The mother of a Marine killed last year in Afghanistan wants an investigation of reports that her son and two other Marines may have been the targets of Taliban-linked fighters who collected a bounty on U.S. soldiers offered by a Russian military intelligence unit.
Also upset by the news reports was Shawn Gregoire, a Chicago woman whose son, Army Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance, was fatally shot July 29, 2019.
Not just mothers are speaking out.
Father of Slain Marine Finds Heartbreak Anew in Possible Russian Bounty
Erik Hendriks has largely avoided news reports since his son, Cpl. Robert A. Hendriks, was killed by a car bomb in Afghanistan in April 2019.
But the news that several American officials believe that a Russian military intelligence unit paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan has been impossible to ignore, especially as he has learned that the attack in which his son and two other Marines died may have been related to that effort.
“If it does come out as true, obviously the heartache would be terrible,” Mr. Hendriks said.
“I am a Republican and I am a Trump supporter,” he said. “But there would be no way he didn’t know about it if Russians were paying off these cowards like mafia pay off hit men. I would expect the government to have 1,000 percent support behind these warriors.”
ANALYSIS:
Trump’s presidency is hemorrhaging from the proverbial “thousand cuts” that even many in his core constituencies can no longer countenance.
It’s bad enough that Trump insists on remaining supine whenever confronted with anything regarding Putin, but ignoring the safety and security of volunteer American troops in a war zone certainly is a bridge too far.
Even days later Trump has not personally said a single word or given any indication of concern over the leaked information nor has he even reassured the US Armed Forces that as Commander-In-Chief he always prioritizes their safety and well-being.
He just trots out Lie Candy to claim vindication that no one verbally TOLD him the details, and why should anyone be upset that he didn’t bother to READ about it when the intelligence was placed right before his lazy eyes?
OPINION:
Trump has been a traitor even before the election.
His son explained to us that the Russians supply all the money the Trump family needs.
They bought him long before he cheated his way into the Presidency.
They own him.
They own the entire family.
Expecting different results now is just foolishness.