[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yesterday President Biden announced that 
American forces will come home from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. 
It has been 20 years since that fateful day when the Towers fell and 
the Pentagon was hit. We in New York live particularly hard with that. 
I still think of the people I knew who perished: a guy I played 
basketball with in high school; a businessman who helped me on the way 
up; a brave firefighter who used to go around the city urging people to 
donate blood together. But in that time since then, America's Armed 
Forces, thank God, have become extremely successful in deterring and 
rooting out terrorist networks around the globe.
  President Obama authorized the mission that took out Osama bin Laden, 
the architect of the 9/11 attacks. Our intelligence agencies have 
assessed that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups do not pose an 
immediate threat to strike the United States from Afghanistan because 
of the brave work of our Armed Forces and intelligence organizations. 
So after sinking two decades of blood and treasure into wars in the 
Middle East, it is time to bring our troops home. America does not need 
to fight forever wars.
  I applaud President Biden's decision. Unlike President Trump, 
President Biden and Secretary Austin have developed a careful and 
thought-out plan. This isn't President Trump waking up one morning and 
announcing a random new policy on Twitter while our generals scramble 
to catch up. This will be a careful and thought-out plan with a real 
timetable and a firm end date.
  Whenever we talk about American troops in the Middle East, one of the 
concerns is missions creep and the enormous pressure to kick the can 
down the road and delay final decisions. We should and must stick to 
the date the President has proposed as the last day our troops will be 
there. I have been assured by the White House that the September 11 
date will stick and that President Biden will not kick the can down the 
road.
  I know many Senators have questions, so I am happy to let my 
colleagues know that the administration has agreed to brief all 
Senators on this important decision. The briefing will take place soon. 
It will be in the SCIF, and everyone's questions can be asked and 
answered. The President himself will address the Nation later today and 
explain the reasons for his decision.
  In my view, President Biden's plan to bring American troops home from 
Afghanistan is a very wise one.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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