After 20 years of armed conflict, nearly $1 trillion and over 2,000 American servicemember deaths, the longest war in United States history has come to an end with Afghanistan defaulting to its original state of Taliban rule.
President Joe Biden has come under intense scrutiny in recent days as he has failed to publicly address the nation and confront the situation the beleaguered Middle Eastern country finds itself in. Alabama Republicans are ramping up their attacks on the president, slamming his execution over the withdrawal of American forces.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, sees the current situation in Afghanistan as reminiscent of the U.S. exit of Vietnam five decades ago.
I talked about this weeks ago in @SASCGOP. The Biden Admin had made a rushed decision that disregards the sacrifices of millions. pic.twitter.com/1bUuC3tjG1
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) August 14, 2021
This comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country, additional U.S. forces were sent to provide support for the evacuation of the American Embassy in Kabul, and Taliban leaders overtook the nation’s capital and presently occupy the presidential palace.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, slammed the Biden administration, calling the situation “gut-wrenching.”
The congressman’s statement reads in part, “[N]ow the Taliban are in Kabul and images of helicopters lifting off from the U.S. embassy are plastered on televisions across the globe.”
“My heart breaks for the women and children of Afghanistan whose bright futures will be extinguished by brutish terrorists who keep control by repulsive and stomach-churning means,” he added. “The Biden-Harris administration needs to be held accountable for the utter failure that has unfolded in Afghanistan. Mr. President: Why wasn’t there a plan?”
Echoing the sentiments of his fellow colleagues, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) called the Biden administration a “rudderless ship at sea.”
The Biden Administration is a rudderless ship at sea. Whether it’s the border, the economy, and now the loss of Afghanistan, there seems to be no plan to deal with anything. 20 years of deep sacrifice on the part of our military, & it’s all lost in days. https://t.co/e4ZmbN5L4A
— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) August 15, 2021
Aderholt’s tweet reads, “The Biden Administration is a rudderless ship at sea. Whether it’s the border, the economy, and now the loss of Afghanistan, there seems to be no plan to deal with anything. 20 years of deep sacrifice on the part of our military, & it’s all lost in days.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) took to social media to criticize Biden over his failure to address the American public, noting that the Taliban held a press conference of their own.
The Taliban gave a press conference BEFORE the President of the United States.
Let that sink in.
In fact, we still haven’t heard a word from our Commander-in-chief.
President Biden needs to address the nation NOW.
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) August 16, 2021
The tweet reads, “The Taliban gave a press conference BEFORE the President of the United States,” said Moore. “Let that sink in. In fact, we still haven’t heard a word from our Commander-in-chief. President Biden needs to address the nation. NOW.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) hammered Biden for spending being at the Camp David presidential retreat as the Taliban overtook Afghanistan.
Mr. President, you have allowed the Taliban to seize control of Afghanistan and humiliate the United States on the global stage.
Return from vacation and get to work. The world is watching. https://t.co/qcwqgnVeny
— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) August 15, 2021
“Mr. President, you have allowed the Taliban to seize control of Afghanistan and humiliate the United States on the global stage,” said Carl. “Return from vacation and get to work. The world is watching.”
Weeks prior to the full-withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden ensured that there would be no path for the Taliban to seize control of territory formerly held by the Ghani-led Afghanistan government. Now, Biden appears to be placing blame at the feet of the former administration, saying he was faced with the decision to “follow through on the deal,” put in place by former President Donald Trump.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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