Statement of Congressman Rob Wittman on President Biden's Historic Failure in Afghanistan

"Earlier today, the Taliban entered the Afghan capital of Kabul. We watched as the democratically-elected President was forced to flee the country. We watch as our Armed Forces continue to rapidly evacuate our embassy. And sadly, we will likely soon be forced to watch as the Taliban execute, maim, torture thousands of civilians, and forcibly marry thousands of Afghan women.

"It cannot be said that this outcome was planned or inevitable. On July 8th, President Biden remarked '… The likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is unlikely.' And that, 'the Taliban is not… the North Vietnamese Army. There's going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of… the United States from Afghanistan. It is not at all comparable.'

"But as former Obama Secretary of Defense Robert Gates once wrote, '[Joe Biden] was wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security decision over the past four decades.' As we watch what many have dubbed President Biden's 'Saigon Moment,' it is clear that he was wrong once again.

"The collapse of Afghanistan's government marks one of the greatest foreign policy failures in recent American history. In April, top military leaders advocated for a small force of special operators and advisors to remain on the ground to prevent a Taliban takeover. President Biden ignored them. As a result, he proceeded hastily, without an apparent plan, and has needlessly forfeited two decades of American sacrifice abroad.

"Reports indicate the Biden Administration does not believe the United States will even have a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. And already, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, has officially raised the threat of terrorists once again finding safe haven in Afghanistan.

"Even as millions watch the chaos unfolding in Afghanistan, the President of the United States is nowhere to be seen. His poor decisions, his refusal to share his plan for withdrawal with Congress, and his absent leadership disappoints the nation in this dark hour."