In a chilling incident that has sent shockwaves through the nation, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, stands accused of the ambush murder of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom.
The case has drawn attention not only for its tragic nature but also due to Lakanwal's connections to an elite CIA-backed unit known as the "Zero Unit." This unit, notorious for its high-risk operations against the Taliban, has been both lauded for its effectiveness and criticized for alleged human rights abuses.
Lakanwal's journey to the United States began in 2021 under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to assist Afghans who supported U.S. forces. According to Gateway Pundit, Lakanwal's career in the Zero Unit started in 2012 as a security guard, eventually rising to the roles of team leader and GPS specialist in the tumultuous region of Kandahar.
His brother, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly served as a platoon leader in the same unit and now resides in the United States, courtesy of the Biden administration's immigration policies.
The Biden administration's decision to allow over 100,000 Afghans into the U.S. during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal has been met with criticism, particularly from conservative circles. President Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current administration's handling of the situation, stating that his team is "looking at" the possibility of deporting Lakanwal's family.
The President has not shied away from labeling the incident a "terrorist attack" and has vowed to take measures to reverse what he perceives as Biden's immigration failures.
The Associated Press reports that a relative of Lakanwal, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisals, confirmed both brothers' involvement with the CIA-backed force in Kandahar. A former official from the Zero Unit, also speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated the brother's leadership role within the unit. These paramilitary units, staffed by Afghans but supported by the CIA, played a crucial role during the U.S. withdrawal, providing security at Kabul International Airport amidst the chaos.
The tragic shooting unfolded on a Wednesday when Lakanwal allegedly targeted two unarmed West Virginia National Guard members in downtown D.C. as part of "Operation DC Safe and Beautiful."
Specialist Beckstrom, aged 20, succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, while her colleague, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition. Lakanwal was apprehended after being shot by a responding guardsman, and charges against him have been elevated to first-degree murder. Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed that prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
In response to the incident, swift measures are being implemented to address the perceived shortcomings of the current administration's immigration policies. These include halting asylum decisions for 2.2 million pending cases, pausing migration from countries deemed high-risk, and reviewing green cards from 19 nations.
The conservative perspective underscores the necessity of these actions to safeguard American citizens and rectify the consequences of what is viewed as a flawed immigration strategy.
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