Steve Scalise U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Steve Scalise U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st district | Official U.S. House Headshot
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has issued a statement on the House Foreign Affairs Committee's report regarding the Biden-Harris Administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
"The Biden-Harris Administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is one of the most catastrophic failures in American foreign policy history," Scalise said. "The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s investigation has thoroughly demonstrated that the Biden-Harris Administration chose to prioritize optics over the safety and security of Americans."
Scalise criticized senior leaders in the administration for allegedly disregarding military and security advice, ignoring ground realities, and engaging in deliberations that left American troops and diplomats exposed. This, he stated, resulted in "the tragic and unnecessary deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers."
The investigation by the committee reportedly found that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were determined to withdraw from Afghanistan at any cost, contrasting this with former President Donald Trump's decision to leave a small counterterrorism force in place.
"The consequences of this self-inflicted wound and the damage to American deterrence are being seen around the world," Scalise noted, referencing resurgent terrorist threats in Afghanistan, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and increased Chinese aggression in Asia.
Scalise emphasized House Republicans' commitment to oversight of the administration. "This report shows the importance of congressional investigations in holding the executive branch accountable for its failures – especially when not one senior official has lost their job for it," he added.
For more details, readers can view the House Foreign Affairs Committee's report via a provided link.
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