Kareem Nikoui, a U.S Marine, was one of the 13 service members who died in the recent suicide bombing at the Kabul airport. The blast outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport killed at least 60 Afghans and 13 U.S service members. Many leaders have expressed their anger and rage at President Joe Biden for his disastrous withdrawal of the U.S troops, which has led to thousands of Americans being stranded in Afghanistan. And now he has blood on his hands.
The father of U.S Marine Nikoui spoke out and shared details about the “excruciating day” that he found out his son was killed in the bombing. The bombing has been blamed on ISIS, another terrorist group attempting to establish dominance since the Taliban takeover. Americans have been left trapped and unable to reach the airport, along with the U.S Embassy website that Biden had shut down for hours.
Nikoui shared how he “respects the office of the president” but that the president turned his back on the U.S troops. President Biden has continued to depend on the Taliban to secure the perimeter of the airport as Afghan allies and U.S citizens continue to evacuate. But some conflicting reports suggest that the Taliban aren’t letting allies or Americans through the airport gates at all. Biden said he is determined to keep the Aug. 31 pullout deadline, despite numerous attacks and hostile takeovers.
“They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security. I blame my own military leaders … Biden turned his back on him. That’s it,” Nikoui said.
Nikoui went on to say that the Marines who came to deliver the message that his son was killed were “more choked up than me” and that he wanted them to say it as quick as possible before his family came home and saw them. He said his son loved being a Marine and that it was something he always wanted to do.
Nikoui went on to say that Kareem loved his Marine Corps family and that he had no hesitation in being called to duty. He said his son was sent over as a “paper pusher” and then had the Taliban outside providing security. He said he blames the military leaders, but mostly Biden.
President Biden said he would “hunt down” those who are responsible for the attack and conducted a drone strike targeting an ISIS-K planner.
Another U.S service member who died in the bombing was 20-year-old Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz. His father, Mark Schmitz, said his life meant so much more and that he is incredibly devastated that he won’t be able to see the man he was quickly growing into becoming.
“Be afraid of our leadership or lack thereof. Pray every day for the soldiers that are putting their lives at risk, doing what they love which is protecting all of us,” Schmitz said.
The other U.S service members who died in the attacks were: Darin T, Hoover, Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Nicole L. Gee, Hunter Lopez, Daegan W. Page, Humberto A. Sanchez, David L. Espinoza, Rylee J. McCollum, and Dylan R. Merola. All service members were between the age range of 20-31. One Twitter user pointed out a handful of service members, in particular, tweeting that “kids who could barely walk and talk when the Afghanistan War started died yesterday.”
Biden’s presidency has been nothing but turning his back on the American people. One image, in particular, highlighted his presidency so far. He was photographed turning his back as he left the room delivering remarks on Afghanistan. He had shown up late to the press conference and hadn’t even taken questions from the press. The President has walked out on the American people – literally and figuratively.
