Four years ago today, on August 26, 2021 at roughly 17:50, 13 U.S. Servicemembers and 169 Afghan civilians were killed in an ISIS–K suicide bombing on the main gate of Kabul International Airport, during the at the time ongoing chaotic and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Findings afterwards determined that senior defense and intelligence officials knew about the threat of an ISIS-K attack on the airport during the evacuation, yet did almost nothing to warn or protect the American Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers who were on the ground assisting in the evacuation and providing security around the permitter of KBL. Despite several congressional inquires, absolutely no member of military leadership or the Biden Administration has been held accountable for the bombing or the disastrous evacuation while led to it, as well as the eventual takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Today we remember and pray tribute to the Servicemembers we lost as a result of the attack:

-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
-Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
-Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover
-Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss
-Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
-Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page
-Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario
-Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
-Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak

The U.S. Navy has confirmed and sworn-in Adm. Daryl L. Caudle as the 34th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), succeeding Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, who was removed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in February. During his first speech yesterday as CNO, Adm. Caudle stated: “The Sailor will be front and center in my vision throughout my tenure as CNO – hands down, no exception. To ensure that they are ready to fight and win decisively–today, tomorrow, and well into the future—we will view everything we do we through an operational lens focused on three priorities: the foundry, the fleet, and the way we fight.” 

Speaking earlier today with CNBC, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the Trump Administration is considering acquiring equity stakes in a number of U.S. defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, similar to the deal announced last week, in which the administration acquired a 10% ownership stake in the multinational tech corporation Intel.

Six soldiers with the 44th Division of the Syrian Army were killed in an apparent Israeli drone strike earlier today against a military site near al-Kiswah to the south of the Syrian capital of Damascus, according to a statement from Syria’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Today’s strike comes amidst a serious push over the last few weeks by the Trump Administration to establish a security agreement between Israel and Syria, with reports yesterday indicating that a deal was close, though this strike may cause hesitance in Damascus.

Speaking during today’s Cabinet Meeting about the possibility of federalizing the Illinois National Guard and deploying them to Chicago against the wishes of Governor JB Pritzker, U.S. President Donald J. Trump stated: “I have the right to do anything I want to do. I’m the President of the United States. If I think our country is in danger, and it is in danger in these cities, I can do it.”