After watching the Taliban take over unfold in Afghanistan, Gold Star daughter Kelly McHugh-Stewart is not convinced other Gold Star families will get closure.
CNNâs John Berman noted McHugh-Stewartâs father was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. He asked her, âWhat feelings have come up for you the last few days as youâve watched Afghanistan fall?â
She called the scenes from Afghanistan âdevastating,â adding, âTo watch the Taliban walking on the streets where he was killed when 11 years ago we were told they were making headway and we were told that we would defeat the Taliban⊠to see how quickly that Afghanistan crumbled under the Taliban you kind of wonder, âWhat have we been doing for 20 years?'â
McHugh-Stewart reflected on her time spent trying to understand the war in Afghanistan, explaining, âI could never get answers. It always comes down to, âYour dad was a hero,â and, âThereâs meaning in his death.â I totally believe that my dad sacrificed his life and my family sacrificed so much, but itâs difficult when thereâs no answers there.â
Watch her interview below:
Berman went on to ask McHugh-Stewart how important closure is to her. She responded, âFor a decade, Iâve been wanting closure, and Iâve been wanting purpose and meaning, and Iâve felt like it was very important to me but seeing how everything is unfolding now, I feel like Gold Star families will never have that.â
McHugh-Stewart continued, âI think that thatâs a shame⊠Seeing the Taliban resurge the way they have, we wonât have that closure.â
On Sunday, the Taliban moved into the capital of Afghanistan, and several went into the abandoned presidential palace, as The Associated Press reported. Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, and negotiator said the militants would hold discussions in the coming days with the purpose of forming an âopen, inclusive Islamic government.â
