msnbc's malcolm nance is condemned for downplaying the suicide bombing that killed 13 us troops at kabul airport with crass tweets
An intelligence analyst with MSNBC was condemned by critics on Thursday after he tweeted '#dealwithit' in response to an Afghan suicide bombing that killed 13 Marines.
Malcolm Nance, who has nearly a million followers on Twitter, had posted online about the suicide bombing outside of Kabul's airport. He previously served in the U.S. Navy and obtained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.
'20 YEARS- FYI there have been terrorist suicide bombers killing civilians nearly DAILY in Afghanistan. This ain't new. It's why we are leaving,' Nance tweeted.
In the post, Nance included the hashtag '#DealWithIt' - sparking the controversy over his comments. He has since deleted the post and admitted his initial choice of words was 'callous.'
Malcolm Nance, who has nearly a million followers on Twitter, had posted online about the suicide bombing outside of Kabul's airport
He previously served in the U.S. Navy and obtained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer
In the post, Nance included the hashtag '#DealWithIt' - sparking the controversy over his comments
He has since deleted the post and explained why he deleted it in a new Twitter thread
'Today we lost 12 brave Americans & many Afghans. I deeply regret how callous it now sounds. I would never intentionally disrespect my brothers & sisters in arms. I also sincerely apologize to their families, and I pray for them,' he tweeted.
He continued: 'As proud combat veteran whose family has served the U.S. military for 150 years, I spent almost all of my adult hood in defense of our country & its freedoms & guarded it w/my own life. Yes, I posted before there were any serious casualties reported. I should've waited.'
'Over 70,000 Afghan civilians, 40,000 Afghan soldiers, and 2,743 Americans have died in this conflict. I am heartsick about the lives we have already lost and those we lost today,' he added.
'Finally: My first Intel job was in Beirut, 1983. We lost 322 Marines/Sailors & civilians in just 2 suicide attacks. I was at the Pentagon 9/11 & survived Suicide Bombers in Iraq. My work is to keep you informed w/accurate assessments. I'll keep doing that …with more empathy.'
Images from social media purport to show scenes after the explosion at Kabul Airport
A suicide bombing on Thursday killed U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including at least four Marines
Afghans struggle to reach the foreign forces to show their credentials to flee the country outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday
But other Twitter users had already attacked Nance for appearing to tell his followers to 'deal' with the loss of American lives.
'Imagine not just thinking this, but feeling so beyond shame and perspective that you tweet it publicly,' Fourth Watch editor Steve Krakauer tweeted.
Chuck Ross, a reporter with the conservative publication Washington Free Beacon, ripped Nance as 'MSNBC's finest.'
'Always genuinely disturbing to be reminded that these guys worked at the highest levels of the us government,' Ross' colleague Joe Simonson added.
'Can't think of anything witty to say here but maybe if your tweet about a suicide bombing includes 'hashtag dealwithit' it's not a good tweet,' Jack Crosbie wrote.
People reacted to Nance's #dealwithit comments on Twitter
As noted by Fox News, Nance has often been the subject of controversy and once claimed former President Donald Trump was compromised by Russia as early as 1977 and that ISIS should carry out a suicide attack on Trump Tower in Istanbul.
The conservative website The Federalist noted that Nance had also deleted the tweet about Istanbul but did not apologize.