Credit: Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps
Elected officials who represent the Levittown area in Washington D.C. reacted to the Thursday terrorist attacks that killed 60 Afghans and 12 American troops, wounding 143 other people.
Following the attack outside Kabul’s airport, which is acting as an exit point for foreign nationals and citizens seeking to escape the rule of the Taliban, ISIS claimed responsibility for the violence.
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Middletown Township, issued the below statement:
Today, our worst fears came true. Our own blood and treasure—devoted U.S. service members—and a number of innocent Afghans were killed in a series of explosions outside of the Hamid Karzai Airport and the Baron Hotel in Kabul. And even more are critically injured. It simply did not have to be this way. My heart breaks for our troops, their loved ones, and our Afghan allies.
I remain clear on my insistence that we safely return home every American citizen and Afghan partner fleeing the country as quickly as possible. It is increasingly evident that the Administration’s arbitrary August 31st withdrawal deadline does not allow for a complete evacuation. The Taliban must understand that they do not dictate the timeline on saving the lives of Americans, our allies, and our loyal Afghan partners, who have stood by our side for two decades. We must leave no one behind.
As a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I implore the Administration to change its course and commit to remaining on the ground until the mission is complete. Anything short of that is unacceptable.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, issued the following statement:
This is a devastating attack on Afghans and Americans trying to flee for their lives and the U.S. forces working day and night to evacuate as many people as possible. As more information comes in about this terrorist attack, the safety of our troops and the Americans still in Afghanistan must remain our top priority. American troops are carrying out their mission despite numerous threats and challenges and we owe it to them to do everything we can to bring them home safely. We cannot tolerate terrorist threats to the United States emanating from Afghanistan.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, issued the following statement:
The heinous terror attack on the airport in Kabul is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. My prayers are with our troops, our fellow citizens, and innocent Afghans on the ground. This must be a wakeup call for the administration to lift its arbitrary deadline and take every step necessary to ensure we leave no American or deserving Afghan behind.
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President Joe Biden pledged to hunt down the terrorists responsible for the bombing and shooting.
“To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,” he said.
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