Gold Star dad Steve Nikoui arrested after heckling Biden at SOTU address

[Anonymous]

Also, of course, the 2,500 troop thing is irrelevant to the suicide bombing at the airport. Our troops were still in Afghanistan at that time, but mostly protecting themselves. The chaos ant the airport was all the Afghan civilians wanting to leave because the Afghan government and military had collapsed and turned the country over to the Taliban. The US promising to keep 2500 troops bunkered in an isolated compound would not have stopped the civilian panic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:[quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a reminder, it was Trump and Pompeo who went behind everyone's backs and negotiated the deal with the Taliban for the US to abandon Afghanistan. They did it without input from our Afghan allies, without input from DoD et cetera. And then they gutted all of the logistics and infrastructure needed to help that transition be more orderly.

Louder and one more time for the people blinded by party loyalty and bad news sources.

It's pretty convenient people have forgotten this.

And they've also forgotten that Congress (not the president) is in charge at the Capitol. Johnson warned people not to heckle.

And, another reminder.....

This was BIDEN'S withdrawal. He planned it and poorly executed it. He didn't listen to his military advisors because, you know, Biden thinks he knows best.

"The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction found in a February 2023 report that the Biden administration’s “abrupt and uncoordinated” withdrawal gave locals the impression the US “was simply handing Afghanistan over to a Taliban government-in-waiting.”

A State Department report in June of that year revealed that the administration also failed to take seriously the concerns of the Afghan government at the time amid warnings that Kabul would fall if American troops left."

citation: https://nypost.com/2024/03/08/us-news/gold-star-dad-gets-heros-welcome-at-dc-pub-after-release-following-arrest-for-heckling-biden/

The U.S. military planned it, of course. The White House doesn’t micromanage details of something like this. Biden approved the recommendation. The U.S. military did their best with the f***ed up situation that Trump’s surrender to the Taliban created. There was no Afghan government and no Afghan military. It was Trump’s dumbass policy that forced us to make a hurried chaotic departure.

The buck stops with Biden. And, he failed.
Unfortunately, Biden DID micromanage this debacle.

Top generals told lawmakers under oath on Tuesday that they advised President Joe Biden early this year to keep several thousand troops in Afghanistan — directly contradicting the president’s comments in August that no one warned him not to withdraw troops from the country.

The remarkable testimony pits top military brass against the commander-in-chief as the Biden administration continues to face tough questions about what critics are calling a botched withdrawal that directly led to the deaths of 13 American service members, scenes of chaos at the Kabul airport, and the abandonment of American citizens and at-risk Afghans in the war-torn country.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/28/top-generals-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-hearing-514491

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday over the frenzied US withdrawal from Afghanistan, top generals seemingly contradicted earlier claims from President Joe Biden on the administration’s plan to remove troops.

In a mid-August interview, Biden repeatedly disputed that military advisers had told him he should keep troops in Afghanistan after the withdrawal deadline.

When asked by ABC’s George Stephanopoulous whether “top military advisers warned against withdrawing on this timeline,” Biden responded, “No, they didn’t.”

To clarify, Stephanopoulous asked, “So no one told – your military advisers did not tell you, ‘No, we should just keep 2,500 troops. It’s been a stable situation for the last several years. We can do that. We can continue to do that’?” To which Biden said, “No one said that to me that I can recall.”

Although top military officials “made a unanimous recommendation” on August 25 to end the military mission in Afghanistan and transition to a diplomatic one, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and US Central Command head Gen. Frank McKenzie both told Congress during Tuesday’s testimony that they personally supported keeping a small number of troops past the withdrawal deadline. They refused to share exactly what they had told the sitting President but shared their personal opinions on the situation.

“I won’t share my personal recommendation to the President but I will give you my honest opinion. And my honest opinion and view shaped my recommendation,” McKenzie said. “I recommended that we maintain 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. I also recommended earlier, in the fall of 2020, that we maintain 4,500 at that time. Those are my personal views.”

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/28/politics/afghanistan-biden-testimony-contradiction-fact-check/index.html

There’s that famous Pentagon gaslighting. Leaving 2,500 troops would be idiotic. The country was lost. They would spend all their time protecting themselves in their isolated compound. I suspect the Pentagon hoped to bait an attack that would kill US troops to stir up support for a new invasion and occupation. The fact remains that even if they wanted to stay and bribe corrupt Afghans forever, it was the military’s job to have contingent plans to manage a withdrawal and evacuation when the Afghan government and military both quit, so they should have been ready and in charge of the operation. It’s not their job to sit back and harumph while others clean up their 20-year failure.

All the more idiotic considering how many accounts there were of things like the Afghan National Army and Afghan Police just walking away from fueled-up Hummvees and other military vehicles with the keys in the ignition, fully fueled up, weapons, and full magazines and canisters of ammo sitting in them. The worst betrayal of all was not by the US but by the Afghans themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, of course, the 2,500 troop thing is irrelevant to the suicide bombing at the airport. Our troops were still in Afghanistan at that time, but mostly protecting themselves. The chaos ant the airport was all the Afghan civilians wanting to leave because the Afghan government and military had collapsed and turned the country over to the Taliban. The US promising to keep 2500 troops bunkered in an isolated compound would not have stopped the civilian panic.

You mean Dubya Bushs quest for democracy and a free Afghanistan didn’t work ? The Taliban was able to —just like that— take over the country from Afghans we were funding trillions and arming to the teeth? You mean , US Hand holding doesn’t work when creating a strong military and government structure ? It’s best to let people use self reliance and govern their own affairs

We really are a stupid country like Trump says.

Ukraine is going to be the next Afghanistan a place where Democracy fails. Zelensky is already showing authoritarian qualities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, of course, the 2,500 troop thing is irrelevant to the suicide bombing at the airport. Our troops were still in Afghanistan at that time, but mostly protecting themselves. The chaos ant the airport was all the Afghan civilians wanting to leave because the Afghan government and military had collapsed and turned the country over to the Taliban. The US promising to keep 2500 troops bunkered in an isolated compound would not have stopped the civilian panic.

You mean Dubya Bushs quest for democracy and a free Afghanistan didn’t work ? The Taliban was able to —just like that— take over the country from Afghans we were funding trillions and arming to the teeth? You mean , US Hand holding doesn’t work when creating a strong military and government structure ? It’s best to let people use self reliance and govern their own affairs

We really are a stupid country like Trump says.

Ukraine is going to be the next Afghanistan a place where Democracy fails. Zelensky is already showing authoritarian qualities

Do you mean he’s acting like Putin?

[Anonymous]

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Thirteen service members were killed in the Kabul airport bombing on Aug. 26, 2021. Top Row from left: Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, and Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco. Middle Row from left: Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana, and Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas. Bottom Row from left: Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming, Navy Corpsman, Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee and Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, California.

Just last year, the House GOP proposed cutting Veterans healthcare benefits by 22% until Democrats called them out on it. But keep trying to show that your side actually cares about veterans other than as props to score a few political points.

Biden can disrespect these Marines and their families, who gives a crap about the Capitol? The Capitol would not even be a thing if our Military didn’t do the dangerous work of defending our country. If you think regular Americans are ok with the arrest of a Gold Star dad for shouting Abbey Gate and United States Marine Corp, you will lose this November and you can blame yourselves for being arrogant pricks. You deserve to lose.

Just checking my notes. So you’re going to vote then for the man who disparaged a Gold Star family in 2016 and then blamed them for giving him covid in 2020? Just wanted to make sure that’s what is occurring here and that we’re all on the same page. Signed, regular American and daughter of a Gold Star Family member.

Biden arrests Gold Star Fathers for mentioning the Marine Corps in his presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Gold Star father who shouted out criticisms at President Biden during the State of the Union address has been arrested.

Steve Nikoui, 51, is the father of a U.S. marine who was killed during the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Nikoui was escorted out of the House Galleries during Biden's speech after he stood up and began yelling "Abbey Gate" repeatedly.

The heckling was a reference to an attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan that occurred during the military's withdrawal from the country.

The surprise attack killed 13 U.S. service members and injured at least 170 civilians — including Nikoui's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gold-star-dad-steve-nikoui-arrested-heckling-biden-sotu-address.amp

I don’t think they should arrest this grieving father. Joe knows how hard it os to lose a son.

aNd i'M pRoUD tO bE aN aMeRIcaN
wHErE aT lEAsT i kNOw i'M fReE

[Anonymous]

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Thirteen service members were killed in the Kabul airport bombing on Aug. 26, 2021. Top Row from left: Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, and Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco. Middle Row from left: Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana, and Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas. Bottom Row from left: Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming, Navy Corpsman, Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee and Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, California.

Just last year, the House GOP proposed cutting Veterans healthcare benefits by 22% until Democrats called them out on it. But keep trying to show that your side actually cares about veterans other than as props to score a few political points.

Biden can disrespect these Marines and their families, who gives a crap about the Capitol? The Capitol would not even be a thing if our Military didn’t do the dangerous work of defending our country. If you think regular Americans are ok with the arrest of a Gold Star dad for shouting Abbey Gate and United States Marine Corp, you will lose this November and you can blame yourselves for being arrogant pricks. You deserve to lose.

Just checking my notes. So you’re going to vote then for the man who disparaged a Gold Star family in 2016 and then blamed them for giving him covid in 2020? Just wanted to make sure that’s what is occurring here and that we’re all on the same page. Signed, regular American and daughter of a Gold Star Family member.

Biden arrests Gold Star Fathers for mentioning the Marine Corps in his presence.

You’re just a MAGA liar but you know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Thirteen service members were killed in the Kabul airport bombing on Aug. 26, 2021. Top Row from left: Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, and Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco. Middle Row from left: Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana, and Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas. Bottom Row from left: Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming, Navy Corpsman, Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee and Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, California.

No one cares. How many kids are dead due to assault rifle wielding magas shooting up schools?

The Colorado Springs shooter identified as non binary.

The Denver shooter identified as trans.

The Aberdeen shooter identified as trans.

The Nashville shooter identified as trans.

Never heard of any of this - where’s your proof?

[Anonymous]

Biden is a good man, off course Biden had nothing to do with the deaths of these Marines. Blame Speaker Johnson, the Capitol is sacred, the Gold Star Father should be ashamed of himself, real Americans are on Biden’s side on this issue, State of the Union was impressive, Biden did great!

[Anonymous]

Sorry, it's pretty sad for any gold star family to use their child's death in service to become a TV network tool. Blaming 14 deaths from a complete withdrawal from a foreign country on the president...really? It's right up there on the child beauty pageant level of shyster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He can heckle the president some other time. Not then. He has lost his sense.

+1
shouldn't come to the SOTU if he can't behave respectfully, even in mourning. It's ridiculous that people feel fine shouting out at the POTUS during SOTU.

But ditto those noting that the police aren't Biden's; they're under Congress's direction.

I agree. “Gold Star father” doesn’t give you a pass but then shouldn’t someone like MTG also get the same for disrupting the speech?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, it's pretty sad for any gold star family to use their child's death in service to become a TV network tool. Blaming 14 deaths from a complete withdrawal from a foreign country on the president...really? It's right up there on the child beauty pageant level of shyster.

Good grief.
He was justifiably angry.
His son was killed at Abbey Gate. A preventable death, based on testimony a year later. His other son committed suicide on the grave of his dead son. He couldn't deal with the loss.
Biden has NEVER said their names publicly. He checked his watch at the dignified transfer of remains. The WH will not return the calls of the parents or meet with the parents to have their questions answered.

And, when Biden said, "All Americans deserve the freedom to be safe and America is safer today than when I took office," the comment put him over the top.

I totally understand his passion and his anger.

And, BTW - it was 13 deaths. And, 10 more innocent Afghans were droned to death.

[Anonymous]

I understand his passion and anger, too. I'd feel the same way. But that doesn't justify breaking the law.

[Anonymous]

Good grief.
He was justifiably angry.
His son was killed at Abbey Gate. A preventable death, based on testimony a year later. His other son committed suicide on the grave of his dead son. He couldn't deal with the loss.
Biden has NEVER said their names publicly. He checked his watch at the dignified transfer of remains. The WH will not return the calls of the parents or meet with the parents to have their questions answered.

And, when Biden said, "All Americans deserve the freedom to be safe and America is safer today than when I took office," the comment put him over the top.

I totally understand his passion and his anger.

And, BTW - it was 13 deaths. And, 10 more innocent Afghans were droned to death.

+ a million!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief.
He was justifiably angry.
His son was killed at Abbey Gate. A preventable death, based on testimony a year later. His other son committed suicide on the grave of his dead son. He couldn't deal with the loss.
Biden has NEVER said their names publicly. He checked his watch at the dignified transfer of remains. The WH will not return the calls of the parents or meet with the parents to have their questions answered.

And, when Biden said, "All Americans deserve the freedom to be safe and America is safer today than when I took office," the comment put him over the top.

I totally understand his passion and his anger.

And, BTW - it was 13 deaths. And, 10 more innocent Afghans were droned to death.

+ a million!