Bipartisan criticism of president Joe Biden continues to grow in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of American forces in Afghanistan. Biden’s own Democratic party’s complaints are primarily related to the president’s refusal to extend the August 31 evacuation deadline even though it meant leaving American citizens behind.
Meanwhile, the Republican party is discontented with Biden for many of his decisions, some of which led to the deaths of 13 military personnel as well as left American citizens behind.
The public scolding by his own party has fueled the fire started by already livid Republicans, many of whom have called for Biden’s resignation.
After the suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members, The House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., said the evacuation “has been egregiously mishandled”
In a statement, Wild said, “In order to move forward, our country will need to receive answers and accountability regarding the cascading failures that led us to this catastrophic moment, and I look forward to using my platform on the House Foreign Affairs Committee to secure answers from the Biden Administration about what went wrong,” she continued “Our troops deserve nothing less than a complete and unvarnished account of the truth.”
Biden along with top administration officials were against extending the Aug.31 deadline, arguing that there was sufficient progress in evacuation efforts and it would pose potentially deadly threats to U.S. troops. Secretary of State Tony Blinken said on Tuesday that officials are committed to provide ongoing support to Americans left in Afghanistan who wished to leave.
Many Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in the matter of how Biden handled the evacuation.
Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.said in a statement last week, “I continue to urge the administration to do everything in its power to secure the airport and evacuate every American, as well as our partners who stood side-by-side with our troops to combat terrorism,” she continued, “We must complete this mission, regardless of any arbirary deadlines.”
Last week Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, VA, a former CIA officer, co-drafted a statement from the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus that called on Biden to extend the deadline.
“From this week’s bipartisan Member briefing, it is apparent that the Administration’s set date for departure from Afghanistan on August 31 does not provide enough time to evacuate all American citizens and our partners,” the statement said. “We respectfully call on the Administration to reconsider its timeline and provide a clear plan to Congress that will result in the completion of our shared national objectives.
fairing well with either party.
