US Congressmen Visit Kabul Airport Amid Evacuation Effort
Voice of America
WASHINGTON - Two U.S. congressman made a previously unannounced trip to the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Tuesday for what they said was a visit to assess the ongoing evacuation effort and to pressure U.S. President Joe Biden to extend his August 31 for withdrawing the remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
“We conducted this visit in secret, speaking about it only after our departure, to minimize the risk and disruption to the people on the ground, and because we were there to gather information, not to grandstand,” said a joint statement from Congressman Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Congressman Peter Meijer, a Michigan Republican. The lawmakers, who served on the House Armed Services Committee, released their statement after flying out of Kabul on a charter plane. They said that in their view, after seeing the situation firsthand and speaking to commanders on the ground, “we won’t get everyone out on time.” Biden said Tuesday he expects the evacuation mission to be completed by the end of the month.More Related News