The Taliban has gained complete control over Afghanistan, as thousands of Afghan people try to flee.
Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker said, “What we are seeing unfold in Afghanistan amounts to the most shameful and cowardly betrayal of friends by an American president in my memory. President Biden’s ill-advised and clumsy withdrawal has done irreparable damage to our international standing and therefore to our American security. This self-inflicted humiliation is a disaster for Afghan families and will have long-term ramifications for American leadership in the world.”
“My staff and I are making every effort to provide assistance to people who are attempting to evacuate or who are seeking information about friends and coworkers who are in danger,” stated Wicker.
Congressman Michael Guest said, ” What has happened in Afghanistan is a complete failure that rests solely on the shoulders of the Biden Administration. The United States must not recognize any government that is led by the Taliban. Please continue to pray for our friends and allies in Afghanistan.”
Congressman Steven Palazzo, a member of the Mississippi National Guard and a Persian Gulf War veteran said, “President Biden’s decision to remove troops from Afghanistan is reminiscent of what President Obama considered to be the ‘worst mistake’ of his presidency. Like the Obama administration’s costly lack of foresight in Libya, President Biden has failed to plan for the repercussions of his hasty decision.
“In February of 2020, The United States and the Taliban agreed to a ceasefire while U.S. forces evacuated the country. The agreement promised the removal of American troops only if the Taliban abided by stringent conditions for peace. The extremists broke this agreement and overnight began to retake major Afghan cities. President Biden took the word of a violent insurgency that is responsible for brutally taking thousands of American and allied lives, and unfortunately, his decision will only cost more lives,” stated Palazzo.
He continued by saying, “The Taliban has directly violated the spirit of our ceasefire by targeting and attacking innocent civilians. Pulling the American presence from the region now leaves the Afghan people at the mercy of the group who has proven to be an enemy of democracy. This is looking like Vietnam’s Fall of Saigon. Just like the Viet-Kong, the Taliban are waiting for the United States to leave before wreaking havoc on those who cooperated with the United States and our allies.”
“Thousands of American service members’ lives were lost fighting in Afghanistan. President Biden’s order is a disservice to those who have served in the name of democracy and freedom, by allowing the Taliban to unravel the progress toward long-term stability made possible by American troops”, said Palazzo. “My heart aches for the families who will watch as their loved one’s ultimate sacrifice is made futile by a single political move. President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops is not only premature and dangerous, but entirely politically motivated. Make no mistake, because of the current administration’s insistence on decision making based on a liberal political agenda rather than the preservation of life and democracy, the Taliban will wreak terror.”
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said, “As I stated in April, the withdrawal of U.S. personnel from Afghanistan and specifically the manner in which we do it must consider the remaining dangers to our national security interests and the impacts to our troops and allies. The turmoil unfolding in Afghanistan is a direct result of President Biden’s poor execution of an arbitrary and hasty withdrawal. Not only has this situation damaged our international standing, it has left our Afghan friends in a lurch, and has handed the nation back to Islamic extremists whose ambitions could again threaten us. Now that we’re committed to this withdrawal, we must make the safety of our troops and allies an immediate and long-term priority.”
Congressman Trent Kelly stated, “The failures in withdrawal from Afghanistan and at the southern border have highlighted the vacuum in leadership in the White House. Silence during crisis is the opposite of leadership. It’s time to address the American public on both of these epic problems. Leadership requires action, not silence.”
President Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told ABC’s “Good Morning America”, that the President is actively monitoring the situation. “He is, right now, actively engaged with his National Security team and he’s working the situation hard. He’s focused on ensuring that the mission, which is to secure that airport and to continue these evacuations, that mission continues and is brought to a positive conclusion.”
