Congresswoman Liz Cheney and U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis have differing opinions on President Joe Biden’s announcement that American troops will be removed from Afghanistan.
The president made the announcement on Wednesday that all troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, ending America’s longest war.
Cheney said the announcement was a “huge propaganda victory” for the Taliban and al Qaeda.
“Any withdrawal of forces based on a political timeline … any withdrawal of forces that is not based on conditions on the ground puts American security at risk,” Cheney said.
“I’m not sure why the White House has selected [Sept. 11], but I can tell you that this is a huge victory, a huge propaganda victory for the Taliban, for al Qaeda,” she said. “The notion that on the day that they attacked us, we are going to mark that anniversary by withdrawing our forces.”
Lummis, however, saw things differently. She welcomed Biden’s announcement with the caveat the troops should be coming home sooner.
“After 20 long years our troops will finally be leaving Afghanistan,” she tweeted. “I wish the Biden Administration had kept to President Trump’s May 1 deadline, but I am pleased our troops are coming home.”
“I look forward to working with the current Administration to continue our intelligence gathering efforts and preventing terrorists from using Afghanistan as a home base,” she said.
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso had not released a statement on the announcement by Wednesday afternoon.
