Kansas legislators blame White House for crisis in Afghanistan, work to get veterans help

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Legislators from Kansas are blaming President Joe Biden for causing the crisis in Afghanistan with his hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Congressman Jake LaTurner (Kan.-03) said the events unfolding in Afghanistan threaten national security at home and he said the President was the only one to blame. He said not only has President Joe Biden let down the U.S., but he has also let down American allies.

“What the world is witnessing unfold in Afghanistan is a complete and utter failure of the Biden Administration. Thousands of innocent lives, including many women and children, have been put at risk, and our national security is threatened here at home. In the past few days, following the withdrawal of American troops, Kabul has collapsed, and radical extremists are in control of Afghanistan. Many members of the intelligence community on both sides of the aisle have been quick to criticize the execution and the fallout of the withdrawal. The Taliban quickly overthrew the Afghan government and now controls more territory than they did prior to 9/11. The lack of leadership and planning from the highest levels of the Administration during this humanitarian crisis has let down our allies and significantly damaged our presence on the world stage,” said Rep. LaTurner. “God Bless the men and women that bravely served our country in Afghanistan and continue to fight for freedom across the Middle East.”

Congressman Tracey Mann (Kan.-01) called President Biden’s foreign affairs strategy dangerous.

“The world became less safe this week. President Biden’s foreign affairs strategy is negligent, near-sighted, and dangerous,” said Rep. Mann. “President Biden willfully neglected the situation in Afghanistan. As our country’s sole actor in authorizing covert action, President Biden receives regular and invaluable intelligence information that warns of brewing international trouble well before it materializes. With that kind of intelligence resources at his fingertips, President Biden still chose to mislead the American people and ignore the seriousness of Taliban threats, including the threat to overrun the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.”

Mann also said that Biden enacted a near-sighted policy in Afghanistan. He said for over two decades, Afghans enjoyed the freedoms secured with the help of U.S. troops. He said the acceleration of Taliban terrorism has diminished human rights before the world’s eyes and blamed the President for prioritizing the reputation of the Taliban above the developments in the country secured by U.S. soldiers.

Mann agreed that U.S. troops need to be brought home, but only when there is a good-faith understanding of the situation on the ground and a strategically planned execution that includes counter-terrorism and remaining special forces.

“We need a commander-in-chief who knowingly considers every option and leaves no page unturned; who makes strategic, long-term plays for the future of America; and who keeps us safe,” said Rep. Mann. “A failure on any of these fronts risks the long-term security and credibility of both Afghanistan and the United States of America.”

President Joe Biden said he stands behind the decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan. He said he was left with his hands tied after Former President Donald Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. Biden made clear that he thought America’s longest war would have come to the same conclusion regardless of when troops were pulled out.

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said that if the administration had followed the conditions of Mike Pompeo’s withdrawal in that agreement, the crisis could have been averted.

All that was left in Afghanistan was to carry out @mikepompeo’s conditions based withdrawal. Instead, the Administration created another crisis and a disgraceful/embarrassing withdrawal that has put American lives in danger. 1/3
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) August 17, 2021

.@POTUS’ speech insulted our Afghan allies & deflected responsibility for a disaster he created. It’s the kind of response that continues to show weakness to enemies —that weakness is not something that should ever be projected from the Commander in Chief of our great nation. 2/3
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) August 17, 2021

Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said the chaos in Afghanistan was preventable and should be a source of shame for the current administration.

“The chaos we are seeing in Kabul was preventable. The Biden administration’s unorganized and haphazard withdrawal process will make our country and the world less secure. President Biden’s announcement in April to completely withdraw American troops by September 11 without taking appropriate security precautions – including preparing for a return of the Taliban to Kabul – was irresponsible and will damage America’s reputation and interests for years to come. Additionally, the lack of urgency to do right by the thousands of Afghans who worked alongside Americans will be a source of shame for this administration,” said Sen. Moran. “I visited Afghanistan in 2017 to engage with American service members who were supporting anti-terrorism operations. Thank you to each of them and the thousands of men and women who answered the call to serve our country over the last two decades. They served with duty and purpose and deserve our thanks and respect.”

Despite their disagreement with the President, the Kansas legislators are working hard to bring Kansans back from Afghanistan and get veterans help they may need to cope with the events that have happened.

Sen. Marshall said he launched an email address on Tuesday, Aug. 17, for Kansans looking for evacuation assistance in Afghanistan. He said his office is in close contact with the U.S. Department of State and works to help Kansans with evacuation assistance. After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the takeover by the Taliban, Marshall said his top priority is evacuation.

“The situation in Afghanistan remains chaotic and unstable. Despite conditions on the ground, our top priority should be protecting and evacuating any American that remains in Afghanistan. My staff stands ready to help Kansans with family, friends, and loved ones who are still trying to exit the country. I understand the dangerous and unpredictable conditions occurring in Afghanistan right now and stand ready to provide assistance to Kansans and all Americans seeking to return to the U.S.”

Sen. Marshall said those that have a loved one or colleague who is a U.S. citizen still in Afghanistan to contact at EvacHelp@Marshall.Senate.Gov or (785)829-9000. Staff will be able to provide information and instructions on the process of safely evacuating Americans from Afghanistan.

Sen. Moran said he has shared resources available to veterans and their families to help cope with the events unfolding in the Middle East.

“The veterans who answered the call to protect our nation after September 11 deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,” said Sen. Moran. “These veterans brought justice to Osama bin Laden and served with duty and purpose. They also need to know they are not alone and that we will never forget their sacrifice. I encourage each of us to reach out to our friends and loved ones who have served to check-in and make certain they know they are loved and that their service made a difference.”

According to Sen. Moran, in reaction to current events in Afghanistan, veterans can feel frustrated, sad, helpless, distressed, angry, betrayed, experience an increase in mental health symptoms like PTSD or depression, sleep poorly, drink or use drugs more often, try to avoid reminders and have more military and homecoming memories.

Moran said veterans could question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth their sacrifice. He said they could feel more moral distress about their experiences during their service and feel like they need to expect and prepare for the worst. Feeling distressed to these events is normal, especially ones that feel this is personal. He said it can be helpful for veterans to let themselves feel their feelings instead of avoiding them. Often, he said the feelings will naturally run their course, however, if they continue without easing the resources he provided can be helpful.

In order to help manage veterans’ negative feelings during this time, Moran said he suggests considering ways their service made a difference, focus on the present and engage in meaningful and valuable activities, consider changing the way you approach a thought and consider more general coping strategies such as the following:

Engage in positive activities
Stay connected
Practice good self-care
Stick to your routines
Limit media exposure
Find a PTSD coach online

Moran said if veterans develop their own way of adapting to the transpiring events, they could gain a stronger sense of being able to handle challenges, a greater sense of meaning an purpose and the ability to mentor and support others in similar situations.

Sen. Moran said resources provided by the VA for veterans are as follows:

Veterans Crisis Line: If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or click HERE
- For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
Vet Centers: Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
VA Mental Health Services Guide: This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
MakeTheConnection.net: information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
RallyPoint: Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?
Download VA’s self-help apps: Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Request a Peer Mentor
VA Women Veterans Call Center: Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM - 10PM & SAT 8AM - 6:30PM ET)
VA Caregiver Support Line: Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM - 10PM & SAT 8AM - 5PM ET)
Together We Served: Find your battle buddies through unit pages.
George W. Bush Institute: Need help or want to talk? Check In or call: 1-630-522-4904 or email: checkin@veteranwellnessalliance.org
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes: Join the Community
American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network: Peer Support and Mentoring
Team Red, White & Blue: Hundreds of events weekly. Find a chapter in your area.
Student Veterans of America: Find a campus chapter to connect with.
Team Rubicon: Find a local support squad.

U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan

Taliban takeover of Afghanistan: What we know and what’s next

The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.

GOP hits Biden despite divides over Afghanistan withdrawal

When President Joe Biden announced he would stick to his predecessor’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Republican reaction was mixed and largely muted. Foreign policy had become so contentious that the party’s own leaders had no single position on the end of the nation’s longest war.

Biden says he stands ‘squarely behind’ Afghanistan decision

Striking a defiant tone, President Joe Biden said Monday that he stands “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan and that the Afghan government’s collapse was quicker than anticipated.

Pompeo weighs in on Afghanistan exit, touches on political future

In a return to Kansas, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took time to weigh in on the current situation in Afghanistan, discussing his prior efforts to establish a successful exit strategy when he served under the Trump administration and reacting to the images coming from the nation with the Taliban poised to take power.

Taliban sweep into Afghan capital after government collapses

The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital Sunday after the government collapsed and the embattled president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade U.S. campaign to remake the country.

Concerns over US terror threats rising as Taliban hold grows

America’s top general said Sunday that the United States could now face a rise in terrorist threats from a Taliban-run Afghanistan. That warning comes as intelligence agencies charged with anticipating those threats face new questions after the U.S.-backed Afghan military collapsed with shocking speed.

Rush of troops to Kabul tests Biden’s withdrawal deadline

The last-minute decision to send 3,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help partially evacuate the U.S. Embassy is calling into question whether President Joe Biden will meet his Aug. 31 deadline for fully withdrawing combat forces. The vanguard of a Marine contingent arrived in Kabul on Friday and most of the rest of the 3,000 are due by Sunday.

US to evacuate journalists, aid workers from Afghanistan

The Biden administration on Monday expanded its efforts to assist at-risk Afghan citizens flee Taliban violence as fighting intensifies ahead of the U.S. military pullout at the end of the month.

First evacuation flight brings 221 Afghans, many kids, to US

The first flight evacuating Afghans who worked alongside Americans in Afghanistan brought more than 200 people, including scores of children and babies in arms, to new lives in the United States on Friday, and President Joe Biden said he was proud to welcome them home.

House votes to evacuate more Afghan allies as US war ends

The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to allow in thousands more of the Afghans who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war, citing the urgency of protecting those on-the-ground allies from Taliban retaliation as the U.S. military withdrawal enters its final weeks.

U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan

Veterans, experts reflect on Afghanistan war’s end

As the U.S. continues bringing troops back home from Afghanistan, veterans and advocacy groups are reacting to the end of America’s longest war. Experts are reflecting on the past 20 years and what the next steps are moving forward.

US to begin evacuation of Afghans who aided US military

The Biden administration said Wednesday that it is prepared to begin evacuation flights for Afghan interpreters and translators who aided the U.S. military effort in the nearly 20-year war — but their destinations are still unknown and there are lingering questions about how to ensure their safety until they can get on planes.

Bush criticizes Afghanistan withdrawal, fears for women

Former President George W. Bush criticized the Western withdrawal from Afghanistan in an interview with a German broadcaster released Wednesday, saying he fears that Afghan women and girls will “suffer unspeakable harm.”

‘Overdue’: Biden sets Aug. 31 for US exit from Afghanistan

President Joe Biden said Thursday the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan will end on Aug. 31, delivering an impassioned argument for exiting the nearly 20-year war without sacrificing more American lives even as he bluntly acknowledged there will be no “mission accomplished” moment to celebrate.

US vacates key Afghan base; pullout target now ‘late August’

Nearly 20 years after invading Afghanistan to oust the Taliban and hunt down al-Qaida, the U.S. military has vacated its biggest airfield in the country, advancing a final withdrawal that the Pentagon on Friday said will be completed by the end of August.

Biden vows ‘sustained’ help as Afghanistan drawdown nears

President Joe Biden on Friday promised Afghanistan’s top leaders a “sustained” partnership even as he moves to accelerate winding down the United States’ longest war amid escalating Taliban violence.

Biden vows to evacuate thousands of Afghans who helped US

President Joe Biden vowed on Thursday that Afghans who helped the U.S. military “are not going to be left behind” as his administration stepped up planning to evacuate thousands of Afghan interpreters while their applications for U.S. entry are processed.

Austin: Al-Qaida could regroup in Afghanistan in 2 years

An extremist group like al-Qaida may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the U.S. homeland within two years of the American military’s withdrawal from the country, the Pentagon’s top leaders said Thursday.

Hostage advocates concerned by US pullout from Afghanistan

Advocates for Americans held hostage overseas are raising concerns that the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan will make it harder to bring home captives from the country.

Formal start of final phase of Afghan pullout by US, NATO

The final phase of ending America’s “forever war” in Afghanistan after 20 years formally began Saturday, with the withdrawal of the last U.S. and NATO troops by the end of summer.

U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan

Pentagon preparing for Taliban attacks during US withdrawal

The Pentagon is preparing for possible Taliban attacks on U.S. and coalition forces as they withdraw from Afghanistan, a prospect that complicates the outlook for winding down America’s longest war.

US orders big drawdown at Kabul embassy as troops leave

The State Department on Tuesday ordered a significant number of its remaining staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to leave Afghanistan as the military steps up the pullout of American troops from the country.

US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11

President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several U.S. officials said Tuesday.

In Kabul, Pentagon chief speaks of ‘responsible end’ to war

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, on his first visit to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, said Sunday that the Biden administration wants to see “a responsible end” to America’s longest war, but the level of violence must decrease for “fruitful” diplomacy to have a chance.

Biden calls Afghanistan withdrawal deadline of May 1 ‘tough’

President Joe Biden says that it will be “tough” for the U.S. to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan but that the complete drawdown won’t take much longer.

At pivotal moment in Afghanistan war, Biden weighs a dilemma

America’s longest war is approaching a crossroads.

Pentagon chief urges immediate reduction in Taliban violence

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in his first news conference as Pentagon chief, said Friday that progress toward peace in Afghanistan and an end to U.S. military involvement there depends on the Taliban reducing attacks. He said, right now, “clearly the violence is too high.”

Pompeo touts Iran policy in Gulf ahead of Biden presidency

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday defended his tour of Gulf Arab states and the Trump administration’s continued efforts to squeeze Iran, even as a new U.S. administration led by Joe Biden prepares to enter the White House in January.

NATO chief warns of high price if troops leave Afghanistan

NATO could pay a heavy price for leaving Afghanistan too early, its chief warned Tuesday after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump is expected to withdraw a significant number of American troops from the conflict-ravaged country in the coming weeks.

AP sources: Trump to order troop cuts in Afghanistan, Iraq

President Donald Trump is expected to cut a significant number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and a smaller number in Iraq by the final days of his presidency, U.S. officials said Monday. The plan would run counter to military commanders' advice over the past year, while still falling short of Trump’s much-touted goal to end America’s long wars.