[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 157 (Monday, September 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6443-S6444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Afghanistan

  Madam President, on a different matter, I will just close by saying 
that the Afghanistan situation should be put in the context of 13 brave 
Americans who lost their lives during that evacuation, but the fact of 
the matter is that 124,000 people, including 80,000 Afghans and 6,000 
Americans, were airlifted to safety. They and the brave servicemembers 
and diplomats involved in the evacuation deserve our thanks and 
respect.
  The missteps in Afghanistan began long ago. The U.S. first began 
peace talks with the Taliban more than a decade ago. Last year's Doha 
agreement was negotiated by the Trump administration. H.R. McMaster, 
Donald Trump's second National Security Advisor, recently called the 
deal ``a surrender agreement with the Taliban.'' That is what Joe Biden 
inherited when he became President. And when it came time to face that 
responsibility, that is exactly what he said: I accept the 
responsibility for my decision. What a contrast with the previous 
President who accepted responsibility for nothing. This President said: 
I will make the decision. I will stand by it. It was time for America 
to end our longest war. It is time now for us to try to find a way to 
bring this Nation back together.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Alabama.


                              September 11

  Mr. TUBERVILLE. Madam President, 20 years ago, September 11, 2001, 
Americans watched in horror as two planes struck the World Trade Center 
in New York City. We watched as another plane slammed into the 
Pentagon, and yet another bound for this very city crashed in 
Pennsylvania.
  That day was the worst attack on American soil in our history. 
America's death toll surpassed Pearl Harbor in December 1941. That day, 
children came home from school without their parents; calls from family 
members went unreturned; lives were changed forever.
  Yet instead of tearing us apart, instead of frightening Americans off 
the world stage, the cowardly attacks on September 11 brought our 
Nation together.
  But just remember, we were at war with al-Qaida prior to 9/11/2001. 
In the 1990s, between 10,000 and 20,000 people went to Afghanistan to 
train to be terrorists. Insurgencies sprang to life in Algeria, 
Indonesia, Philippines, Somalia, and Yemen.
  The World Trade Center was bombed the first time in 1993 by Ramzi 
Yousef, who spent time in a terrorist camp in Afghanistan. In 1998, al-
Qaida bombed two U.S. Embassies in Africa. In 2000, al-Qaida bombed a 
U.S. warship, the U.S.S. Cole, killing 17 Americans.
  The 9/11 Commission would later write: ``The 9/11 attacks were a 
shock, but they should not have come as a surprise.'' That came from 
the Commission. But they were a surprise to most Americans because our 
leaders simply ignored the threat, issued a weak diplomatic scold, and 
promised ``over the horizon'' missiles and surveillance could solve the 
problem.
  What solved the problem was American resolve and American might. That 
fighting spirit began on the bright blue morning of September 11, when 
a 32-year-old software salesman named Todd Beamer boarded United 
Airlines Flight 93.
  Todd knew his plane was likely bound for another mishap or 
catastrophe after hearing it on the telephone just after takeoff. He 
knew that this plane was either headed for the Capitol or the White 
House. He knew what happened to the other flights because of 
conversations. But instead of being fearful, Todd Beamer rallied his 
other passengers.
  The former college athlete stayed calm and prayed the Lord's Prayer. 
Then he and his fellow passengers unleashed hell on the hijackers of 
their plane. The moment Todd Beamer said ``Let's roll'' is the moment 
America began to fight back against radical Islamic terrorism. That is 
when the war started.
  The whole country took up Todd's battle cry of ``Let's roll.'' Over 
the next 20 years, 800,000 Americans rolled into Afghanistan--800,000. 
Of them, 2,461 were killed in action, including the 13 brave men and 
women we just lost a few weeks ago; 20,961 soldiers were wounded.
  Their sacrifices were great, but so were their accomplishments. With 
48 partnered nations, America smashed the Taliban and sent al-Qaida 
running for their caves in Pakistan. We killed Osama bin Laden and 
crushed terrorism networks around the world.
  Over the past 20 years, the death toll from terrorists inside the 
United States was 107 because of our brave military that took the fight 
to the enemy overseas. One hundred and seven souls are still far too 
many in this country. But the Nation has been spared another 
catastrophic attack, while our All-Volunteer Force stood the watch in 
Afghanistan.
  But here on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, what should be a resounding 
victory and success of American values and resolve is, instead, a 
defeat. And it is an especially bitter defeat to Americans all across 
this country. It is bitter because Americans surrendered 20 years of 
blood, sweat, and tears to the enemy.
  The Taliban now controls more of Afghanistan than they did in 2001, 
and

[[Page S6444]]

they are better armed with American guns, vehicles, and aircraft.
  It is bitter because it was entirely preventable. It is bitter 
because those who work in national security know in their hearts that 
the President is wrong when he says the ``war is over.''
  Mr. President, the war is not over. The war is over when your enemy 
accepts defeat. Our enemy, the Taliban, are not defeated; they are 
emboldened.
  President Biden has handed them the greatest victory of their 
pitiful, pitiful history, a victory greater than they could have ever 
dreamed.
  Using this victory as propaganda against the United States will be 
recruiting gold for the Taliban. Make no mistake, now that they have 
sent America running for the exits in Afghanistan, they intend to bring 
the terror we saw at Kabul's airport home to us right here in the 
United States of America.
  We cannot allow that to happen because now, after our Commander in 
Chief decided to leave behind--let me repeat that--leave behind 
American taxpayer-funded equipment, the Taliban is one of the top 10 
best equipped militaries in the world.
  Over 44,000 military vehicles were left behind, nearly a half a 
million guns left behind, 33 Black Hawk helicopters left behind. All 
are now in the hands of our enemy. And we are fooling ourselves if we 
think they are not going to use this equipment against us.
  Early last week, 10 of my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services 
Committee joined me in calling for hearings on the Biden 
administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
  As members of the committee that overseas our Nation's Armed Forces, 
we bear a particular responsibility to seek--I mean seek--true and 
correct answers. We asked to hear from the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd 
Austin; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley; the 
commander of U.S. Central Command, General McKenzie; and the last 
commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, General Miller.
  These are our top military leaders who need to be asked the hard 
questions, and that is what I and my colleagues intend to do, starting 
with why did we give up the most strategic air base in the middle of 
Asia, Bagram Airfield? Why did we do that? It makes no sense.
  We owe it to our Nation, those who served, their families, and our 
allies to preserve the records of how our time in Afghanistan ended. 
For every people we and members of the Armed Services Committee 
represent here in Congress, this is the biggest issue facing our 
military since Vietnam. Those who have given so much to this cause are 
demoralized and disheartened. I have talked to hundreds of them in the 
last couple of weeks.
  Al-Qaida didn't defeat our military. The Taliban didn't defeat our 
military. The complexities of rebuilding a country did not beat our 
military. This administration in Washington, DC, defeated our troops.
  Never in American history have we seen a Commander in Chief leave 
Americans behind enemy lines. It is unheard of, unheard of in the 
history of this country. I cannot think of a single fighting man or 
woman who would leave an American behind. It does not make sense. That 
is why they fight. That is why our military fight. We do not leave 
people behind. But they were ordered to leave by our Commander in 
Chief.
  To those soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardsmen who served in 
Afghanistan, I promise you this: We will get answers from this 
administration.
  If you are a member of the military or you have served our Nation and 
you have questions, I hope you will reach out to my office. I am ready 
to be your voice. I am ready to fight with you for your answers and 
accountability. I want to thank Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe 
for scheduling hearings so that we can do just that in the next few 
weeks.

  On September 11, America said: ``Never forget.'' Thousands upon 
thousands of Americans have taken that rally cry to the enemy. To them 
I say: America has not forgotten. We will never forget. We will answer 
the fight, and we will fight for these answers.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Duckworth). The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.