Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham called for President Joe Biden’s impeachment Friday if he leaves “any American” or any allies behind in Afghanistan.
“We’re duty-bound to get every American citizen now. We’re honor-bound to get those Afghans who fought along our side out and here’s what I would say: if we leave any Americans behind, if we leave thousands of those Afghans who fought along our side behind bravely, Joe Biden deserves to be impeached for a high crime and misdemeanor of dereliction of duty,” Graham told “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy.
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“If we leave one American behind, if we don’t get all those Afghans who have stepped up to the plate to help us out, then Joe Biden in my view has committed a high crime and misdemeanor under the Constitution and should be impeached,” Graham continued. (RELATED: ‘Failed Leadership’: Erik Prince Says Victory In Afghanistan ‘Pissed Away By Half-Baked Politicians In Washington’)
Graham claimed that Biden has advocated similar policies in Iraq and “has been a wrecking ball regarding foreign policy, national security for 40 years.” The senator also argued that a residual force in Afghanistan functioned as “an insurance policy against 9/11” and reiterated his demand that Biden is impeached if he fails to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies.
“Any military commander would be court-martialed for leaving our people behind and I think the commander-in-chief owes it to every American citizen and owes it to the Afghans who fought along our side to get them out because if we leave them behind they’re going to get slaughtered,” he claimed, adding that the consequences of the unfolding crisis will make it more difficult for America to attract allies and make another 9/11 terrorist attack more likely.
“President Trump left troops on the ground as an insurance policy against another 9/11. The French and the British are willing to go into Afghanistan to get their people out: I would urge President Biden to do joint military operations with a coalition of the willing so we get everyone out who deserves to be taken out.” (RELATED: Trump Flames Afghanistan Withdrawal, Calls It ‘The Greatest Embarrassment … In The History Of Our Country”)
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid (L) attends the first press conference in Kabul on August 17, 2021, following their stunning takeover of Afghanistan. (Photo by HOSHANG HASHIMI/AFP via Getty Images)
The Taliban wrested control of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday after the Afghan army collapsed and the nation’s president fled. Some Afghanis, fearing they will be targeted by the Taliban, clung to a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport aircraft in hopes of being airlifted out of the country.
The American embassy in Kabul announced Wednesday that it “cannot guarantee safe passage” for Americans trying to get to the airport and return home. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also said Wednesday that U.S. forces have not met evacuation goals, and meanwhile, the State Department has confirmed reports that the Taliban is forcibly stopping Americans from getting to the airport.
The Biden administration was reportedly charging Americans to board flights leaving Afghanistan.