Kareem Nikoui Wiki, Biography
Kareem Nikoui, a young California sailor, was identified as one of the 13 U.S. Marines and military downed who died in a bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2021. Nikoui’s father Steve, a carpenter from California, chose a few words for American military leaders and President Joe Biden. in an interview with the Daily Beast.
A Trump supporter, the father expressed his anger at President Biden, telling the Daily Beast: “They sent my son there as a paper dealer and then they had the Taliban outside provide security. I blame my own military leaders … Biden turned his back on him. That is all.” He remembered his son as a “devoted” young man who considered the US Marines like family.
Nikoui’s father described the heartbreaking scene as the marines headed to his door
Nikoui’s father Steve, a carpenter from California, said Daily Beast“Yesterday I stayed home and didn’t go to work because there was that attack and I knew he was there. So all day I was glued to the television. “I knew it would take him about eight hours to tell him if his son was among the dead and, horribly, around 7:15 PM PST,” these young men came closer. ” said.
He told the Daily Beast, those Marines were “more shocked than I was,” Nikoui said. “Actually, I was trying to comfort them. But at the same time, I just wanted them to get out asap so that no one in my family would come back and see them. I thought it was appropriate to be able to tell him. ”
“I haven’t been to bed all night,” Nikoui continued with the post. “I am still in shock. I have not been able to understand everything that is happening. ”
Nikoui told the Daily Beast that he was happy when Donald Trump was president: “I really believed that this guy didn’t want to put people in danger,” he said of Trump.
Kareem ‘Always wanted to be a Marine,’ says her dad
Kareem “loved what he was doing, he always wanted to be a Marine,” Nikoui told the Daily Beast. He was initially stationed at Camp Pendleton and often brought his fellow Marine Corps home for the holidays.
“He really loved it [Marine Corps] family. He was a devotee, he was going to make a career out of this, and he wanted to go. Don’t hesitate to be called to duty, ”said the father.
Initial reports were that four Marines had been killed in the explosion at the airport, but the number quickly grew to 10 service members, in addition to heavy casualties among Afghan citizens. It then rose to 12, a death toll confirmed by US General Kenneth McKenzie at a news conference. Finally, gloomily, it turned into 13.
The other service members who died are also remembered for their heroism
You can see a summary of the other service members who died. here. The others named so far are Jared Schmitz, Max Soviak, Rylee McCollum and David Lee Espinoza. They are from all over the country: Wyoming, Texas, California, Ohio and Missouri. President Biden told a news conference that the dead service members were “standing guard at the airport … These American service members who gave their lives are … heroes … engaged in the selfless mission to save the lives of others “.
Biden said: “We will not be deterred by terrorists … we will continue the evacuation.” He said ISIS-K leadership and facilities will be targeted. More than 100,000 people were “taken to safety in the last 11 days. In the last 12 hours or so, another 7,000 have left, ”he said. “These ISIS terrorists will not win. We will rescue the Americans who are there … America will not be intimidated. ”
He called those who died “some of the most courageous, capable, and selfless military on the face of the earth … America’s backbone, America’s backbone, the best the country has to offer. Jill and I, our hearts ache for all those Afghan families who lost loved ones, including young children, in this cruel attack. We are outraged. ”
Biden mentioned his late son Beau, who served in Iraq, saying, Beau Biden “was diagnosed with aggressive and deadly brain cancer. We have the feeling that many of you do what the families of these brave heroes feel today. Feeling like you’re being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest. There is no way out. My heart aches for you. ”
He continued: “We have an ongoing obligation, a sacred obligation to all of you, the families of those heroes. The obligation is not temporary, it is eternal. Lives were given in the service of freedom, insecurity, in the service of others, in the service of America ”.
Tributes flowed for Nikoui on social media
Medical and hospital staff remove an injured man from a car for treatment after two blasts, in which at least five were killed and a dozen injured, outside Kabul airport on August 26, 2021. One woman wrote on Facebook: “Yesterday we lost a member of our Norco family. My friend’s grandson was one of the Marines killed in Kabul … Kareem Nikoui, you are our hero and a hero to so many you were helping. Godspeed Marine! We thank you for your maximum sacrifice and we will not forget you ”.
The deaths come the day after the U.S. Embassy warned stranded Americans not to go to Hamid Karzai International Airport due to threats from ISIS. the Wall Street Journal reported the day before the attacks swept through the city.
“American citizens who are at Abbey Gate, East Gate or North Gate must now leave immediately,” the alert said, according to the Journal. “Officials have been warning that members of the Afghan branch of the extremist group Islamic State were trying to mount an attack on military personnel or civilians at the airport.”
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“We are still investigating the exact circumstances. The attack occurred at a door. At the gate we have to control people before they reach the airfield. We have to make sure they don’t carry a bomb, ”Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said at a news conference.
That required a physical exam, he said.
At a news conference, McKenzie said officials believe there are still just over 1,000 US citizens in Afghanistan. He said “not everyone wants to leave … yesterday we brought more than 500 US citizens.”
There are unusual challenges and competitive demands, he said. “The threat to our forces from ISIS = K is very real as we have seen today,” the general said. He said more than 104,000 people have been screened.
He said the threat from ISIS “is extremely real. We have been talking about this for several days … we believe it is their (ISIS) wish to continue those attacks. We hope those attacks will continue. ”The United States is closing in on the Taliban, he said.
“We continue to bring people to the airfield,” he said. “We will continue to process, float people … We will coordinate very carefully.”
He said there are “chains” of additional imminent threats, including the threat of rocket attacks.
“Our mission remains. We are still committed to getting people flowing… ”McKenzie repeated.
If we can find “who is associated with this, we will go after them,” he said.
“We are working to determine the attribution… we are prepared to act. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we are looking for them. ”
The House Minority Leader called the situation ‘horrible’
Taliban fighters stand in a vehicle along the road in Kandahar on August 13, 2021.
Political criticism quickly erupted. Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, tweeted, “Horrible. Our enemies have taken advantage of the chaotic nature of Biden’s retreat. President Pelosi must bring Congress back by August 31 so the Administration can fully inform us and prohibit the withdrawal of our troops until all Americans are safe. ”
According to CNN, officials said the explosions in Kabul were “suicide” attacks. They believe they were perpetrated by the group called ISIS-K, but were still working to confirm that, CNN reported, adding that ISIS-K and the Taliban are “sworn enemies.” One took place outside the airport and the other near a hotel frequented by evacuees.
Donald Trump Jr., the son of the former president, was among the strong criticisms that erupted against former President Joe Biden among conservatives. He wrote, “So, are we already talking about impeachment? Asking for a phone call for a friend who was charged, but who would definitely not leave thousands of American civilians behind enemy terror lines. #BidenDisaster ”. Some on the left have criticized former President Donald Trump for making a peace deal with the Taliban.
He also retweeted a post by John Parnell, a combat veteran and Republican Senate candidate, who wrote, “All the horror we’re seeing right now in Afghanistan is on @JoeBiden. Surrender in panic. The absurdity of relying on the Taliban to help evacuate our people. The betrayal of our citizens and our allies. The tragic loss of life. Everything. It didn’t have to be this way. ”