OSHKOSH — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on conditions in Afghanistan:
“I understand the desire to end ‘endless wars.’ A strong case can be made that we never should have escalated our response for 9/11 beyond special operations in Afghanistan. But we did. The Taliban governed and engaged in acts of terror with a level of brutality that is difficult to comprehend. The consequences of the U.S. bugging out of Afghanistan were obvious and are now coming to fruition with stunning speed. Public executions, the subjugation of women and the flourishing of terrorist organizations will be depressing to witness.
“Jason Church, an extraordinary young man who worked in my Senate office after he lost both legs serving in Afghanistan, recently posted this on Facebook:
‘The worst part of seeing the fall of Afghanistan & its evacuation is knowing many Americans gave their life there. Others, myself included, spilled blood in its sands.
‘It’s a bitter feeling to know the ground I lost my legs on is in Taliban hands. What did I lose them for?’
He also sent me this text:
‘The situation in Afghanistan is awful. Biden needs to be called out for not saying anything. It’s cowardice. It’s seriously so morally crushing for vets to see this— and not have POTUS say anything. This is beyond politics. He’s the commander-in-chief of America’s military. It’s disheartening that he’s a successor to George Washington. I remember you told me once that I didn’t grow up in Vietnam, and didn’t understand how poorly we treated vets. Please make sure that isn’t repeated through indifference.’
“I do not know what, if anything, of America’s 20 years’ worth of efforts trying to help rebuild Afghanistan can be salvaged. But having been briefed by members of the Biden administration, it is obvious they have no intention of reversing course. I urge them to reconsider.
“I wish I could offer some comfort to the men and women like Jason who served and sacrificed for a cause that President Biden is completely abandoning. I do offer them my sincere gratitude and respect. I also hope and pray that Biden’s abandonment of Afghanistan does not end as badly as did President Obama’s disastrous decision to bug out of Iraq.”
