Rep. McCaul: Biden's Afghanistan retreat will usher in 'year of the Jihad'

This month, the U.S. military officially vacated Bagram Airbase – our most strategic counterterrorism asset in the region and one of our main buffers against the threats of the People’s Republic of China, Russia, and Iran. 

At the same time, the security situation in the country is rapidly deteriorating, with some in the intelligence community reportedly estimating the Taliban could take over in as little as six months after our departure.  When I met with the Afghan delegation last month, one official told me they anticipate this will be "the year of the Jihad."The facts on the ground seem to back that up. The Taliban has taken control of 150 districts since the president’s announcement in May. And they are gaining ground every day. Not only have they taken significant control in many of the more rural areas, they have gained control of key assets, like roads, bridges, border crossings and trade routes in and out of the country. And they appear to be primed to unleash full assaults on more provincial capitals imminently. None of this should come as a surprise to anyone inside the Biden Administration, including the president.Yet they continue to paint a rosy picture of the situation, while the president shrugs off tough questions on his lack of preparation and the devolving security situation in the country.President Biden recently reiterated his promise that humanitarian assistance will continue in Afghanistan. But we cannot provide aid without an embassy. And we cannot have an embassy operate without a secure Kabul airport.