Treasure Coast Sun

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast of Florida has announced that Steve Nikoui, the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, will be his guest to the upcoming State of the Union address. Nikoui's son was tragically killed in the terrorist attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

In a statement, Rep. Mast expressed his determination to hold President Biden accountable for the events in Afghanistan, stating, “Joe Biden has been trying to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but not on my watch... I will continue to call out President Biden to remind him of the damage he has done to national security and American families."

Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who joined the Marine Corps after high school, was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge to assist in the evacuation efforts. Tragically, he was among the 13 servicemembers who lost their lives during the attack at the airport.

Steve Nikoui and his wife, Shana Chappell, have been vocal critics of President Biden's decisions leading up to the deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan. The family has endured further tragedy, as Nikoui's brother took his own life just weeks before the first anniversary of Lance Corporal Nikoui's death.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Biden's leadership has been heavily criticized, with leaked documents revealing a lack of preparation leading up to the evacuation efforts. The aftermath of the withdrawal left behind billions of dollars worth of military equipment, stranded American citizens behind enemy lines, and resulted in the loss of 13 U.S. servicemembers in a suicide bombing.

Rep. Mast, a veteran who served in Afghanistan and lost his legs in combat, has been a vocal advocate for fellow veterans and a fierce critic of President Biden's handling of the troop withdrawal. As the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight, Mast has led hearings highlighting the Biden Administration's failures in planning for the withdrawal and the repercussions of the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan.