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Karine Jean Pierre shredded for unthinkable disrespect shown to 3 US heroes killed by drones

January 30, 2024 | | Print Article

Tragedy met travesty as the White House communications team responded to the death of three U.S. service members with an “incredibly disrespectful” take on what they were fighting for.

(Video: MSNBC)

Though years have passed since President Joe Biden’s watch-checking fiasco overseeing the dignified transfer of the 13 service members killed in a bombing attack amid the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, the stain of that display has remained.

Now, as three more families grieve following a drone strike in Jordan, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s remarks raised eyebrows and blood pressure.

“What I will say,” she began Monday during an appearance on MSNBC from outside the White House, “our deepest — obviously our deepest condolences go out, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the families who lost, uh, three, three brave, uh, three brave, uh three brave — three folks who are military folks, who are brave, who are always fighting, who are fighting on behalf of, uh, this administration, of the American people, obviously more so, more importantly.”

The Pentagon had identified the three U.S. Army Reserve members as Sgt. William Rivers, 46; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24; and Spc. Breonna Moffett, 23; who each died “when a one-way unmanned aerial system (OWUAS) impacted their container housing units.”

Among those seething at Jean-Pierre’s remarks was Texas Rep. Pat Fallon (R) who captioned the commentary on X, “Our service members swear an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. They are not fighting ‘on behalf of’ the Biden team. This is incredibly disrespectful.”

The congressman was hardly alone as commentators, politicians and citizens alike bristled at the seemingly cold and disconnected manner in which the press secretary bumbled her way through the formality of addressing the latest loss under Biden’s command.

“They’re fighting for our country not for any administration… Wtf is wrong with her,” wondered Christina Pushaw while Fox News contributor Joe Concha suggested, “It truly is amazing to see that after almost two years on the job…it’s possible that Karine Jean-Pierre is only [getting] worse at her job…”

The sense of disrespect for the fallen was compounded Monday during the White House press briefing when National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication John Kirby couldn’t verify whether Biden would attend the dignified transfer when the Army reservists would be returned to the United States.

“I don’t have anything on his schedule to speak to,” said Kirby without expanding.

In addition to the three lives lost Saturday, the total reported injured had climbed to 40 with eight troops medically evacuated from the location. Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday while denying the spread of the war between Israel and Hamas, “This attack was certainly escalatory as it killed three service members.”

She also noted, “It is a true tragedy that three of our service members died,” while an official statement from Biden began, “Today, America’s heart is heavy.”

Kevin Haggerty
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