Republicans slam Biden as Taliban take Kabul

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Republican lawmakers in WASHINGTON denounce President Joe Biden’s administration for the Taliban’s aggressive takeover of Afghanistan over the weekend.

“What we’re seeing right now in Afghanistan is what happens when America pulls out of the world,” Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, told ABC’s “This Week”.

Biden announced the complete withdrawal of US forces in April. The militant group’s rapid advance across the country had left the Afghan government on the brink of collapse, blinding US officials who had not anticipated the capital would fall so quickly. Last week, US officials attempted to evacuate the remaining staff from the US Embassy in Kabul.

Cheney added that Biden “absolutely” bears responsibility for the decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, as does former President Donald Trump and his administration.

It’s not just that people predicted it would happen, everyone was warned that it would happen, ”she said.

Armed Taliban fighters entered the Afghan capital on Sunday, a spokesperson for the group said. The Taliban ordered their fighters to enter Kabul because they believed the police had deserted all of their positions, a Taliban spokesperson told NBC News. NBC News could not confirm these claims.

The spokesperson urged Kabulis to remain calm.

“This is an absolute disaster of epic proportions,” R-Texas Rep. Michael McCaul said on CNN’s “State of the Union”. “It will be a stain on the Bidens presidency and he will have blood on his hands.”

The Biden administration “totally blew this one up” and completely underestimated the strength of the Taliban, said McCaul, who is the top Republican on the House foreign affairs committee.

A White House official said on Sunday that Biden had spoken to members of his national security team about the situation in Afghanistan “and would continue to receive updates throughout the day. Biden continued to defend his decision.

“I was the fourth president to preside over a US troop presence in Afghanistan, two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not and will not pass this war to a fifth,” Biden said in a statement on Saturday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Biden and continues to express support for his decision.

“The president is to be commended for the clarity of the purpose of his statement on Afghanistan and of his action,” Pelosi said in a statement.

“The Taliban need to know that the world is watching its actions,” she said.

Teaganne finn

Teaganne Finn is a political reporter for NBC News.

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