American media reports have revealed a startling detail about the identity of the suspect in the shooting that targeted National Guard members near the White House in Washington, D.C. Sources indicate that the Afghan national accused of the attack is not just an ordinary refugee, but has a long history of working and close cooperation with U.S. forces and intelligence agencies before arriving in the United States.
According to Fox News, the 29-year-old suspect had previously worked with the CIA and the U.S. military in Kandahar province, which was one of the most important strategic U.S. military strongholds in southern Afghanistan. The suspect arrived in the United States in September 2021, following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's takeover of power in August of that year.
Historical background: Withdrawal chaos and scrutiny challenges
This incident brings renewed attention to the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a period that saw the evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans who had cooperated with Washington, fearing Taliban reprisals. During that time, the administration of former President Joe Biden faced sharp criticism regarding the vetting process for recruits and collaborators who were hastily transported to US bases and then to the United States. This incident highlights a potential weakness in the procedures used to assess the security risks of those arriving from conflict zones.
The network quoted CIA Director John Ratcliffe as confirming that the suspect had provided services to the U.S. military, noting that the Biden administration at the time justified granting him entry based on his record of serving American interests. This revelation raises serious questions about how someone once considered an "ally" became a direct security threat in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Details of the attack and its political repercussions
The armed attack occurred Wednesday afternoon in a heavily fortified area in the heart of the capital, where reserve troops are deployed on foot patrols at the behest of US President Donald Trump. The incident left two National Guard members seriously wounded, prompting a large-scale security mobilization.
President Trump was quick to condemn the attack, calling it an act of terrorism. The incident is expected to have significant political repercussions domestically, as Trump has pledged to tighten his anti-immigration policies, using this event as justification for his hardline stance against immigrants from certain countries, even those who have previously cooperated with the United States.
The incident also casts a shadow over the ongoing dispute between federal and local authorities in Washington, D.C., where local Democratic officials have opposed the deployment of the National Guard on the streets. However, this attack may give the federal administration an excuse to strengthen the military presence in the capital, further exacerbating the political polarization in the country.
