In usual times, the third anniversary of the debacle that was the withdrawal from Afghanistan would have passed this week with fading headlines, fewer local remembrances and continued personal heartache among those who lost loved ones in the final hours of America’s longest war.

But these are not usual times, it’s Election 2024 and the times they are a-changin’.

President Joe Biden on Monday issued a statement on the anniversary of the terrorist attack outside Kabul Airport where American troops were assisting with evacuation efforts.

He again lauded their efforts as well as the efforts of the 20,744 American service members who were wounded, of the 2,461 who did not make it home during the 20-year conflict.

Vice President and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris’ statement was similar with a couple of political threads woven in, adding “President Biden made the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war.”

Former president and current candidate Donald Trump, meanwhile, made a visit to Arlington National Cemetery at the invitation of Gold Star families to support them in their grief.

Photos and video were shared in a campaign TikTok, which stirred up swift controversy and a rare U.S. Army rebuke.

What was missing — sorely, grievously, unforgivingly missing — on this third-year milestone was accountability from the two main principals who share responsibility for the steps that led up to, and for what occurred, on Aug. 26, 2021.

Neither President Biden — under whose watch our country’s exit left an estimated 15,000-plus American civilians and contractors in harm’s way — nor former president Trump — who took credit for negotiating the agreement with the Taliban to withdraw the remaining 2,500 or so U.S. troops in Afghanistan by May 1 of that year — have accepted proper accountability for their respective roles in the exit debacle, the details of which are outlined in scathing State Department and National Security Council after action reports.

Each continue to blame each other, with President Biden saying his predecessor laid the foundation for failure by leaving no plan in place to accomplish the withdrawal and former president Trump’s TikTok blaming Biden for the “disaster.”

Let us be clear:

There is no “credit” to be taken here.

There is, in fact, enough discredit that it should shame them both:

The withdrawal program under Trump’s Administration was erratic, overly optimistic and, according to some military leaders, unlikely to hit the agreed-upon deadline without grave repercussions.

The execution under the newly elected Biden Administration was, yes, a disaster.

In addition to the human endangerment and additional loss of life, it allowed the weaponry and cash left behind by the collapsed government to establish, equip and support to the Taliban.

Let us today, three years later, turn away from Election 2024 and all of its blame-game rhetoric that has become politics du jour.

Let us put the focus where it should be, on the memory of all those who enlisted, all those who served, all those who deployed, all those who were wounded, all those who died.

Let us remember:

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, 20, of Laredo, Texas.

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, Calif.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tenn.

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Calif.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, of Bondurant, Wyoming.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Mae’Lee Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif.

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Ind.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Mo.

Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio

Let us remember, too, all of the 2,448 U.S. service members who died in service before them, all of the 20,752 service members who were wounded in a war that was launched as a result of an attack on American soil.

While the outcome may have not been what was hoped for, while the endgame may have ended not with a win or military defeat, but a flipped-over gameboard with pieces still in play, they did their duty when their country called them.

And they made America safer as a result.

We thank you, and your families, again for your sacrifice.

You are not forgotten.

Breeze editorial