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Currently showing results related to Afghanistan
Botched Afghanistan Retreat Leaves America Less Credible, Less Capable, and in More Danger
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "Over the state work period, as Senators attended to business back home, the Biden Administration's reckless decision to retreat from Afghanistan was carried through to a damaging and deadly end. "The consequences of its hasty retreat were not just foreseeable. They were actually foreseen. And yet, against the advice of members from both parti… Continue Reading
08.09.21
Biden Team’s Afghanistan Denial Costing Afghan Lives and American Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "When the Biden Administration announced its reckless retreat from Afghanistan in April, I made my opposition very clear. "But I was hardly alone. One of the most prominent liberal editorial boards in the country responded to the President's move with this headline, quote: 'Biden takes the easy way out of Afghanistan. The likely result is disa… Continue Reading
08.04.21
Biden Administration’s Afghanistan Disaster “Was Not Only Foreseeable, It Was Foreseen”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "In April, when President Biden announced his intention to pull U.S. forces out of Afghanistan, he said it was, quote, 'time to end the forever wars'. "But at every stage of the rushed and rudderless retreat that has followed, the Biden Administration's wishful thinking hasn't come within a country mile of the reality. "By any account, the si… Continue Reading
07.28.21
McConnell Applauds Bipartisan Compromise on Security Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding appropriations: "Yesterday, our colleagues Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Shelby announced a bipartisan agreement on emergency funding for several pressing security matters. "The Appropriations Committee set out to address three key priorities. "First: Reimbursing the costs incurred by the Capitol Police, the National Guard, and other law enforcement f… Continue Reading
07.22.21
U.S. Must Keep Helping our Partners Fight Terrorists in Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Iraq: "Next week, President Biden is set to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. "This meeting comes at an important moment for our shared efforts toward peace and security in Iraq and the region. ISIS has been significantly weakened in Iraq and Syria after years of shared efforts, but the terrorist organization remains a grave threat. "And … Continue Reading
07.13.21
McConnell on President Biden’s Chaotic Retreat from Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "Three months ago, President Biden announced his intention to completely withdraw U.S. forces from the ongoing fight against terrorists and terrorist enablers in Afghanistan. "I said then this was a shortsighted decision. And sure enough, our reckless rush for the exits is becoming a global embarrassment. "Just take the reports that our force… Continue Reading
06.21.21
McConnell on Biden’s Afghanistan Retreat: A Series of Avoidable Crises
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "Later this week, President Biden will meet with the leaders of Afghanistan's civilian, democratic government. It doesn't take an administration leak to know what will be on the agenda. "President Ashraf Ghani and Chairman Abdullah Abdullah will arrive in Washington as a grave situation in their country rapidly deteriorates. The strategic and … Continue Reading
06.17.21
McConnell: Repealing 2002 AUMF Won’t Solve Terrorist Threat
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national security: "The House of Representatives will vote today on a bill from Representative Barbara Lee to repeal one of the key authorities behind nearly two decades of U.S. efforts to fight terrorism: the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force. "House Democrats claim this vote is an urgent act of Congressional oversight, and the Democratic L… Continue Reading
06.09.21
Biden Afghanistan Withdrawal Leaves Unanswered Questions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "I've been outspoken on the importance of sustaining America's support for local partners who are leading counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan and elsewhere. "Even when doing so has put me at odds with presidents of both parties. "When the previous Administration considered precipitous withdrawals from Afghanistan and Syria, I sponsored a … Continue Reading
05.25.21
Biden Administration Can’t Answer Crucial Questions About Rushed Afghanistan Retreat
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "The President's decision to retreat from Afghanistan is not clear-eyed or strategic. It's dangerous wishful thinking. "As discussions with the Administration are making clear, this decision is not underpinned by a coherent plan to mitigate the geopolitical and humanitarian risks that our departure will create. "When we're gone, there is ev… Continue Reading
04.27.21
Biden Administration Wrong to Seek Defense Spending Cuts While Adversaries Keep Investing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding foreign policy: "Yesterday I discussed how the Biden Administration's wishful thinking has set them up for foreign policy failure in Central Asia and the Middle East. "The likely catastrophe in Afghanistan may well consume this Administration, and distract from the challenges posed by competition with Russia and China. "And the President's meager defense… Continue Reading
04.26.21
Biden Administration Foreign Policy: Concessions and Wishful Thinking
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding foreign policy: "The past few months have given the world a glimpse at what's driving U.S. foreign policy decisions under the Biden administration. First came a rush to rejoin a climate agreement that does not effectively hold our competitors to their own commitments. "Then, just weeks ago, the announcement of a total abandonment of Afghanistan that will … Continue Reading
04.20.21
Misguided Afghanistan Plan Creates More Questions than Answers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "This afternoon, President Biden is sending his top national security officials to brief members on his misguided plan to abandon the battlefield in Afghanistan. "As I said when this decision was announced, the enemies that threaten America, our allies, and the people of Afghanistan, alike, are not vanquished. "Taliban retribution and repress… Continue Reading
04.14.21
Missteps on Afghanistan, Iran, and Defense Funding a Troubling Pattern for this Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding foreign policy: "Quote: 'Biden takes the easy way out of Afghanistan. The likely result is disaster.' "That is this morning's lead editorial from one of the most liberal newspapers in the country. "This Administration has decided to abandon U.S. efforts in Afghanistan which have helped keep radical Islamic terrorism in check. And bizarrely, they have deci… Continue Reading
04.13.21
Clumsy Retreat from Afghanistan Would Be “a Grave Mistake”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "Just moments ago, new reporting suggests the Biden Administration plans to turn tail and abandon the fight in Afghanistan. "Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership. "Leaders in both parties, includi… Continue Reading
01.27.21
McConnell: Nation Deserves Strong, Bipartisan Foreign Policy to Counter Serious Threats
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding nominations and foreign policy: "Yesterday, we confirmed Antony Blinken, our new Secretary of State. Like the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Treasury, it was another big, bipartisan vote here in the Senate. "Four years ago, Senate Democrats subjected mainstream nominees to lead State and Treasury to a … Continue Reading
11.16.20
Premature Afghanistan Exit Would Jeopardize Trump Administration’s Record of Success
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the ongoing presence of U.S. forces in the Middle East to combat terrorism: "The last several days have brought renewed speculation about the prospect of rapidly withdrawing all U.S. military forces from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. "Here in Congress, a small minority in both parties seem to think it is in America's power to unilaterally resolve conflicts b… Continue Reading
09.10.20
McConnell Honors Heroes In Advance of the Nineteenth Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the upcoming nineteenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: "Nineteen years ago tomorrow, thousands of our fellow Americans were murdered by terrorists. National landmarks were burning. Brave first responders in New York City, Arlington, and Pennsylvania rushed into mortal danger, putting their lives on the line to save strangers. "And as the dust… Continue Reading
06.03.20
“The Foreign Actors Who Seek to Harm the United States Have Not Let Up While We Attend to Other Problems”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Afghanistan: "Make no mistake: The foreign actors who seek to harm the United States have not let up while we attend to other problems. "For example, in Afghanistan, despite agreeing just months ago to engage in further peace negotiations with the Afghan government and sever its ties with al-Qaeda, the Taliban has instead continued its violent campaign again… Continue Reading
05.13.20
McConnell: Our Enemies and Competitors Are Not Standing Down During this Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the need to renew key authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): "The Senate has work of our own to do this week to ensure the safety and security of our nation. "In addition to fighting this historic pandemic, it is also our job to keep sight of the other threats to national security that are still evolving, independent of COVID-19.… Continue Reading
