Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is taking part in a ceremony to mark the return of the remains of an American soldier, hours after President Trump announced he canceled a secret meeting he was to hold with Taliban leaders because the terrorist group killed a dozen people in a car bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The dignified transfer of remains for Army Sgt. 1st Class Elis Angel Barreto Ortiz, 34, is scheduled to take place Saturday at 10:10 p.m. at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Lt. Col. Mike Burns, public affairs officer at the 82nd Airborne Division, told the Washington Examiner.
Pompeo’s schedule shows him participating “in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base” at 10 p.m. Such ceremonies don’t usually include the participation of the secretary of state.
Trump announced on Twitter Saturday evening that he had called off a Maryland meeting with the Taliban because of the attack. The car bomb set off at a checkpoint near the United States embassy killed 12 people, including a Romanian soldier supporting the NATO mission, and injured more than 40.
“Unbeknownst to almost everyone, the major Taliban leaders and, separately, the President of Afghanistan, were going to secretly meet with me at Camp David on Sunday. They were coming to the United States tonight,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, in order to build false leverage, they admitted to an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people. I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations. What kind of people would kill so many in order to seemingly strengthen their bargaining position?”
American envoy Zalmay Khalilzad declared Monday his team and the Taliban had reached an agreement “in principle” to end the United States’ longest war, soon to mark its 18th anniversary. But a day after the deadly car bombing, Khalilzad returned to Qatar for unscheduled talks with the terrorist group.
Barreto’s death, the fourth of an American service member in Afghanistan in the last couple weeks, brought the number of American combat deaths there this year to 16. The Taliban promised after the bombing to continue its attacks.
Barreto, a paratrooper from Morovis, Puerto Rico, was assigned to Company H, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He “was killed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device” while conducting operations in the Afghan capital Thursday, the Army said. It was his second deployment to the country.
“Personally, I will tell you that the ‘Paratrooper’ is the lifeblood of our Division and every time we have a casualty it is felt deeply across our formation. At the same time, it strengthens our resolve,” Burns told the Washington Examiner. “Sgt. 1st Class Barreto will forever be a hero in our Division. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow Paratroopers.”
Barreto joined the Army in August 2010 and served his first deployment to Afghanistan in 2013. He graduated from Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2017 and was assigned to the 82nd, an airborne infantry division, the next year.
The paratrooper has a long list of decorations, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Action Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, and the Army Driver and Mechanic Badge.
He is survived by his wife and children, who reside in Cameron, North Carolina.
“With honor and courage, Sgt. 1st Class Barreto answered our nation’s call to deploy and serve in Afghanistan,” said Col. Arthur Sellers, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. “In this most difficult time, his loved ones are now surrounded by a community of love and caring by members of our Paratrooper Family Readiness Group.”
“Today is a hard day for the Panther Team,” Sellers and Command Sgt. Maj. Reese Teakell wrote in a Facebook post. “After choosing to enlist, and re-enlist, during a time of war, SFC Barreto answered our Nation’s call to deploy and serve in Afghanistan. His expertise and professionalism made him a vital component of every Team he was assigned to.”
Comments