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.
Bush is a coked-up dope.
Doesn’t Bush realize how toxic he is? I think all normal Americans have learned a despise the Bush Crime Family for the same reason they despise the grifting, murderous Clintons. Our political class is nothing but a bloodsucking parasite.
“it was GWB who started two wars and both turned out to be wastes of time, money and more importantly human lives..”
Plus he continued the open border policies of his father and Bill Clinton. By allowing millions of illegal immigrants to stream into the country during his 8 years he was in direct violation of his oath of office and should have been impeached.
Bush wanted an open border and amnesty for those who crossed it. Congress voted to build a border wall during Bush’s time in office. Instead of building a physical wall, Bush opted for a multi-billion dollar “virtual” wall which turned out to be a total flop, and was abandoned, but was a huge payoff to Boeing Corp. If in the first decade of this century Bush had built the wall Trump was trying to build in the second decade, we would not be bearing the social costs of the millions who crossed the border in his second term and the Obama years. Plus, a physical wall would be keeping out the hordes crossing today.
George W. Bush is a despicable man and one of the principle architects of the decline and fall of the American Republic.
Looking back, we had Ronald Reagan until 1988, then we had GHWB for 4 years, Clinton for 8 years, GWB for 8 years, Obama for 8 years, then Trump for 4 years, now we have Biden.....
That’s 28 years at a minimum of Presidents who sold out our country...it’s amazing we are still standing....
F u ya jerk
Go paint a shrub.
Democrats never apologize or resign or show any remorse or humility for all the horrendous stuff they do. W is a dem.
A pretty sad yet realistic assessment of how things currently stand in America....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjdnisvictM
I felt deep sadness once.
I felt deep sadness once.
After the first gulf war the iraqes were allowed to use there helicopters Immediatly. There was a no fly zone later on. But the damage had been done.
George, that’s not deep sadness you feel inside. No sir. That ghe feeling you get when you know you’re really full of sh!t and you suddenly realize that everyone else knows it as well. Maybe you ought to go chop some cottonwood.
George W Bush says he feels ‘deep sadness’ watching ‘tragic events’ in Afghanistan
Think how the people in Afghanistan feel George!!
Afgans: I thought George was going to help us?
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