During Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, one of the most controversial moments arose when Harris made claims regarding U.S. military personnel serving in combat zones.

Her statements were quickly criticized as misleading by critics and military personnel alike.

Harris was asked about the Biden administration’s widely criticized handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, one of the most disastrous foreign policy moments in recent U.S. history.

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The withdrawal, which took place in August 2021, resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic evacuation from Kabul.

When asked directly, “Do you take any responsibility for the 13 lives that were lost in the evacuation of Afghanistan?” Harris avoided a clear answer, instead offering a broader statement that drew backlash.

“As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world,” Harris said. She did not address the question directly about the loss of U.S. lives during the evacuation, sparking immediate criticism from those who viewed her response as evasive and inaccurate.

The statement was met with outrage from military personnel and critics who noted that U.S. service members are still deployed in dangerous areas across the globe.

While Harris claimed no active-duty military personnel are serving in combat zones, data shows that U.S. troops remain stationed in several regions with ongoing conflicts.

Epic Fact Check …Still have no idea how NO ONE questioned her on this lie or any of the other lies during the “debate” pic.twitter.com/Umcb1t1Xq5

— Drew Berquist (@drewberquist) September 14, 2024

For the record, the United States maintains foreign military bases in 98 countries, including in the Middle East.

This includes countries such as Israel, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Pakistan, where American troops are actively involved in operations and face potential threats.

While some deployments may not be classified as “combat zones” in the traditional sense, U.S. service members continue to serve in volatile regions with heightened risks.

According to a 2023 report by NBC News, at least 45 American service members were injured in attacks in Syria and Iraq that year alone.

Of those, two dozen troops reportedly suffered traumatic injuries during a 2023 attack. These injuries underscore the ongoing dangers that U.S. military personnel face, even in areas not officially labeled as combat zones.

Harris’s comments have ignited a debate over the administration’s handling of foreign military policy and the safety of American service members.

Critics argue that her statement downplays the real threats U.S. troops face, while others see it as an attempt to deflect from the administration’s perceived failures, particularly in the botched Afghanistan withdrawal.

Former President Donald Trump, during the same debate, highlighted the issue of increasing violence and insecurity under the current administration. “Despite their fraudulent statements that they made,” Trump remarked, “crime in this country is through the roof. And we have a new form of crime. It’s called migrant crime.”

Harris’s remarks also resurfaced concerns about how the administration has addressed ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. While the Biden administration has sought to end “forever wars,” the reality on the ground remains that American military forces continue to be stationed in dangerous areas, with troops facing injuries and, in some cases, death.

The Afghanistan withdrawal, in particular, remains a contentious issue for many Americans.

The chaotic exit from Kabul in 2021, which led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, continues to be a sore point for the administration.

The loss of American lives, coupled with the rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, raised questions about the planning and execution of the withdrawal.

Critics of Harris’s debate performance viewed her comments as an attempt to minimize the dangers that U.S. troops still face abroad. Military personnel stationed in the Middle East and other regions reacted strongly to her assertion that no American soldiers are currently in combat zones, with many taking to social media to express their frustration.

The debate over U.S. military involvement overseas and the safety of American troops is likely to continue as the election cycle progresses.

With rising concerns about global instability, from ongoing threats in the Middle East to the crisis in Ukraine, the issue of military deployment and foreign policy remains front and center for voters.

As Harris’s comments continue to make waves, it’s clear that the administration’s foreign policy decisions will remain a focal point of criticism and debate in the months to come.

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