President Joe Biden’s administration announced a plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 of this year—something Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) immediately ripped as “a grave mistake” and “an abdication of American leadership.”
Senior officials within the Biden administration told the media on Tuesday about a plan to keep troops in Afghanistan “past the May 1 deadline that was part of a peace agreement between the Trump administration and the Taliban,” as the Washington Examiner reported.
“The new deadline, Sept. 11, is the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks,” that outlet also noted.
Some 2,500 U.S. troops and 1,000 special forces remain in that country as of now.
But on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, McConnell said, “Leaders in both parties, including me, offered criticism when the prior administration floated the concept of a reckless withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan … Those same voices should be equally concerned about the Biden administration announcement today.”
McConnell added that any withdrawal of U.S. troops would “also specifically abandon the women of Afghanistan whose freedoms and human rights will be in peril.”
Separately, Biden has received a formal invite from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to address a Joint Session of Congress in Washington, D.C., on April 28.
Related: The Latest on Biden’s Border Crisis
That speech to Congress will occur just prior to Biden’s 100th day in office.
See these related tweets for more information and reaction on the U.S. troops issue.
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—By CNJ Staff
