(NewsNation) — As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders another review of the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 that left 13 American troops and 170 Afghans dead, a mother of one of the servicemembers says she’s not sure if she’ll ever see any accountability for her son’s death.
“I know they’re looking for accountability, but now I’m curious as to what is accountability to them,” Shana Chappell told NewsNation. “This has been going on for almost four years. And to me, my son hasn’t truly been able to rest in peace, because he’s still being thrown on the news and stuff like that.”
Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, was one of 13 U.S. service members killed in a suicide bombing outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021, as America left Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly blasted the Biden administration for the withdrawal, which Hegseth said Tuesday was “disastrous and embarrassing.” He said the new review will interview witnesses, analyze the decision-making and “get the truth.”
There have already been multiple reviews of the withdrawal by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and Congress, which have involved hundreds of interviews and studies of videos, photographs and other footage and data. It’s unclear what specific new information the new review is seeking.
Chappell said she’s “basically in the dark” when it comes to any review process.
“I don’t really know what’s going on. But from being a person on the outside looking in, I just see a circle happening,” she said. “And now I’m at the point where I’m like, ‘Do they keep using our fallen 13 for career goals? Like, what’s going on? To make money?’ I don’t know anymore.”
The new review will be led by Sean Parnell, the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs. He will convene a panel that will provide updates “at appropriate times,” but there is no time frame or deadline for any report, which is unusual.
Chappell said that while she still wants accountability, she’s concerned whether additional reviews are about getting answers or playing politics.
“I think it’s being politicized. I truly believe in my heart (the withdrawal) was handled completely the wrong way, and that cost my son his life,” she said. “I honestly also believe that (the deceased servicemembers) are being used. It’s all political. And I just feel like that’s not what my son died for. I want my son to be remembered as the hero that he is. I want him to be remembered for that beautiful heart that he had and for his love of life.”