Lawmakers, Trump mourn Kabul bomb victims, blame Biden

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US lawmakers and former President Donald Trump have issued statements mourning the US soldiers killed and injured in the Kabul airport bombings while blaming President Biden for allowing this to happen.

Members of Congress criticized Biden for his weak, incompetent and unforgivable withdrawal from Afghanistan after at least 13 US soldiers died on Thursday when a pair of bombs exploded near the airport entrance.

Trump, who triggered the withdrawal from Afghanistan before harshly criticizing Biden’s evacuation plans, said he offered his “deepest condolences to the families of our brilliant and courageous servicemen whose duty to the United States. meant a lot to them “.

“Our hearts are also with the families of the innocent civilians who died today in the savage attack on Kabul,” Trump added. “This tragedy should never have happened, which makes our grief even deeper and harder to understand.”

At least 60 Afghans were also killed in the blasts allegedly carried out by ISIS terrorists.

Senatorial Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Called the attacks “sickening and enraging.”

“Terrible things happen when terrorists are allowed to operate freely,” McConnell said in a statement. “This deadly attack is as clear a reminder as possible that terrorists will not stop fighting the United States just because our politicians are tired of fighting them.

“I remain concerned that terrorists around the world will be encouraged by our retreat, by this attack and by the creation of a radical Islamic terrorist state in Afghanistan,” he added. “We must redouble our efforts globally to confront these barbaric enemies who want to kill Americans and attack our homeland.”

Volunteers and medical staff bring an injured man for treatment after two powerful explosions outside Kabul airport on August 26, 2021.AFP via Getty Images

“The responsibility ends with the President of the United States. Joe Biden has blood on his hands, ”Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in a direct statement.

“This horrific national humanitarian and security catastrophe is solely the result of the weak and incompetent leadership of Joe Bidens,” she added. “He is unfit to be commander-in-chief. “

Minority parliamentary leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Tweeted that the attacks were “horrific.”

“Our enemies took advantage of the chaotic nature of Biden’s withdrawal,” he wrote. “Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi must bring Congress back by August 31 so that we can be carefully briefed by the administration and prohibit the withdrawal of our troops until every American is out safely.

Representative Jim Banks, a veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, lambasted Bidens’ incompetence.

A number of Afghans were also killed in the explosions allegedly carried out by ISIS terrorists. Twitter / Asvaka News

As a veteran who served in Afghanistan, my heart breaks for the families of the American military and the Afghan people who learn this morning that their loved ones have been injured or killed in a terrorist attack. My wife Amanda and I pray and cry with them, Banks (R-Ind.) Said in a statement on Twitter.

The responsibility for this tragedy rests squarely on the shoulders of Joe Biden. His incompetence means American blood has been shed. It was preventable and unforgivable !, he says.

He also blamed Biden for abandoning Bagram Air Force Base, saying the move would be one of the worst foreign policy mistakes in American history.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also called on the president to reopen Bagram to help with the evacuation of Americans, Afghans and foreign citizens.

We have the ability to re-establish our presence in Bagram to continue to evacuate US citizens and our Afghan allies. The biggest mistake in this debacle is giving up on Bagram, Graham said.

I urge the Biden administration to re-establish our presence in Bagram as an alternative to the Kabul airport so that we do not leave our fellow citizens and thousands of Afghan allies behind. It’s not a capacity issue, but a will issue, said Graham, who said Biden should be impeached for the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

I pleaded for days for the Bagram air base to be reopened because Kabul airport is very difficult to defend and was the only evacuation point, he continued.

Rep Jody Hice (R-Ga.) Tweeted that it was time for Biden to Resign NOW !!!

The United States and its allies have warned of a possible ISIS-K terrorist attack as the August 31 deadline approaches to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Biden Admin views the abandoned people in Afghanistan as a political nuisance. Perhaps viewing them as real people instead of push papers would result in rescues rather than deaths, he said on Twitter.

Senator Marsha Blackburn urged Biden to hold accountable those who carried out the deadly attacks.

I am devastated to learn that several of our soldiers lost their lives today. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice and pray for the comfort of their families. Terrorism is a serious and evil threat, and we must do everything in our power to hold our enemies accountable, Blackburn (R-Tenn.) Said on Twitter.

Blackburn then called on Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to “step down or do in the face of dismissal and dismissal “.

Top Democrats haven’t blamed the Biden administrations for botching the withdrawal from Afghanistan for triggering the attacks instead of offering condolences to those lost.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he had been in contact with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over the heinous attacks.

My thoughts are with the families and friends of the brave American and Afghan servicemen who lost their lives and those who were injured in this cowardly attack. I strongly condemn this act of terrorism and it must be clear to the world that the terrorists who perpetrated it will be sought and brought to justice, Schumer said in a statement.

Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) extended his sympathy to the men and women who worked tirelessly on the ground in Afghanistan.

With a heavy heart, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the US military and Afghan civilians who lost their lives in today’s senseless attack on Kabul airport, he said, adding that he continued to hope for safety and well-being. being men and women who work tirelessly to evacuate Americans and Afghans.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues.

Devastating to learn of the loss of US military and Afghans at Kabul airport. Although it is too early to draw any conclusions, ISIS-K had a clear motivation to disrupt our efforts, Schiff said. My prayers are with our brave servicemen as they continue these vital evacuations.

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