Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is blasting President Joe Biden‘s plans to withdraw the remaining U.S. forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, warning that is a “disaster in the making.”
“If reports are accurate that President Biden is withdrawing all forces from Afghanistan by September of this year, it is a disaster in the making. A full withdrawal from Afghanistan is so irresponsible, it makes the Biden Administration policies at the border look sound,” Graham said in a statement on Tuesday.
He continued, “A full withdrawal from Afghanistan is dumber than dirt and devilishly dangerous. President Biden will have, in essence, canceled an insurance policy against another 9/11. A residual counterterrorism force would be an insurance policy against the rise of radical Islam in Afghanistan that could pave the way for another attack against our homeland or our allies.”
He also said that the “intelligence assessment of a complete withdrawal is very dire,” as he added he hoped military officials advised against the moved.”
“I know what is most likely to happen: a reigniting of the Afghan Civil War and reversing all gains for Afghan women and children. The void created by this fight benefits ISIS and al Qaeda, who still reside in Afghanistan. The American military footprint in Afghanistan today is 2,500 troops. Those brave American men and women are an insurance policy against another 9/11. I think it is insane to withdraw at this time given the conditions that exist on the ground in Afghanistan. I know people are frustrated, but wars don’t end because you’re frustrated. Wars end when the threat is eliminated.”
Finally, he said, “Now we have, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the complete withdrawal in spite of all the intelligence assessments. I find it ironic that, given the sacrifices we’ve made to move Afghanistan forward, prevent another 9/11, and ensure the enduring defeat of al Qaeda and ISIS, that on the 20th anniversary of the attack we’re paving the way for another attack.”
Graham also claimed that the withdrawal would send “a signal of incredible weakness to adversaries like al Qaeda, ISIS, Hezbollah, China, Russia, and Iran.”
His statement comes after officials confirmed that Biden plans to withdraw the roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
“After a rigorous policy review, President Biden has decided to draw down the remaining troops in Afghanistan and finally end the U.S. war there after 20 years,” an administration official told reporters, adding, “There is no military solution to the problems plaguing Afghanistan, and we will focus our efforts on supporting the ongoing peace process.”
Biden’s plan could keep U.S. forces in Afghanistan beyond the May 1 deadline for withdrawal in the ongoing peace process. The Taliban threatened to resume attacks on foreign troops if they were still in the country after that date.
