In a stunning display of insensitivity, White House national security spokesman John Kirby inadvertently sent a scathing email to Fox News on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, disparaging a group of veterans who had criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
The email, which was intended to be a private response, was instead sent to Fox News due to an apparent “reply all” mistake. The message was a reaction to the veterans’ group’s criticism of the administration’s withdrawal strategy, which has been widely panned by lawmakers and military experts alike.
Earlier in the week, Kirby had attempted to deflect blame for the disastrous withdrawal by pointing to former President Donald Trump’s negotiations with the Taliban. However, this assertion conveniently glossed over the fact that the Obama administration had initiated talks with the Taliban as early as 2013, during Obama’s second term in office.
Kirby’s own military background, having retired as a Rear Admiral from the U.S. Navy, makes his dismissive tone towards the veterans’ group all the more striking. His experience as Pentagon spokesman during the Afghanistan pullout, including the tragic ISIS-K terror attack that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members, would seem to warrant a more measured response to criticism from those who have served.
