Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued a statement today marking the third anniversary of the Biden-Harris administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he described as disastrous. The withdrawal resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and left numerous Americans stranded under Taliban rule. Additionally, it allowed the Taliban to gain control of over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment, including Humvees, attack aircraft, drones, and small arms.

“It is a sad day for many American veterans and their families," said Kennedy. "Today marks three years since the Biden-Harris administration's botched withdrawal—botched withdrawal—from Afghanistan. What an embarrassment."

Kennedy emphasized the human cost of the withdrawal: “Thirteen of our bravest men and women died that day—Americans. Several more troops sustained injuries, and thousands of American veterans who fought so valiantly in Afghanistan had to witness the Biden-Harris administration make a mockery of their hard work by leaving the country in chaos.”

He criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for not apologizing: “Neither President Biden nor Vice President Harris has ever apologized. Not once." He added that "this devastating withdrawal didn't have to happen" and blamed it on "stunning incompetence" from the administration.

Kennedy accused Biden and Harris of ignoring warnings from top generals: “President Biden and Vice President Harris ignored every single warning from their top generals, and they announced to the world that we'd be out of Afghanistan by Sept. 11th."

Reflecting on what he termed as a major victory for terrorists, Kennedy stated: "Joe Biden and Kamala Harris delivered these terrorists their biggest win in years—in years." He concluded with an apology to veterans affected by the chaotic withdrawal: “I am so sorry for the pain this chaotic withdrawal caused to our brave veterans and to the American people."

View Kennedy’s full statement here.