Pentagon rights a terrible wrong
Dozens of U.S. soldiers were injured in January 2020 when Iran launched rockets into an Army base in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a high-ranking Iranian terrorist.
The president of the United States at the time of the attack downplayed the injuries. He said they suffered “some headaches” and the Pentagon reportedly denied any requests to award the soldiers Purple Heart medals for their injuries. Donald J. Trump kept insisting that “no servicemen were hurt” by the attack.
Except that they were hurt. They suffered traumatic brain injuries from the heavy explosive rockets launched into their compound.
The Trump administration conducted a shameful game of ass-covering by denying the Purple Heart awards for the injured soldiers.
This week, though, the Pentagon righted a terrible wrong. It has agreed to award the soldiers Purple Heart medals in solemn honor of the injuries they suffered. The injured soldiers will be able to receive fast-track medical treatment from the Veterans Administration and will be honored for their service against an enemy force that intended to do them grievous harm.
Donald Trump has left behind no shortage of outrageous statements and actions during his term in office. This denial that the men were hurt in the rocket attack ranks among the most egregious of them.