The quick downfall of the Afghanistan government and the sloppy evacuation of American citizens and allies will be analyzed for years to come. On Sunday, the Taliban took complete control of Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan.
“Today’s been a horrible day. The images coming out of Afghanistan are heart breaking,” Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) said in a statement Sunday night. “For anyone who’s been dedicated to the CT mission and especially those who served in Afghanistan, it’s been especially hard and tragic.”
Congresswoman Spanberger worked at the CIA prior to being elected to Congress.
“There will be much to review, determine, & understand in the coming days & years, & as a nation, we must pursue that work,” Spanberger continued. “But in this moment, my heart breaks for Afghanistan, its people, the promise of change we believed possible, & those who gave everything to that promise.”
Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-VA02), a Navy veteran, stressed the importance of completing the evacuation before dissecting the chaos of this weekend. “We must ultimately grapple with the failures that led to the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, but today, in this moment, we must keep our focus on taking every possible measure to evacuate American citizens and our Afghan partners who fought bravely beside us for two decades,” Luria said.
Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA01) criticized President Biden early Sunday. “President #Biden’s failed withdrawal from #Afghanistan has already elevated the threat of terrorism in the region,” Wittman tweeted. “Worse still, Biden officials acknowledged they will be forced to leave tens of thousands of Afghans behind to suffer under the Taliban.”
Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10) also released a statement Sunday evening stressing the importance of getting Americans and our allies out of the country safely. “I am deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan,” Wexton said. “We must ensure our Afghan partners on the ground, who have helped us immensely throughout the years, are evacuated and protected.”
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