WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, penned a letter to President Biden, alongside Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Michael Waltz (R-FL) requesting the United States maintain a military presence in Afghanistan until every American citizen is safely evacuated from the country.
“It is imperative the Biden Administration ensures every single American citizen is able to safely evacuate Afghanistan before the military leaves the country,” said Rep. McClain. “The Taliban is becoming increasingly dangerous as the August 31st deadline gets closer. Americans and our allies are in grave danger if they’re not evacuated by the end of the month.”
“We are the United States of America and we leave no one behind – no matter how perilous the situation,” said Rep. Waltz. “We cannot succumb to conditions dictated by terrorists like the Taliban and allow them to tell us who can and cannot leave. We made a commitment to both our citizens and allies to get them out safely and this administration must utilize every option available for extraction.”
“President Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan has needlessly endangered countless lives,” Stefanik said. “I am proud to stand with Congresswoman McClain to hold Biden accountable for his disastrous actions on the world stage and to demand the protection of our citizens, allies, and the Afghan people. Lives are at stake.”
For a copy of the letter, click here.
The full text of the letter is below.
August 25, 2021
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Biden,
As we write to you, the situation in Afghanistan becomes ever more perilous. There are thousands of Americans and our allies trapped in a country that has fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
We as members of Congress have demanded from you, and your administration, for months your detailed plan for the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Our requests have been either ignored or answered with vague platitudes and assurances that you were prepared for every contingency. On August 15th, the world was shown that your administration was in over its head. Now our own citizens and partners in Afghanistan are under the threat of torture and death from a barbaric, terrorist regime.
We are demanding that you take any and all necessary steps to protect our citizens, allies and the civilian population in the capitol city. We suggest you give careful consideration to either increasing the number of combat forces in the country, change the rules of engagement in Afghanistan to allow our forces to engage Taliban threats, or might we suggest you consult with Allyson Reneau on how best to navigate around the Taliban. Ms. Reneau, a 60-year-old Harvard graduate from Oklahoma, was able to fly into the region earlier this month and rescued 10 members of the all-girls robotics team in Afghanistan.
We are also requesting that you maintain a significant U.S. military presence in the country until every single American citizen is safely evacuated from Afghanistan.
This crisis was created by your failed leadership. You campaigned on being a competent operator in the arena of global affairs. Now prove it to this Congress, the American people, and the rest of the world.
Submitted by Congresswoman Lisa McClain’s Office
