{"id":87000,"date":"2021-04-15T14:52:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T14:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/04\/15\/bidens-afghanistan-pullout-gets-mixed-reaction-in-congress\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:17:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:17:22","slug":"bidens-afghanistan-pullout-gets-mixed-reaction-in-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/04\/15\/bidens-afghanistan-pullout-gets-mixed-reaction-in-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden\u2019s Afghanistan pullout gets mixed reaction in Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 President Joe Biden\u2019s announcement<\/a> that the 2,500 U.S. forces in Afghanistan will come home by Sept. 11<\/a> drew a mixed reaction from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, with mostly Republican critics warning the country would again become a launchpad for terror attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe United States entered Afghanistan as a result of 9\/11, and it is irresponsible to leave when conditions on the ground would lead to a civil war in Afghanistan and allow the country to become a safe haven for terrorists once again,\u201d Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., ranking member of House Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Scott Miller, the head of the American-led coalition in Afghanistan, is expected to testify before the two panels later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under an agreement signed between the Trump administration and the Taliban last year, the U.S. was to have completed its military withdrawal by May 1. Although Biden is blowing through that deadline, angering Taliban leadership, his plan calls for the pullout to begin May 1. NATO\u2019s withdrawal will commence the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the terror threat in many places, keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country at a cost of billions each year makes no sense to me, and our leaders,\u201d Biden said in a national address to announce the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biden said that over the next few months, officials will determine \u201cwhat a continued U.S. diplomatic presence in Afghanistan will look like, including how [we] will ensure the security of our diplomats.\u201d That seemed to be an evolution from Biden\u2019s support in September for leaving a small counterterror force of no more than 2,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several prominent Democrats praised the president\u2019s move, saying that after nearly 20 years, America\u2019s longest war needs to end. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., argued the U.S. can monitor the threat of transnational terrorism, and that the cost of a continued troop presence outweighed the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI also agree with President Biden that we cannot wait for the perfect security conditions before withdrawing \u2014 to do so would mean our men and women in uniform would never return home,\u201d Smith said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith acknowledged that Biden\u2019s decision to push the withdrawal until after May avoids logistical challenges and ensures troops are safely brought home. Still, he said, it\u2019s likely the Taliban \u201cmay increase aggression toward U.S. and coalition troops after May 1, potentially making the mission more difficult, costly, and deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Smith offered measured support when the Trump administration announced<\/a> in November that the U.S. would draw down its troop levels from 3,000 in Iraq and 4,500 in Afghanistan to 2,500 in each country<\/a> by Jan. 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Democrats drew a contrast between Biden\u2019s move Wednesday and that of President Donald Trump, hailing Biden\u2019s consultations with allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnlike the former President, who abruptly decided to withdraw from Syria and Afghanistan without consulting our allies and partners, President Biden has spoken at length with our NATO allies and other partners and met with military, intelligence, and diplomatic advisors,\u201d Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\t