Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement regarding the Taliban’s rapid advancements throughout Afghanistan amid the U.S. withdrawal from the country.
“This is Joe Biden’s Saigon.
"The world is watching in horror as the Taliban takes over Afghanistan in response to President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops. The President’s failure to develop a plan or execute coherent operations in Afghanistan not only erases the successes of the United States and our allies, but it emboldens terrorist groups like al Qaeda and ISIS and invites future attacks against the United States like we experienced on 9/11.
"As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I asked numerous questions of the Biden Administration as to their plan to ensure and protect U.S. counter-terrorism and intelligence capabilities while continuing to support our Afghan allies. They never had any answers. The Biden Administration never had any plan.
“As the representative for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division—the most deployed Army division since 9/11—I am appalled by the President’s decision to disregard the immeasurable sacrifices made by our troops since 2001.
President Biden’s willingness to turn over Afghanistan to the Taliban and their terrorist partners has already led to the deaths of our Afghan allies, and puts the safety and security of innocent civilians, including all Afghan women and girls, in extreme jeopardy. Make no mistake, the fall of Afghanistan and the lives lost to future terrorist attacks emanating from within the country will rest solely on President Biden.”