Brace yourself for a story that raises more questions than answers about who’s coming into our country. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, stands accused of a shocking crime in the nation’s capital. His past ties to the CIA only deepen the mystery—and the concern.
According to Breitbart, this tale unfolds with Lakanwal allegedly shooting two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., while carrying a background of service with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, a connection now under intense scrutiny.
Let’s rewind to Lakanwal’s earlier years in Kandahar, a southern Afghan region known as a Taliban stronghold. Fierce battles raged there after U.S.-led forces arrived in 2001 following the September 11 attacks. It’s in this volatile landscape that Lakanwal reportedly worked alongside the CIA as part of a partner force.
A close relative, as reported by NBC News, claimed Lakanwal served a decade in the Afghan Army, often shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Special Forces. That’s a long stretch of supposed loyalty to American interests. But does time served guarantee trust?
CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed on a recent Wednesday night that Lakanwal was “member of a partner force in Kandahar, which ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation.” That’s a polite way of saying things fell apart fast. One has to wonder if the vetting process kept pace with the chaos.
Fast forward to September 2021, when the Biden administration brought Lakanwal to American soil. The justification? His prior work with the U.S. government, including the CIA, as Ratcliffe noted: “The Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA.”
Here’s the rub—Ratcliffe also stated, “and so many others—should have never been allowed to come here.” That’s a damning critique from someone who knows the intelligence game. It’s hard not to nod in agreement when security feels so porous.
Lakanwal settled in Washington state, over 2,600 miles from the scene of the alleged crime in D.C. How does someone cross that distance to commit such an act? The logistics alone beg for deeper investigation.
Now, Lakanwal lies in a hospital bed with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Details about his current condition or motives remain frustratingly scarce. The public deserves clarity, not shadows.
The aftermath of this incident is as chilling as the act itself. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services slammed the brakes on processing all immigration requests for Afghan nationals. It’s an indefinite pause, pending a full review of security and vetting protocols.
That halt speaks volumes about the government’s lack of confidence in its own systems. If the process was airtight, would such a drastic step be necessary? This isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a flashing red light. Let’s not forget the broader context of Kandahar’s history—a place of unrelenting conflict between NATO forces and the Taliban. Lakanwal’s ties to that region, while perhaps once an asset, now cast a long shadow. Can we truly know where allegiances lie after years of war?
The Biden administration’s decision to bring Lakanwal here was framed as a reward for service, but at what cost? Two National Guardsmen were shot, and the nation is left grappling with the fallout. It’s a bitter pill when trust in government processes feels so misplaced.
This isn’t about pointing fingers at individuals but at a system that seems to prioritize speed over safety. The halt in immigration processing is a start, but it’s a reaction, not a solution. Americans deserve proactive policies, not damage control.
As the investigation into Lakanwal continues, one thing is clear: the balance between gratitude for foreign allies and the security of our own citizens is a tightrope. Mishandling it risks lives, as this tragic event in D.C. painfully illustrates. Let’s hope the review of vetting protocols yields real change, not just rhetoric.