The top two Republicans in Congress urged President Joe Biden to brief them and other congressional leaders on his administration’s strategy in Afghanistan, where the U.S. military is overseeing the evacuation of thousands of U.S. citizens and others who remain in the now Taliban-controlled nation.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Biden for the classified briefing to be made available next week to the “Gang of Eight,” which is composed of the top Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, as well as the four leaders of each chamber.
“It is of the utmost importance that the U.S. Government account for all U.S. citizens in Afghanistan and provide the necessary information and means of departure to all those Americans who desire to leave the country,” the two wrote in the letter.
FAMILIES TRYING TO ESCAPE KABUL FEARFUL OF TRYING TO GET TO AIRPORT
The Republican leaders asked specifically for updates on how many U.S. citizens are still in Afghanistan and information about the Taliban’s “security posture inside Kabul.” It also inquired about the status of the U.S. government’s discussions with Taliban leaders regarding the evacuation process.
McConnell and McCarthy also asked for details about the Biden administration’s strategy for evacuating those currently outside of Kabul, where evacuation efforts are centered.
“We all share in the desire to see Americans safely returned home, and we hope to gain clarity as to the means and methods for accomplishing that goal,” the two wrote.
The request comes as lawmakers in both parties demand the Biden administration do more to get what could be up to 15,000 U.S. citizens out of Afghanistan.
Biden authorized the dispatch of thousands of U.S. troops to Kabul to secure the capital’s airport and to assist in the evacuation efforts made necessary by the Taliban’s swift entrance into the city over the weekend.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul warned people on Wednesday the U.S. government “cannot ensure safe passage” to the airport for evacuation.
This followed White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s comments on Tuesday that the Taliban told administration officials they would ensure civilians can safely travel to the airport in Kabul.
“The Taliban have informed us that they are prepared to provide the safe passage of civilians to the airport,” Sullivan said during a press briefing. “We intend to hold them to that commitment.”
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Democratic and Republican members of Congress have taken aim at the Biden administration in recent days following the Taliban takeover, with the words “failed,” “botched,” and “disastrous” describing the military’s drawdown in Afghanistan.
Biden has stood by his decision to withdraw troops in the manner he did, saying Monday he stands “squarely behind my decision,” despite suggesting a failure on someone’s part that the fall of Kabul and surrounding areas happened “more quickly than we anticipated.”
