Pray for our troops.
August 30, 2021
Friends,
It's been a tragic week for our country.
On Thursday, we lost 13 brave U.S. service members in the horrific attack on Kabul's airport. These members of the Marines, Navy and Army were among those sent to Afghanistan to rescue our citizens and allies. They have been under extremely dangerous circumstances, and they have made our country proud.
Included in those lost was Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss, a member of the 1st Special Forces Command 8th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg.
Renee and I join our country in praying for the family of Staff Sgt. Knauss, including his wife in Pinebluff and his extended family in Tennessee and Florida. His loss is felt by our entire Fort Bragg community and our nation will never forget his sacrifice, as well as that of all of our fallen service members. They put their lives on the line to save our fellow citizens and allies in harm's way and they are heroes.
Tragically, Thursday was the deadliest day for our troops in Afghanistan in over 10 years. I am heartbroken and livid.
President Biden's failed withdrawal put our troops back in harm's way, reliant on the Taliban for security around the airport and exposed to threats by ISIS terrorists. This danger was compounded by decisions to close Bagram Airfield and force all evacuation efforts into one indefensible position at the airport in the middle of Kabul.
Now as we continue to honor the fallen, our focus must also remain on completing the mission to ensure our troops on the ground in Kabul are safe and that every American and ally can get out safely.
Prior to Thursday's attack, President Biden doubled down on sticking to his self-imposed deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31st, despite global and bipartisan support for extending it. President Biden's own generals admit we cannot possibly complete evacuations by the 31st. However, the Taliban demanded President Biden adhere to this deadline, and I am infuriated the President of the United States bowed to them without securing the safety of our citizens and allies first.
Following a classified briefing I received last Tuesday, I called 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 has signed the death warrants of our allies and their families we are leaving behind.
Last week, I continued my ongoing efforts to get hundreds of these former interpreters and family members out of Afghanistan. Thursday's attack is a tragic reminder of the danger they will face after our troops have departed. To date, I have initiated inquiries for more than 700 people needing assistance from the State Department. Many of them remain in danger, as the incompetence of the Biden administration has been staggering.
I called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring Congress back into session to get a comprehensive, classified briefing from the Biden administration following Thursday's attack and to pass legislation by Congressman Mike Gallagher, a Marine veteran from Wisconsin. His bill requires daily reports on the status of evacuations and prohibits the President from withdrawing our troops until every American is out of Afghanistan safely.
Last week, Speaker Pelosi did bring Congress back to Washington for the first time since the Taliban took over Kabul. Yet shockingly, Pelosi blocked Republican attempts to address the crisis in Afghanistan or support our troops there. Pelosi's sole focus was to advance Democrats' reckless $3.5 trillion tax, borrow and spend budget scheme written by Bernie Sanders. Advancing this bill is not only bad news for you and your family, it was also extremely out-of-touch.
I will detail more of how Bernie's budget will bankrupt our nation in the coming weeks. Yet for now, I would ask that you join Renee and me in praying for all those still on the ground in Afghanistan, including many troops from the 82nd Airborne. While we have seen an abject failure in political leadership from the Biden administration, these troops have suffered losses and are still doing their job in very difficult circumstances. It did not have to be this way. There will be plenty of time later to hold the President and others accountable for this catastrophe.
For now, Speaker Pelosi must call Congress back and President Biden must do more to address this fallout and secure the safety of those on the ground.
Rest assured, I will hold this Administration fully accountable. Our troops and their families deserve nothing less.
Until next week,
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Richard Hudson
Member of Congress
Issues:Defense & National Security