Inhofe: Errant Strike in Kabul Is Latest Chapter in Unfolding Tragedy

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement about the results of Central Command investigation into the August 29 airstrike in Kabul: 

“I am deeply saddened to learn that up to 10 innocent civilians, including up to seven children, were killed in the August 29 U.S. airstrike in Kabul. The Armed Services Committee will hear from administration officials in the weeks ahead on the chaotic and deadly Afghanistan withdrawal, and, in line with the professional manner in which our military conducts itself, I will demand a full accounting of how this strike went so horribly wrong.  

“The errant strike is the latest chapter in this unfolding tragedy. President Biden bears ultimate responsibility. His precipitous withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has left our military with an impossible mission of countering terrorists without any personnel or partners on the ground. The August 29 strike shows how difficult and complex counterterrorism operations can be, and unfortunately it highlights that an “over-the-horizon” strategy will only increase the complexity and difficulty. We need a more realistic strategy for keeping Americans – and Afghan civilians – safe.”