On August 26, 2021, thirteen American service members were killed in a terrorist attack in Kabul. Critics point to it has the most tragic example of Joe Biden's incompetent and disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. By "critics," I mean anyone not employed by the White House. Or employed by corporate media, which is more or less the same thing.

On Monday, Rep. Darrell Issa hosted the gold star families as we near the tragic anniversary, allowing them to talk about their loved ones. Many of the parents used the opportunity to discuss the person they blame for those loved ones no longer being with us.

Cherly Rex, mother of Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, spoke about the heartless way Joe Biden made it about HIS son Beau Biden. When Joe gets in trouble, it is common for his campaign and supporters to bring up Beau as a distraction. Beau tragically died of a brain tumor. Joe thinks it makes him empathetic to parents whose sons died because of Joe's incompetence.

"When [Biden] approached me, his words to me were, 'My wife, Jill & I, know how you feel. We lost our son as well and brought him home in a flag draped coffin.'"

"My heart started beating faster & I started shaking, knowing that their son died from cancer & they were able to be by his side."

"How could someone be so heartless to say he knew how I felt."

Biden's heartless response is an all-too-common refrain we've heard from other Gold Star families. The family of Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum made the trip in 2021 but did not want to meet the man they blamed for their son being killed. Jiennah, Rylee's widow who was pregnant at the time, agreed to meet with the president and regrets doing so. Biden was more interested in talking about his son than her husband.

Shana Chappell, mother to Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, had a similar experience. "He interrupted me and started talking about HIS son...This isn't about your son. This is about MY son."

Mark Schmitz, father to Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, says Biden got snippy at him when he called out the president for making it about his son and not the sons and daughters who were victims of the attack. He claims an unidentified mother told Biden "I hope you burn in hell."

Then there are the reports Biden kept checking his watch during the dignified transfer as if he had somewhere else he needed to be. It depends on who you want to believe. "Independent" "fact" checkers, or Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sergeant Darin "Taylor" Hoover Jr.: "[Checking the watch] didn't happen just once. That happened on every single one that came out of that airplane. It happened on every single one of them. They would release the salute and he looked down at his watch on every last one, all 13, he looked down at his watch."

It will be interesting to hear the non-answer from Karine Jean-Pierre when she is asked about Monday's event at the next press briefing.

><><><><><><

Brodigan is Grand Poobah of this here website and when he isn't writing words about things enjoys day drinking, pro-wrestling, and country music. You can find him on the Twitter too.

Facebook doesn't want you reading this post or any others lately. Their algorithm hides our stories and shenanigans as best it can. The best way to stick it to Zuckerface? Sign up for our DAILY EMAIL BLASTS! They can't stop us from delivering our content straight to your inbox. Yet.