WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a House Republican leadership press conference today, Wyoming Congresswoman and House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) spoke about President Biden’s expected announcement that he will withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021.
Cheney began by emphasizing how a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is a direct threat to American security.
“First of all, any withdrawal of forces based on a political timeline, and he has said, as I understand it, that this will not be based on conditions on the ground. Any withdrawal of forces that is not based on conditions on the ground puts American security at risk,” said Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
Additionally, she expressed her disapproval of the decision that the withdrawal of troops would take place on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“I’m not sure why the White House has selected that date, but I can tell you that that is a huge propaganda victory for the Taliban, for al Qaeda. The notion that on the day they attacked us, we are going to mark that anniversary by withdrawing our forces,” said Cheney.
“We know that al Qaeda continues to operate across Afghanistan, we know that the Taliban has not, in fact, lived up to any of the commitments that they made during the previous administration, and we know that this kind of a pullback is reckless, it’s dangerous, it puts American security at risk, it will provide an opportunity for terrorists to be able to establish safe havens again.”
Cheney continued that a removal of troops from the Middle East would also be dismissive of Afghani women’s safety and security. She argued that the U.S. is obligated to protect them from the potential violence of al Qaeda and the Taliban.
“It puts the women of Afghanistan into the position they were in potentially 20 years ago where their lives are not valued, where they have no freedom. The United States of America went to Afghanistan because our security depended upon it, because we were attacked by al Qaeda, because the Taliban hosted al Qaeda – that relationship continues. A withdrawal of forces that isn’t based on conditions on the ground is fundamentally dangerous,” Cheney said.
The Congresswoman closed by citing Biden’s legal responsibilities in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act.
“Finally, I would say the president is obligated by law that we passed in the NDAA last year “to certify that conditions have been met for the enduring defeat of al Qaeda and ISIS” before he initiates any significant withdrawal. That is an obligation we expect that the White House will uphold and will meet. Again, it’s an obligation that they have by law, we passed in the NDAA last year,” said Cheney.
