Omaha, Neb. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), a nearly 30-year veteran and retired brigadier general who was deployed four times to the Middle East, issued the following statement on Pres. Biden’s address concerning Afghanistan:

“We have to address what the president didn’t say. 

 “Number one, President Biden didn’t take responsibility for the disaster that is happening before our eyes. He’s been passing the buck, the opposite of President Truman; 

 “Two, the President didn’t acknowledge that we only had 2500 troops there in non-combat roles, and we’ve not had a combat fatality in almost a year and a half in Afghanistan; 

 “Three, the President didn’t recognize that the air power we provided to the Afghanistan Military was greatly diminished when we retreated, the main reason for the collapse of Afghan military; 

 “Four, the President pulled the contractors that were doing maintenance on the Afghan aircraft, so they are not able to fly them; and

 “Five, President Biden conveniently forgets how he intends to conduct US counter terrorism operations with the closure of our embassy and complete withdraw of all US personnel. Now even more critical with the release of 5000 hardened terrorists, Al Qaida operatives among them from the Parwan detention facility.

 “In all, our credibility has been greatly stained in the world due to the ineptness of the White House. The Chinese and Iranians will be emboldened by the Administration’s perceived weakness. This is a failure. 

 “We must focus on getting all refugees with US Visa’s to safety, including those who have applications in. Next, we need to focus on legislation in the upcoming NDAA* to address security for our country and support for those who assisted us in Afghanistan. Finally, we have to show support for our Gold Star families who wonder if the lives of their loved ones were lost in vain and working with veterans who are asking the same question.”

 *NDAA = National Defense Authorization Act

###