Mark Schmitz calls for holding Biden officials accountable for 2021 Afghanistan exit on 'Fox & Friends'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Co-host Ainsley Earhardt was joined by Gold Star father Mark Schmitz on the Wednesday, March 20 episode of 'Fox & Friends', where the latter demanded the administrative officials responsible for planning the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in 2021 be held accountable.
The operation had resulted in the death of 13 US soldiers, which included his son, Marine Lance Cpl Jared Schmitz.
Schmitz's interview took place in light of top US Generals speaking out the day before, blaming the administration for not following advice and making a chaotic exit, reported Fox News.
Mark Schmitz blames Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Schmitz labeled Blinken as "the biggest culprit" for how the operation unfolded and felt retired commanders were being "hushed" from speaking out.
"First and foremost, I personally request the resignation of Blinken. I think he needs to go," he told Earhardt. "You look at this administration and the policies that they've been making since Biden took office. And I'm not trying to go political with this, but we're watching embassies being evacuated left and right. It just shows a complete weakness on behalf of this administration."
"And something has to change," he asserted.
Mark Schmitz attended Joe Biden's SOTU address
At the State of the Union, Schmitz witnessed Steve Nikoui, a fellow fellow Gold Star father, being arrested for disrupting Congress.
Nikoui's son, Marine Lance Cpl Kareem Nikoui, was also killed in Afghanistan in the suicide bombing at Kabul Airport's Abbey Gate. He had shouted "Remember Abbey Gate" and his son's name from the upper level of the chamber at the president in protest.
Charges against Nikoui were later dropped by DC's attorney general, but Schmitz stated that they shouldn't have been brought in the first place.
Schmitz considered Nikoui a hero, stating, "Most of us elected not to speak out, but for what Steve did, I think it's fantastic. This was a dream of his to have his son's name uttered in those walls, and he did that. Unfortunately, he had to do it himself, because here we are, two and a half years later, and Biden is still yet to mention our kids' names."
