Posted on 08/17/2021 5:31:26 AM PDT by RandFan
Former President George W Bush is speaking out on the government's collapse in Afghanistan, expressing his sadness over the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country.
Bush and former first lady Laura Bush said in a joint statement issued late Monday that their hearts are heavy for Afghan civilians, Americans and NATO allies.
"Laura and I have been watching the tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan with deep sadness," the former president said. "Our hearts are heavy for both the Afghan people who have suffered so much and for the Americans and NATO allies who have sacrificed so much."
He said that the Afghans "now at the greatest risk are the same ones who have been on the forefront of progress inside their nation,” noting that President Biden has promised to evacuate Afghan civilians, American citizens, and allies.
“The United States government has the legal authority to cut the red tape for refugees during urgent humanitarian crises. And we have the responsibility and the resources to secure safe passage for them now, without bureaucratic delay. Our most stalwart allies, along with private NGOs, are ready to help,” the former president added.
Biden, also late on Monday, allocated $500 million in additional funds for relocating Afghan refugees, including applicants for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).
The war in Afghanistan began under the George W. Bush administration following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The Taliban swiftly took over Kabul on Sunday, leaving Americans and Afghan civilians desperately trying to escape the country.
In the new statement, the former president expressed his confidence in the U.S. military to carry out evaluation efforts and said that he would like to speak directly with them and veterans who served in Afghanistan.
“Many of you deal with wounds of war, both visible and invisible. And some of your brothers and sisters in arms made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror. Each day, we have been humbled by your commitment and your courage,” he said.
Bush also praised the U.S. military’s work over the last two decades to deny al Qaeda a safe haven, build schools and provide supplies and medical care in Afghanistan.
“In times like these, it can be hard to remain optimistic. Laura and I will steadfastly remain so. Like our country, Afghanistan is also made up of resilient, vibrant people,” he said, noting that nearly 65 percent of the Afghan population is under 25 years old.
The former president stressed that he and the former first lady are ready to support and assist in the situation.
In July, Bush warned of the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, saying he’d seen the progress made by Afghan women and girls.
“Laura and I spend a lot of time with Afghan women and they’re scared and I think about all the interpreters and all the people that helped not just U.S. troops but NATO troops and it seems like they’re just going to be left behind to be slaughtered by these very brutal people. It breaks my heart,” Bush said in an interview with DW, a German news network.
This is a good example showing that former presidents should just STFU.
Does he ever express concern about the Christians in Afghanistan?
Put all those refugees on that guys ranch.
We’ll never forget Cheney. The pair of them were terrible.
Compare to a real leader like President Trump. It’s no contest.
Says the man that engineered the 911 false flag event, and then maintained a goofy face when "informed" in a 2nd grade classroom about it, while the teacher led the class in saying "KITE HIT PLANE STEEL MUST".
Bush’s sadness and two bucks will get you a cup of coffee....
Trump is the exception.
Poor Dubya. Him sad.
I wonder if he has a glimmer of conscience as he thinks on all the Americans he killed and maimed for his vanity and secret drive to please Daddy.
He could’ve killed bin Laden and avenged September 11th. He did neither.
The result of his nation building is a resurrected terrorist state that offers further danger to the West.
Dude’s a fool.
Fie on ya, Dubya. Fie!
I think Bush was just incompetent.
It’s all about oil. The entire Middle East wouldn’t amount to a pinch of owl shit in global politics if there weren’t vast amounts of oil and gas over there. Western civilization wouldn’t have to give the muzzies the time of day if we were totally energy independent.
Trump had it turned around here with domestic production, but the communist cabal that runs Biden has seen fit to put a stop to that, so that we HAVE to have foreign oil.
Trump is the only President since Reagan to care about working Americans.
HOW’S THAT NATION BUILDING WORKING OUT FOR YOU, GEORGIE?
First gulf war a must, mistake was not giving Kurds air cover afterwords.
Afghanistan after 9/11 a must, nation building later a mistake. Should occasionally bomb the Taliban back to stone age if they get out of line along with Pakistan.
Gulf war 2, big mistake.
Remember, the large build up in Afghanistan was Obama’s good war.
Then their was Libya, total disaster leading to everything since
You helped Biden you RINO ass.
I’ll give a pass on GWB for going into Afghanistan but not Iraq. Sadaam was held in check by Iran and by us at that time. Bush and Cheney wanted to avenge Daddy Bush’s honor made in previous threats by Sadaam. Iraq was a total waste and sadly now so is Afghanistan. George Washington was a wise man by warning against foreign entanglements and against political parties too.
Well, it’s a step above flinging his own poop, which is what he did to President Trump.
Buck Fush
Bush is an Assistant Democrat.
If it’s “all about the oil”, then why were Iraq’s oilfields turned over to Red China in 2008?
And the Mahometans would still have Israel as an issue, no matter what.
> I think Bush was just incompetent. <
You’re probably right. And he was very incompetent.
LBJ mishandled Vietnam. But LBJ had no real lessons of history to guide him. Ten years earlier the United States had fought the communists to a draw in Korea. So it was not unreasonable for LBJ to think that a draw was possible in Vietnam.
Bush had an advantage that LBJ did not. Bush had the lessons of Vietnam to learn from. But Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld ignored those lessons, and indeed repeated most of the mistakes LBJ had made.
But Bush’s crew didn’t stop there. At least LBJ didn’t invade some other country while the Vietnam War was still raging.
(Sorry for the rant.)
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