As we approached the two-year anniversary of the disastrous and deadly withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in which thirteen U.S. service members died, the families of those brave Americans were still seeking answers and accountability. Only to be stonewalled by the Biden administration. On Monday, House Republicans held a hearing and heard testimony from the family members of the thirteen Americans who died in Afghanistan due to the botched withdrawal. Fox News covered the hearing live in the afternoon while also providing viewers who may have missed it a full recap during Special Report. All three evening news networks thumbed their nose at the Gold Star families by ignoring the hearing.
Instead of covering the hearing, ABC’s World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and NBC Nightly News wasted airtime by covering the Mega Millions lottery numbers (ABC), the anti-American women’s soccer team losing in the World Cup (CBS), and another update on an investigation into a plastic plant fire (NBC).
Special Report anchor Bret Baier had the story which was one of the first he covered during Monday’s newscast. According to congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie, this was the first time “the Gold Star families of 13 U.S. service members killed by a suicide bomber at Kabul Airport [told] their stories together in public.”
“They say they waited two years for the Biden administration to explain its decisions leading up to that catastrophic bombing. Now, they are accusing officials of failing their children and trying to cover it up,” Hasnie revealed.
Despite the families' emotional pleas, Hasnie reports that the “Biden administration refuses to take any responsibility for the tragedy.”
“The parents are calling for Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley to resign. But have little hope that will ever happen,” Hasnie added.
At the end of her report, Hasnie read from the Pentagon’s statement in reaction to the hearing: “Tonight the Pentagon is responding to all of that damning testimony, writing in part that the Department of Defense expresses our deepest condolences to the Gold Star Families who lost loved ones during the tragic bombing at Abby Gate. We are forever grateful for their service, sacrifice, and committed efforts during the evacuation operation.”
Before wrapping up and tossing back to Baier, Hasnie savagely remarked that “you'll notice the word ‘successful’ was notably left out of that statement.”
This bias by omission from the three networks was made possible by Angi on ABC, Ensure on CBS, and Liberty Mutual on NBC. Their information is linked.
To read the transcript, click "expand":
FNC’s Special Report
8/7/2023
6:03:05 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Today, lawmakers and members of the public heard from family members of the 13 service members killed during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. House Republicans are essentially blaming President Biden for creating the conditions that led to that attack at the Kabul airport during the military pullout. Congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie shows us tonight.
CHRISTY SHAMBLIN: When our leaders called this evacuation a success, it is like a knife in the heart.
AISHAH HASNIE: Pain, anger, and grief as the gold star families of 13 U.S. service members killed by a suicide bomber at Kabul Airport tell their stories together in public for the first time.
CHERYL REX: My son was only 20 years old.
HASNIE: Relatives testifying at a hearing hosted by Congressman Darrell Issa near Camp Pendleton where many of the troops were based. They say they waited two years for the Biden administration to explain its decisions leading up to that catastrophic bombing. Now, they are accusing officials of failing their children and trying to cover it up.
KELLY BARNETT: We were told lies, given incomplete reports, incorrect reports. Total disrespect.
HASNIE: Kelly Barnett says she knew something was wrong when she spoke to her son, staff sergeant Darren Taylor Hoover.
BARNETT: His words were chaos, no communication, lack of leadership.
HASNIE: To date, the Biden administration refuses to take any responsibility for the tragedy.
CORAL BRISENO: I want answers. I want the truth.
HASNIE: Even denying there was anything chaotic about how the withdrawal played out.
JOHN KIRBY: For all this talk of chaos, I just didn't see it, not from my perch.
DARIN HOOVER: To have individuals like John Kirby come in and say that he did not see from the chaos from his perch, is both tone-deaf and ignorant.
HASNIE: Now these parents are calling for Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley to resign. But have little hope that will ever happen.
ALICIA LOPEZ: I have no allusion that anyone will be prosecuted or terminated for ignoring intelligence or making bad decisions.
STEVE NIKOUI: And now I hear is him in his soft voice—avenge me.
HASNIE: And Bret, tonight the Pentagon is responding to all of that damning testimony, writing in part that the Department of Defense expresses our deepest condolences to the Gold Star Families who lost loved ones during the tragic bombing at Abby Gate. We are forever grateful for their service, sacrifice, and committed efforts during the evacuation operation. And you'll notice the word "successful" was notably left out of that statement. Bret?
