President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that his administration would not extend the Aug. 31 deadline he set for the full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
The president’s announcement comes after the Taliban declared they would not waiver on their demands for American military personnel to leave by the formerly established date.
Biden assured the public that his administration will succeed in completing airlift evacuations of Americans and Afghan partners that remain in the war-torn country. However, Biden keeping with the deadline for the United States’ complete withdrawal has led to Republicans claiming the president has conceded to the demands of the radical Islamist organization.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) said he is “outraged” to see the president “take orders” from the terrorist organization.
Outraged to see the @POTUS take orders from the Taliban regarding when the United States may bring our own citizens home.https://t.co/lZrGJ5fu0S
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) August 24, 2021
Tuberville expanded, “There is no scenario where the Taliban should ever dictate terms to the United States of America. Unforgivable and unforgettable.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) viewed Biden’s refusal to extend the exit deadline as the president “capitulating to terrorists” and saying he is “allowing the Taliban to call the shots.”
President Biden is letting the Taliban call the shots.
Let that sink in.
We MUST safely evacuate every American still stranded in Afghanistan.
Anything less is unacceptable and un-American.https://t.co/9fYbKBRqaa
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) August 24, 2021
“In his latest display of cowardice on the world stage, our Commander-in-chief is capitulating to terrorists and abandoning our allies,” Moore said in a statement. “Rather than bowing to the Taliban, President Biden should vow to stay in Afghanistan until every American is safely evacuated – no matter what it takes. Anything less recklessly puts American lives in danger – a disgraceful failure that will rightfully stain Biden’s legacy forever.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), said there is “nothing magical” about the Aug. 31 deadline. Indicating that the president could push the date back if necessary in order to safely evacuate remaining U.S. citizens.
LR @RepMikeRogersAL: "President Biden needs to make it clear to the Taliban that the U.S. does not take orders from terrorists. The President must vow to the American people that the deadline for leaving Afghanistan is when every American is safely out."https://t.co/wBwZ2t7pNS pic.twitter.com/FGSfGAvpcy
— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) August 24, 2021
His statement reads in part, “President Biden needs to make it clear to the Taliban that the United States of America does not take orders from terrorists.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) expressed that he believes the president displayed “unbelievable weakness” in not extending the withdrawal date.
Unbelievable weakness from President Biden. What a disaster. https://t.co/UUsF9AQimE
— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) August 24, 2021
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, blasted Biden over his response to the crisis.
Members of the President's own party said just yesterday we won't have all of the U.S. citizens out of Afghanistan by August 31st. Does Biden plan to just leave them stranded? https://t.co/3Ll9S7Vcil
— House GOP Policy (@GOPpolicy) August 24, 2021
Palmer’s statement reads in part, “This situation is nothing short of an unmitigated disaster and an utter betrayal of our citizens and allies. The Biden Administration must take responsibility for those still trapped in Afghanistan and for the international security emergency now spinning out of control. President Biden’s weak leadership has put our country’s security at greater risk than ever.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
