Americans Remain Trapped In Afghanistan And The Biden Administration Is Failing To Get Them Out

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BIDEN IS IGNORING THE DISASTER HE CREATED

• The Biden White House wants to turn the page on his Afghanistan disaster even though Americans are still trapped behind enemy lines. 
  • While Americans were being held hostage by the Taliban, Biden went on vacation last weekend.
  • During the dignified transfer of 13 heroic service members who died as a direct result of his failed decision-making, Biden looked at his watch multiple times. 
  • After the last U.S. military plane left Afghanistan and Americans were left behind, Biden tried to blame others for the entire debacle, doubled down on his failures, and disrespected grieving military families in the process. 
• Biden has failed to meet the moment and his approval rating is at its lowest since coming into office, sinking fast, with one in five Biden voters now regretting their vote.   
• As Americans remain trapped in Afghanistan, Biden and his team are completely out of touch with the crisis that is still unfolding. 

AMERICANS REMAIN TRAPPED IN AFGHANISTAN

• On August 30th, the last U.S. military flight left Afghanistan to meet the Taliban-imposed withdrawal deadline despite Biden’s promise that no Americans would be left behind.
  • Americans—including children—continue to be trapped behind terrorist lines.
  • One pregnant American who went to the airport, but the Taliban blocked her, wondered, “Am I going to end up dying here?”
• The Taliban blocked multiple chartered flights carrying American citizens from leaving Afghanistan in what is akin to a hostage situation.
• Biden’s team has refused to acknowledge the danger Americans are in.
  • Biden’s Secretary of State Blinken said he was not aware of the situation. 
  • Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki insisted they would not “characterize it” as a hostage situation.
  • Biden’s Chief of Staff Ron Klain does not know how Americans will be evacuated.

THE TALIBAN IS EMPOWERED AND AMERICA IS LESS SAFE BECAUSE OF BIDEN

• The swift fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban has created an intelligence vacuum U.S. officials are “scrambling” to fill as Biden’s botched withdrawal left the Taliban heavily armed with U.S. military equipment.
  • His administration has no “policy solutions” to recoup or destroy these weapons.  
• In July, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby admitted the Taliban is a “terrorist” group, but now Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refuses to even call them the “enemy.”
• Jen Psaki repeatedly dodged on if Americans are less safe after Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal.
  • Obama DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said the “recent turn of events ... creat[es] a real risk” of a growing terrorist threat.
• Already, the international jihadi movement is now seeing itself “reinvigorated and inspired.” 
• Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin admitted “there’s no question that it will be more difficult to identify and engage” terror threats in Afghanistan.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS MOVED THE GOALPOST ON RECOGNIZING THE TALIBAN

• For months, Biden’s team said they would not recognize a Taliban government imposed by force.
  • In June, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the world would not “accept” a Taliban government “imposed by force” in Afghanistan.
  • In July, Price said that any government that comes to power “at the barrel of a gun” will lack international legitimacy.
  • In August, Price repeated the same line five days before the fall of Kabul, saying any government that comes to power “at the barrel of a gun” will lack legitimacy.
• After the Taliban came to power by force, Biden and his team moved the goalposts and now refuse to rule out recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
  • On August 24, Biden said the legitimacy of the Taliban depends on the approach “it now takes” to uphold international obligations. 
  • On August 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “any legitimacy and any support will have to be earned.”
  • On September 6, Biden refused to rule out the idea of recognizing the Taliban.
  • On September 7, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said recognition was “dependent on what steps the Taliban takes.”