GOP lawmakers blast Biden over Afghanistan collapse

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Republican lawmakers on Sunday blasted the Biden administration’s withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, as the Taliban moved closer to Kabul as footage of Chinook evacuating staff from the capital’s embassy prompted comparisons to the exit of the Americas from Vietnam.

Here is President BidenJoe BidenTom Cotton calls on Biden to “destroy all Taliban fighters” near Kabul Steve ScaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseSunday whip shows preview: Taliban closing in on Afghanistan; Kathy Hochul to become New York’s first female governor A two-chamber story: Trump’s power holds in the House, dwindles in the Senate Wyoming GOP leaders say they no longer recognize Cheney as a member of the MORE party (R -La.) Said on CBS Face the Nation.

“It is a very serious situation when you see the US Embassy being evacuated. In fact, you just heard President Biden a few days ago say that you would not see helicopters evacuate the Embassy. like Saigon, and yet here we are, ”Scalise said.

Representative Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaulSunday shows preview: Taliban draw closer to Afghanistan; Kathy Hochul to become New York’s first female governor Senior Foreign Republican calls for sanctions for ‘Havana Syndrome’ attacks GOP report on origins of COVID-19 focuses on laboratory leak theory MORE (R-Texas) told CNN State of the Union that Biden is “going to have blood on his hands” because of the withdrawal of US troops and the rapid takeover that followed by the Taliban, who captured the provincial capitals in a few days, culminating with the virtual capture of Kabul on Sunday morning.

“They totally blew up this one. They completely underestimated the strength of the Taliban,” said McCaul, the top Republican on the House of Representatives’ foreign affairs committee.

Reports on Sunday said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country, while US citizens in Afghanistan were ordered to take shelter in place as the airport, where embassy staff were evacuated. , was under fire. CNN reported that the American flag had been removed from the embassy.

Other Republican lawmakers blamed the rapidly deteriorating situation on Biden and the Trump administration, which had negotiated its own plan with the Taliban for US troops to leave the country by May 1.

Representative Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneySunday shows preview: Taliban draw closer to Afghanistan; Kathy Hochul to become first female New York governor Trump to meet Cheney’s former ally over main challenge: reports Wyoming GOP leaders say they no longer recognize Cheney as a member of the MORE party (R-Wyo .), said in a statement that “the Trump / Biden calamity unfolding in Afghanistan began with the Trump administration negotiating with terrorists and claiming they were partners for peace, and ends with the US surrender as Biden abandons the country to our terrorist enemies.

Nebraska Senator Ben SasseBen SasseReport notes that the US government has made progress on cybersecurity, there is still work to be done. Biden offers a temporary “safe haven” to residents of Hong Kong. doctrine of weakness “which he said was created by the foreign policy of the two administrations, which he said” deliberately decided to lose “the conflict in Afghanistan.

The Trump administration announced last year that it had reached a deal with the Taliban to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan on condition that the insurgent group honor certain commitments, including not allowing terrorist groups. such as Al Qaeda to operate in areas under its control.

“I really believe the Taliban want to do something to show that we are not all wasting time,” Trump said at the time. “If bad things happen, we’ll come back with a force like no one has ever seen.”

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeosaidon “Fox News Sunday” said the Trump administration “never trusted the Taliban” despite his efforts to negotiate his own withdrawal.

Biden this week criticized Trump for leaving the Taliban “in the strongest position militarily since 2001”.

When I came to power, I inherited a deal made by my predecessor which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of September 11, 2019, which left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily. since 2001 and imposed a May 1. 2021 deadline on US forces. Shortly before leaving office, he also reduced U.S. forces to a bare minimum of 2,500, Biden said in a statement.

GOP lawmakers, however, argued that Biden was to blame because the pullout ultimately happened under his watch. Scalise, referring to the United States’ international stance, said on Sunday that the Taliban takeover had sent a “worrying message to our allies around the world.”

In a call with members of Congress in which they were briefed by Secretaries of State and Defense, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyA Two House Tale: Trump Holds Power In House, Declines in Senate Trump Endorses Van Orden in Wisconsin Race to Succeed Rep Ron Kind Pelosi’s Office Tears GOP ‘Disgusting’ Attacks on Capitol Police: ‘Enough is Enough’ MORE (R- Calif.) Called the removal embarrassment, according to Politico.

I have the passion and I have the anger. I want to know where President Ghani is, McCarthy said at the meeting, accusing the Biden administration of lacking a clear plan when it announced the withdrawal of US troops.

McCarthy, like many Republican lawmakers at the time, seemed mostly indifferent to Trump’s exit plan last year.

Biden has so far remained firm in his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. Members of his administration including Secretary of State Antony Blinken Antony Blinken Pelosi “deeply concerned” for women amid Taliban gains in Afghanistan on Sunday preview: Taliban closing in on Afghanistan; Kathy Hochul to become New York’s first female governor At least 304 Haiti earthquake dead MORE, said on Sunday that staying in the country a few more years would not have changed the result seen today.

“The goal we set for ourselves to bring to justice those who attacked us, to make sure that they could not attack us again from Afghanistan, we succeeded in this mission, and in fact we succeeded ago. some time. And at the same time, staying in Afghanistan for another one, five, ten years is not in the national interest, “Blinken said, brushing aside criticism and saying” it’s not Saigon. “

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