(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) In a heart-wrenching address to members of Congress on Monday, the Gold Star parents of U.S. servicemen who were killed in the Biden-ordered withdrawal of Afghanistan eviscerated the president and his administration for the deadly chaos that resulted.
Kelly Barnett, the mother of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, bared her soul and unleashed a torrent of criticism against the Biden administration’s handling of the chaotic withdrawal, which claimed the life of her son and 12 other courageous servicemen.
Barnett didn’t mince her words while describing the harrowing pain of losing her son, directly targeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken, General Mark Milley, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as “incompetent,” “cowards” and “evil.”
“I want justice,” Barnett said before pleading for the Biden administration to admit their mishaps in the withdrawal. “I want accountability. Why would they just not say, ‘Oh, we made a mistake, our plan was wrong, I’m so sorry.’ You know, that would have been something.”
Barnett mentioned the names of the servicemen, whose lives were taken by a suicide bomber during the summer of 2021, before the audience broke in applause.
Taylor’s father, Darren Hoover, echoed her sentiments with fiery resolve, directly addressing the officials in question: “Be a grown a** man. Admit to your mistakes. Learn from them so that this doesn’t happen ever, ever again. You all need to resign immediately.”
His words cut through the tension in the room, driving home the call for accountability in the wake of the tragic loss of lives.
In a heartfelt tribute to his son’s character, Darren Hoover shared intimate anecdotes that encapsulated Staff Sgt. Hoover’s unwavering dedication to his fellow Marines.
“Taylor is the poster child for being a loving and caring human and took that responsibility to a whole other level,” he emphasized.
He recounted how Taylor’s sense of duty extended beyond the battlefield, exemplified by his constant pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of his comrades.
Hoover concluded his remarks, calling on the Biden officials to resign. “You all need to resign immediately. Our sons, daughters have more integrity in their little toes than every one of them combined,” he concluded.
This wasn’t the first time the Biden administration has faced criticism from the Gold Star families. In July 2023, the family of Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, one of the servicemen lost in Afghanistan, slammed the Department of Defense for allegedly forcing the family to pay for the bill to transport Gee’s body from California to the Arlington Cemetery.
President Joe Biden has dismissed criticism stemming from his deadly withdrawal, going as far as calling it a “success” in August 2021.
The Department of Defense echoed Biden’s claims. “The Department of Defense expresses our deepest condolences to the Gold Star Families who lost loved ones during the tragic bombing at Abbey Gate,” a spokesperson for the department stated, according to Fox News.
The spokesperson added, “We are forever grateful for their service, sacrifice, and committed efforts during the evacuation operations. We also commend the historic and monumental efforts of all our service men and women who served honorably during the withdrawal period from Afghanistan.”
