Skip to main content

Hudson Responds to President Biden's Afghanistan Deadline: "Leave No American or Ally Behind"

August 24, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg's Congressman, released the following statement after remarks from President Joe Biden and attending a bipartisan briefing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley:
 
 
"As grateful as I am to our Afghanistan veterans and Gold Star families, I also want to express my support for our brave men and women in uniform currently on the ground in Afghanistan, including MG Christopher Donohue and troops from the 82nd Airborne division. This is a dangerous mission and regardless of politics, these troops are doing their job in very difficult circumstances and making our country proud. However, I have a lot of concerns following today's briefing and President Biden's decision to cave to the Taliban and adhere to a self-imposed arbitrary deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31.
 
"According to intelligence, President Biden's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan has now put our troops in harm's way and we must do everything we can to ensure their safety. I am also extremely concerned for the safety of American citizens and allies still on the ground in Afghanistan.
 
"Despite assurances from Secretary Blinken today that we can get all Americans out of Afghanistan by Aug. 31, I don't believe this is possible. Many Democrat and Republican Members of Congress expressed this shared concerned at the briefing. Those briefing us today also acknowledged that we will not be able to evacuate all Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants before the President's deadline. Instead, Secretary Blinken said the Administration will rely on the Taliban to help us extract our Afghan allies. This is outrageous. The Taliban is going door-to-door with lists of Afghans who worked with Americans. Today, they are reportedly blocking access to the airport for our Afghan allies. To say we are going to rely on them to help us evacuate these same people defies logic.
 
"There is global and bipartisan support for extending the President's arbitrary deadline of Aug. 31. I am calling on President Biden to commit to leaving no American or ally behind - regardless of deadlines and regardless of what the Taliban and terrorists say. Otherwise, the President should level with the American people that he is signing the death warrants of our allies and their families we are leaving behind."
 
 
To date, Rep. Hudson has initiated inquiries on behalf of more than 160 Special Immigrant Visa applicants and others still on the ground in Afghanistan needing assistance from the State Department. Last week, Rep. Hudson called on Secretary of State Blinken to do more to secure the safety of American citizens and our allies.
 
 
###