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WASHINGTON – (AP) – Two members of Congress face criticism and questions following their surprise visit to Afghanistan this week, which diverted resources from the chaotic US withdrawal, angered military leaders and led House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to say it was “not a good idea.” . “
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., And Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., Landed on a charter on Tuesday and were on the ground at Kabul airport for several hours before flying aboard. a military plane.
They presented their “secret” visit as an effort to exercise congressional oversight over the Biden administration’s handling of a rapidly deteriorating situation following the rapid takeover of the country by the Taliban.
But it stunned the State Department and US military personnel. They said the resources needed to protect members of Congress hampered the evacuation effort and raised the possibility that the escape of lawmakers may have deprived other Americans or Afghans of seats seeking to flee the country before the date. limit set by President Joe Biden for the Aug. 31 withdrawal.
“We are obviously not encouraging VIP visits in a very tense, dangerous and dynamic situation at this airport and inside Kabul in general,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday, adding: “They certainly took a long time from what we planned to do.
Members of Congress are now being criticized for showing off as politicians – which they vehemently deny – while adding unnecessary confusion to a dire situation. But they have also exploited the frustration of those who think that sitting idly by and doing nothing is not an option either.
Both served in the military, with backgrounds in the region. Moulton, a Marine who openly criticized the Iraq war, has toured Iraq several times. Meijer was deployed as part of the Army Reserves and then worked in Afghanistan with a non-governmental organization providing aid. Moulton sits on the House Armed Services Committee and Meijer is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Their offices did not provide further comment on Wednesday. But in a joint statement released Tuesday evening, Moulton and Meijer said they took seats that were already empty on their flight and took issue with suggestions that they made the “grandstand” trip.
“We entered this visit wanting, like most veterans, to push the president to extend the deadline of August 31”, read in their statement “After speaking with the commanders on the ground and seeing the situation firsthand, it’s obvious that because we started the evacuation so late, no matter what we do, we won’t get everyone out on time.
Upon returning home, however, their effort received a cold reception.
“It’s deadly serious. We don’t want members to go away, ”Pelosi said Wednesday, while warning other lawmakers not to follow suit. “It was not, in my opinion, a good idea.”
Striking a rare note of agreement, parliamentary minority leader Kevin McCarthy echoed Pelosi, saying his message to other lawmakers wishing to go to Afghanistan is “not to go.”
Members of Congress who wish to take such a trip usually need permission from committee chairs. Moulton did not consult with the House Armed Services Committee in advance, according to an aide familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. McCarthy said Meijer also did not seek permission.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was also not informed of the trip. She said their advice to lawmakers was the same as it was to all Americans.
“Now is not the time to travel to Afghanistan,” she said.
Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas, the leading Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the trip a distraction and advised against others, but added, “I understand the frustration.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs, a first-year Democrat from California, was less frugal, tweeting: “Taking up space in a disaster area for your own ego doesn’t help anyone.”
Three officials familiar with the trip said State Department, Defense Department and White House officials were furious because it was done without coordination with diplomats or military commanders directing the evacuation.
The U.S. military discovered the visit as the lawmakers’ plane was en route to Kabul, officials said. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.
A senior US official said the administration viewed the visit as patently unnecessary, and several other officials said it was seen as a distraction for troops and airport commanders who are racing against time to evacuate. thousands of Americans, Afghans and Afghans at risk. others.
The Pentagon has repeatedly expressed concerns about security threats in Kabul, including from the Islamic State group. Where members of Congress have visited war zones on a regular basis over the past two decades, their visits are usually long-planned and coordinated with officials on the ground to ensure their safety.
“The secretary, I think, would have appreciated the opportunity to have a conversation before the visit,” said Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman.
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Associated Press editors Lisa Mascaro and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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