The photo with the headline above is one that was taken at the Kabul International Airport one year ago, on August 26, 2021. Joe Biden released a statement recognizing today’s anniversary of the final plane out of Afghanistan. Nowhere in it does he take responsibility for the deaths of thirteen American servicemembers.

Biden is commander-in-chief, as scary of a thought as that is. When he first entered the White House he regularly said the buck stops with him. Usually, it was to remind people that he won and he was in charge. Biden is eager to take credit whether or not he deserves it. In this case, he should have issued a sincere apology for turning the withdrawal from Afghanistan into such a clusterfark and apologized to the families who lost loved ones that day.

Joe Biden is to blame for the deaths of those servicemembers. Too harsh? I don’t think so. Since that day there have been reports that Joe Biden was advised by Pentagon officials and members of the intelligence community on how the withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan should go. Joe Biden, a feeble old man who never served a day of military service, taking multiple deferments during the Vietnam war instead, thought he knew better and ignored all the guidance he received. Biden thinks he is the smartest person in the room and that is a dangerous opinion to have. In this case, it cost the United States the lives of thirteen brave military heroes.

Biden’s statement is loaded up with flowery words meant to comfort grieving families and a grieving country. It isn’t a very long statement and it does include all of their names so I’ll include the statement.

One year ago, 13 proud and patriotic American service members, as well as more than 100 innocent Afghan civilians, were killed in a heinous terrorist attack at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul Airport. Many more were injured and will carry the impact of their wounds and experiences for the rest of their lives.

Our nation will forever mourn their sacrifice and honor the memory of those 13 precious souls, stolen from their families, loved ones, brothers- and sisters-in-arms far too soon while performing a noble mission on behalf of our Nation:
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover;
Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario;
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee;
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez;
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page;
Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez;
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza;
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz;
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum;
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola;
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui;
Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak; and
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.

They were beloved sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. They came from all across our land. Each carried with them the pride of their own unique story and the hopes of the loved ones who nurtured them. But they were united by a common call—to serve something greater than themselves. They were heroes, working to save lives as part of the largest airlift evacuation operation in our history. The example of their bravery and selflessness will live forever as a testament to the very best of our American character.

In the wake of the horrific attack outside Kabul airport, we have redoubled our relentless global campaign against ISIS and other terrorists who threaten Americans. In February, we took out the global head of ISIS in Syria, and last month, in Kabul, we eliminated the leader of al-Qaeda. We now maintain pressure against terrorist threats without keeping thousands of troops in harm’s way on the ground in Afghanistan. And my Administration will continue to hunt down terrorists who seek to harm the United States, wherever they may be.

Today, I am praying for the families of those 13 fallen warriors, who lost a piece of their soul one year ago. Our nation can never repay such incredible sacrifice—but we will never fail to honor our sacred obligation to the families and survivors they left behind. I am also holding in my heart all those who lost their child, partner, parent, sibling, loved one, or battle buddy over our two decades of war in Afghanistan. 2,461 American troops made the ultimate sacrifice. 20,744 were wounded, so many whose lives are forever marked by their injuries. It is a painful reminder that there is nothing low-cost or low-grade about war for those we ask to fight for us.

I am grateful to all the members of our Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, as well as the diplomats, intelligence professionals, counterterrorism experts, and development specialists who served in Afghanistan and who sacrificed so much to make our nation stronger and safer.

Whoever wrote that statement did a pretty good job, except, as I mentioned, there should be an apology from Biden.

It sounds cringey that Biden boasts of what the U.S. military has accomplished against ISIS and other terrorists since then, especially with the note that it was all accomplished “without keeping thousands of troops in harm’s way on the ground in Afghanistan.” Sorry your loved ones were trapped on the ground when the terrorist bombed the airport but now we don’t need boots on the ground. The one year anniversary brings up so many horrible scenes from that day and all Americans should be angered about that.

Joe Biden assured us the Taliban would not rush in and take over again. They did almost immediately. Joe Biden promised to find the people responsible for the attack. He has not. A strike in Afghanistan on the pretext that it was against someone connected to the suicide attack turned out to be an attack against innocent Afghan civilians. Joe Biden has not held anyone accountable – no Pentagon officials have been fired or disciplined, nor has anyone at the State Department. Not Lloyd Austin or Tony Blinken. Everyone just went on about their jobs as normal. Joe Biden continues to say how wonderfully the evacuation in Afghanistan went off. Thousands are still left behind, desperate to leave Afghanistan but unable to because the Taliban forces them to stay. And the final insult – Joe Biden looking at his watch as the coffins of the deceased servicemembers were carried off an aircraft carrier at Dover Air Force Base.

Americans remember. Biden’s polling numbers began to fall after that day in 2021 and he has not recovered from it. He may not hold himself accountable but American voters have made their opinion well known.