Steve Nikoui, the father of Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, mentioned that much of the information was not new to him. “To be honest with you, a majority of the stuff in the report is nothing new. We’ve been at the congressional hearings,” Nikoui said during an appearance on “America Reports” Monday.
Source: Wikimedia
Over the past year and a half, the Nikoui family had been closely following the hearings and collecting information.
Tragic Loss and a Suicide Bombing
Kareem Nikoui was one of the 13 U.S. service members who tragically lost their lives on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device during a chaotic evacuation at the Kabul airport.
Source: Shana Chappell
The incident occurred amidst a massive effort to evacuate civilians and military personnel from Afghanistan, marking a dark day in the withdrawal process.
Afghan Government's Plea for Help
One aspect of the report that surprised Steve Nikoui was the revelation that the Afghan government had reached out for support to prevent a Taliban takeover.
Source: US Sun
He expressed skepticism regarding the Biden administration’s intentions, suggesting that the administration “never had any intention” of providing adequate assistance to the Afghan government during the withdrawal phase.
The Significance of the Report
Despite the tragic events and ongoing frustration, Nikoui highlighted the importance of the report being made public.
Source: Freepik
“What is good, though, about this report is that it’s finally out. There is no more question,” Nikoui noted. The report, presented in a chronological manner, leaves no room for ambiguity, clearly laying out the missteps that led to the disastrous pullout.
Anticipating Presidential Debate Discussions
When asked by host Sandra Smith if the report might be addressed in the upcoming ABC News Presidential Debate, Nikoui confidently responded, “Definitely it will.”
Source: @VP, X
He emphasized the depth and thoroughness of the report, underscoring its importance to the American public and the need for transparency about the administration’s actions.
Accusations of Deception
Nikoui expressed strong criticism of the Biden administration, accusing them of misleading the public.
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“The administration lied. If it wasn’t Kamala Harris, it was Jen Psaki. If it wasn’t her, [Karine] Jean-Pierre,” he stated, pointing to various officials who have represented the White House. He believes the report has finally exposed these manipulations for what they are.
Pushback Against Democratic Criticism
In addition to discussing the report, Nikoui also addressed recent Democratic attacks against former President Trump, specifically regarding his participation in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery with Gold Star families.
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Nikoui pushed back against the criticism, defending Trump’s actions and accusing the Democratic Party of political posturing.
Honoring the Fallen
Nikoui expressed frustration that the Democrats had used the Arlington ceremony for political purposes, noting, “A former president is coming to honor our kids and lay a wreath at the [Tomb of the Unknown Soldier] and they use that as a way to use political leverage.”
Source: The White House/Wikimedia Commons
He emphasized the day should have been about honoring the fallen, not political grandstanding.
The Withdrawal’s Legacy
Reflecting on the withdrawal, Nikoui stated, “The Afghanistan withdrawal, it’s all out there now. It’s all in the report.”
Source: Michael Stokes/Wikimedia Commons
.” He questioned how the administration could possibly spin the facts at this point, asserting that there was little room for misinterpretation or leverage left for them.
State Department’s Defense
In response to the GOP report, the State Department stood by its actions during the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Source: Unsplash
Officials criticized the report, dismissing it as partisan and accusing Republicans of manipulating facts to fit a political narrative.
Accusations of Partisan Bias
A State Department spokesperson went further, accusing Republicans of “cherry-picking facts” and withholding key testimonies from the public.
Source: Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash
According to the spokesperson, the GOP’s report was based more on conjecture than truth, aiming to obfuscate the true story behind the Afghanistan withdrawal.