The Special Features Five Republican Congressman who Served in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) premiered a new special today entitled “Not in Vain: One Year Later” featuring Republican veterans in Congress who served in Afghanistan. This new video reflects on the anniversary of Biden’s Afghanistan disaster, what has and hasn’t happened since, and remembers our nation’s heroes for their service and sacrifices.
Last year as Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal unfolded, the RNC joined forces with Republican veterans in Congress who served in Afghanistan where they shared their initial thoughts on the disastrous foreign policy decisions from the Biden administration, their first-hand experiences in Afghanistan, and the impact of Biden’s failure. One year later, the RNC brought them back.
“When Joe Biden became president, he took an oath to protect the safety of the American people. One year after breaking his promise, Biden doesn’t have the decency to own up to his failures and take responsibility for his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that resulted in the death of American service members and hundreds of Americans left behind enemy lines,” said Chairwoman McDaniel. “To the men and women of America’s armed forces and their families, Americans will always honor the sacrifice that you and your loved ones made for our country.”
Members of Congress in the special include Rep. Tony Gonzales, Navy Master Chief Petty Officer (Ret.); Rep. Michael Waltz, Green Beret (Ret.) and Army National Guard Colonel; Rep. Brian Mast, Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.), Rep. Ronny Jackson, Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.), and Rep. Jake Ellzey, Navy Commander (Ret.).
“We [Republicans] will lead the charge in making sure that Americans know that that freedom, that safety, that security, it came with the sacrifice. And for those that made that sacrifice, they will be taken care of, they will not be forgotten, and their sacrifices will not be in vain,” said Rep. Brian Mast.
“You can have the strongest, most forceful, most well-equipped military in the world, but if you have a weak Commander in Chief that our enemies don't respect and fear, it's all for naught,” said Rep. Michael Waltz. “As long as I have a breath in Congress, we are going to get to the bottom of what happened and there will be accountability.”
“Afghanistan was a monumental failure...For anyone that served in Afghanistan, Iraq or in the Middle East or honestly just served in general, this is a very personal issue to us. And we are not going to forget. Regardless of all the other distractions, all the other things that are happening, we will never forget this administration’s debacle as they left Afghanistan,” said Rep. Tony Gonzales.
“The longer this administration has gone on, things that Joe Biden said he would and wouldn't do are the exact opposite of what he's actually done as the President of the United States,” said Rep. Jake Ellzey. “So what do we know now after a year since the withdrawal of Afghanistan is when you show weakness, the bullies come out.”
“Afghanistan was what set the stage for the disastrous foreign policy that is the Biden administration,” said Rep. Ronny Jackson. “All of these things that are a threat to us overseas. It all started with the Biden administration.”
