Hoosier Lawmakers React To The Fall Of Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — After 20 years of fighting and the United States’ withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban has moved quickly and retaken control of the country.

The militant group swooped into the capital city of Kabul over the weekend, prompting the U.S. to evacuate its embassy. Around 6,000 troops were sent by President Biden to the Kabul International Airport in order to assist in the evacuation. As of early this morning, all U.S. personnel have been evacuated.

Indiana lawmakers in Washington are speaking on the crisis as it continues to unfold.

“For 20 years, brave Hoosiers and other Americans have made significant sacrifices in an effort to transform the country of Afghanistan. We owe those who have served and sacrificed a deep debt of gratitude,” said Sen. Todd Young on Twitter. “It is tragic how quickly those hard-fought gains have been lost to the Taliban.”

Young is calling for clarity from the White House in ensuring that Afghanistan does not once again become a safe haven for terrorists.

Rep. Jim Banks was arguably the most vocal about the fall of Kabul over the weekend, pulling no punches in blaming the Biden Administration.

“It’s clear the Biden administration was caught unprepared, didn’t anticipate this catastrophe and the President is hiding & asleep at the wheel,” Banks said on Twitter. “The moment the Taliban flag is hoisted above the US Embassy in Kabul will be the most embarrassing moment of American weakness we have seen in our lifetimes.”

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that “the president is to be commended for the clarity of purpose of his statement on Afghanistan.”

“Speaker Pelosi has lost her moral compass,” said Indiana Rep. Larry Buschon (R) “Commending the President for his actions in Afghanistan literally as the Taliban overrun the country including Kabul. Thousands of American and Afghan citizens lives are at stake and she is trying to create a political narrative? Shameful!!”

President Biden is sent to address the nation on the crisis in “a few days”, according to the White House.