Congressman Tony Gonzales Joins Fellow House Republican Afghanistan Veterans For Press Conference On Afghanistan Withdrawal
Gonzales: We should not be focusing on an arbitrary deadline
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) on Tuesday joined House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and his fellow House Republican Afghanistan veterans for a press conference highlighting the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Gonzales served in Afghanistan during his 20 year tenure with the military in the U.S. Navy and is well experienced in the subject.
“We need to focus on one thing - getting our Americans and Afghan partners home, in any form or fashion,” said Congressman Gonzales in his remarks. “Go to any part of Afghanistan. Do not focus on some arbitrary deadline or one single outlet… This Administration has to be willing to go to wherever Americans are, whether it be in the most rural areas or in the most urban areas.”
Watch the press conference here.
TRANSCRIPT
“This is what we should be focusing on: Americans need to come together. We should not be focusing on an arbitrary deadline. The deadline needs to be that the United States doesn't leave Afghanistan until all Americans come home.
Afghanistan is roughly the size of Texas and there is only one exit point right now in Kabul. That’s unacceptable in any form or fashion.
I served 20 years in the military, 20 years in the intelligence community. I served five years in Afghanistan. I flew intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. We, as an intelligence community, have given up our ability to collect intel at the most dangerous point in Afghanistan's history. I would argue right now is more dangerous to Americans than the first day we went in 2001. Why? Because we have no intelligence.
This administration has given up the high ground on intelligence when we are trying to extract Americans. It is absolutely unacceptable.
We need to focus on one thing - getting our Americans and Afghan partners home, in any form or fashion. Go to any part of Afghanistan. Do not focus on some arbitrary deadline or one single outlet. Kabul is not going to be enough. We are going to have to go other places.
This Administration has to be willing to go to wherever Americans are, whether it be in the most rural areas or in the most urban areas. Everything is at stake. During a time of crisis is an opportunity for America to come together, not to divide. And now it's a time of crisis. Now we need to save Americans in Afghanistan.”
