Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and Central Command Commander General Kenneth McKenzie at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today on the retaliatory drone strike the United States launched after terrorists killed 13 U.S. service members assisting with the withdrawal from Afghanistan. He began by asking whether intelligence existed which identified this threat.
“Is it true that U.S. forces had the ISIS-K cell under surveillance prior to August 26, and could have struck them before the deadly terrorist attacks at Kabul, but were not given authority to strike?” asked Senator Cramer.
General McKenzie denied that report, claiming it was not true.
Senator Cramer then noted President Biden was quick to claim victory but has been silent after it was revealed that the drone strike did not kill ISIS-K leaders as had been first reported, but instead took the lives of a family of ten, of which seven were children. The senator asked if Secretary Austin had reached out to the Airmen who conducted that strike to let them know the failure was not their fault, but the fault of the leaders who authorized it.
“The North Dakota Air National Guard operates [MQ-9] Reapers around the world, and I know what kind of pressure those air crews are under and the level of responsibility they feel to accomplish their missions properly,” said Senator Cramer. “I am worried that whoever was operating the aircraft involved in this tragic 29th August strike was set up to fail by an Administration that wanted a political victory more than they wanted an American victory. Have you reached out to the air crew to make sure that they understand that it’s not their fault that there are seven dead children?”
Secretary Austin said he had not.
Senator Cramer concluded his line of questioning with General McKenzie, asking why military members were still exposed to terrorist threats despite intelligence indicating one was imminent, and whether it was possible the Taliban allowed the attack to occur. General McKenzie agreed it was possible though intelligence indicates that did not happen, and he believes the Taliban did assist in helping to identify and prevent other attacks.
“The reality is there are patriotic Americans all over the country, and certainly in North Dakota, that are really upset. They are genuinely pissed off,” concluded Senator Cramer. “They sense that there is a lot of political positioning and apologizing and rationalizing … but ‘extraordinary success’ just rankles them when they hear that. … They are upset. I know you know that. I think you’re seeing a reflection of that in their elected representatives, and when we get to this afternoon we’ll probably drill down a little more on some things. I look forward to the closed session.”