[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 136 (Tuesday, August 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E854-E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   BIDEN ``LETTERS'' ON AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL: NEARLY ONE YEAR LATER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 16, 2022

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, during his August 26th 
remarks regarding the 2021 terrorist attack at the Kabul, Afghanistan 
airport, where 13 American servicemembers were murdered, Biden was 
asked about the Afghanistan withdrawal and the addition of forces to 
protect Americans during the evacuation.
  Biden responded that military leaders have contacted him, ``. . . 
usually by letter, saying they subscribe to the mission as designed . . 
.''.
  That evening, I sent the first of now five written requests to the 
White House asking for copies of these letters by a deadline of 
September 11. Nearly one year later, I am still waiting for a reply.
  During an August 2021 House Armed Services Committee hearing, 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley and General Frank 
McKenzie, then the commander of the U.S. Central Command, both 
testified that they had recommended to Biden that he should leave a 
residual troop presence.
  Additionally, in a closed Senate hearing, Operation Resolute Support 
Commander General Scott Miller testified that he opposed the Biden 
administration's decision to withdraw all U.S. forces, citing the 
threat posed by the Taliban.

[[Page E855]]

  The decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan and abandon 
Americans regardless of the conditions on the ground, has been 
correctly identified by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as ``one 
of the worst foreign policy decisions in American history.'' While 
President Donald Trump went a step further saying, ``This is the 
greatest embarrassment . . . in the history of our country.''
  President Trump has made clear his withdrawal would have been orderly 
and Bagram Air Base would have been maintained to defeat a terrorist 
safe haven.
  Sadly, no response from the White House reveals admission of no 
`letters.'
  It is also important to ask where the American media is on this 
critical issue of the claimed Afghanistan letters?
  Ultimately, this ill-advised decision not only resulted in the death 
of U.S. servicemembers, but put the reputation and credibility of the 
U.S. in question, all while leaving the remaining American citizens in 
Afghanistan vulnerable.
  The world is less safe with the Taliban regime emboldened.
  In conclusion, God Bless our troops, who successfully protected 
America for 20 years, as the Global War on Terrorism continues moving 
from a safe haven in Afghanistan to America.

                          ____________________