January 1, House Democrat refers to Afghanistan withdrawal as a ‘catastrophe’

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that the hectic withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan under the Biden administration is a “catastrophe” and that the White House “owed our Afghan allies of 20 years a real plan.”

Though the situation has inspired bipartisan criticism, Langevin’s comments marked one of the harshest reprimands Though the situation has inspired bipartisan criticism, Langevin’s comments marked one of the harshest reprimands from Biden’s own party. According to an op-ed Langevin wrote on Tuesday, he and fellow members of Congress sent a letter to Biden recommending ways to improve stability in Afghanistan, but it went unanswered.

“Public executions and forced marriages are reportedly back. People are fleeing. The Taliban are in Kabul, and the government has fallen. This is a catastrophe,” Langevin wrote in.

“At minimum, the Biden administration owed our Afghan allies of 20 years a real plan. They also owed it to our military service members and their families, particularly the men and women in uniform and their families who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Not to mention the women and girls of Afghanistan who are now experiencing a devastating new reality,” the lawmaker wrote.

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• House Democrat on Afghanistan pullout: ‘This is a catastrophe’