LEE ENTERPRISES

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois: “President Biden understands history when it comes to Afghanistan.  He made the difficult decision to not hand over this longest of American wars to a fifth president.  And had he walked away from the withdraw agreement originally negotiated by President Trump, Taliban attacks on U.S. forces would have restarted and required yet another surge in U.S. troops.  How long were Americans willing to continue this cycle, particularly if the Afghan government wasn’t willing to fight for its own future?

“This endless cost in American lives and taxpayer dollars was not sustainable.  And while good people can have honest debates about U.S. policy in Afghanistan, those who sat silently when Donald Trump pursued a hasty U.S. withdrawal and now cry howls of outrage reek of hypocrisy. 

“We must ensure we bring all Americans, including Mark Frerichs, safely home.  And we must also keep our commitment to help those Afghans who helped the U.S. effort to safely leave as well.” 

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro: “Make no mistake about it, President Biden’s failed leadership caused the disaster we are witnessing in Afghanistan right now. His decision to leave without even a basic awareness of what would happen next has put lives at risk, emboldened terrorists, and weakened America’s standing on the global stage. And through it all, Biden has remained silent, hidden away at Camp David until finally agreeing to address the American people this afternoon.”

Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville: “The Biden Administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan has created a national security and humanitarian crisis that was completely avoidable. Because President Biden was more concerned about quickly fulfilling a campaign promise instead of withdrawing responsibly, the lives of American troops, Afghan translators, and their families are now at risk. We cannot allow the return of a pre-9/11 Afghanistan, where terrorists were able to plot and plan attacks against our country. In the near term, we must do whatever it takes to safely evacuate every last American citizen in Afghanistan and the Afghan translators who supported our troops.”

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon: “I am heartbroken and angry by what’s happening in Afghanistan, largely because this was entirely avoidable. I’ve said countless times that withdrawing our troops emboldens our enemies and puts our allies in grave danger. And yet, both President Trump and President Biden made their announcements anyway—broadcasting to our enemies that we were leaving and telling our allies around the world that we had given up.

“The reality we face now is sad, and the aftermath will be dangerous and devastating. Our effort to ensure women’s empowerment in Afghanistan will be reversed. The possibility that Afghanistan would once again become a safe haven and recruiting ground for terrorists is now a likelihood. And the peace, stability, and security that our presence in Afghanistan assured both the Afghan people and Americans here at home has been entirely wiped out.”

Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria: “President Biden and his Administration’s failure of leadership has enabled a return to a pre-9/11 Afghanistan – creating a fertile breeding ground for radical terrorism to grow once again. President Biden has abandoned men and women who served as local partners in Afghanistan, endangered the lives of innocent women and children, and disrespected the sacrifice of the brave men and women in our military who served the United States and kept Americans safe throughout the last 20 years. President Biden owns the horrific scenes to come from Afghanistan and his actions threaten the security of America and our allies.”

Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland: ““The Biden-Harris Administration’s severe mismanagement of the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan is an embarrassment on the world stage… No senior leaders at the Pentagon have been held responsible for the incompetent mismanagement of this withdrawal, and Americans deserve accountability from the Biden-Harris Administration.”