Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Afghanistan
“It’s Not Too Late” For Democrats to Increase Pressure on Iran and Respond Forcefully
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Iran: "This week, two of America's closest partners in the Middle East made history. The United Arab Emirates welcomed a President of Israel for the first time, laying another diplomatic stone on the foundation of the Abraham Accords. "But within mere hours of President Herzog's historic arrival, we were reminded of the dangers that an increasingly violent… Continue Reading
09.02.21
ICYMI: Leader McConnell on The Guy Benson Show
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined The Guy Benson Show last night. Read below for the highlights or click here to listen to the full interview. On the Biden Administration's Disastrous Exit from Afghanistan: "[I] would start with saying the war hasn't ended, it's just become more difficult for us to prosecute. The terrorist threat in Afghanistan is already greater than it was before this rash decision to withdraw. It will continue to grow, and our cap… Continue Reading
08.31.21
Fight Against Terrorism Will Not end Just Because Politicians Want to Wish It Away
ASHLAND, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks regarding Afghanistan today at an event sponsored by the Ashland Alliance - the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Agency for Boyd and Greenup Counties: "This was a disgraceful and disastrous departure that will allow the Taliban and Al Qaeda to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 by having complete control of Afghanistan. "Two weeks ago, President Biden specifically promised h… Continue Reading
08.26.21
McConnell Statement on American Servicemembers Killed in Kabul
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement on the bombings in Kabul: "It is sickening and enraging to hear that at least 12 United States servicemembers have been killed and more have been injured at the hands of terrorists in Kabul. "Americans' hearts are breaking for our servicemembers and diplomats. They are doing heroic work to rescue American citizens and Afghan partners in the predictably chaotic wake of the President's decision t… Continue Reading
08.24.21
Americans and Vulnerable Afghans Need Support, Not President Biden’s Artificial Timelines
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement on Afghanistan and the Biden Administration's response. "The latest reporting suggests Americans and vulnerable Afghans are still having trouble reaching the Kabul airport because of the Taliban. President Biden's responsibility is simple: He should clearly and firmly state that the United States will stay for however long it takes and use whatever force is necessary to ensure we do not abandon … Continue Reading
08.24.21
ICYMI: Leader McConnell on ‘America’s Newsroom’
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino on Fox News this morning. See below for highlights or click here to watch to the full interview: On President Biden's Reckless Decision to Leave Afghanistan: "First let me say this is one of the greatest foreign policy disasters in American history. I think it's important to remember where we were a few months ago before the president's reckless decision to leave. We only had 2500 troops … Continue Reading
08.20.21
McConnell: “This Catastrophic Decision Rests with the Commander-in-Chief Who Made It.”
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding Afghanistan and the Biden Administration's response: "U.S. servicemembers and diplomats are now engaged in a round-the-clock mission to get American citizens, loyal partners, and vulnerable Afghans out of Kabul. The task is difficult and dangerous. Their efforts under pressure reflect America at its finest. Our personnel in harm's way deserve our utmost respect and support. "But… Continue Reading
08.19.21
ICYMI: McConnell on CBS Evening News
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined CBS Evening News last night. See below for highlights or click here to watch to the full interview: On the Biden Administration's Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan: "We shouldn't have made this decision in the first place. We only had 2,500 troops there - light touch, no chaos, not a single American soldier killed in a year in combat. We've now left 10,000 to 15,000 American citizens behind enemy lines with no p… Continue Reading
08.18.21
ICYMI: McConnell on The Hugh Hewitt Show
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined The Hugh Hewitt Show this morning. See below for highlights or click here to listen to the full interview: On the Benefits of Keeping a Small-Force Footprint in Afghanistan: "This is a colossal mistake. You know, Hugh, I'm somebody who believes that the light-touch deployment we had in Afghanistan was actually working. We didn't have a single one of our military personnel killed in combat in the last year. The lid wa… Continue Reading
08.17.21
ICYMI: McConnell on Fox News Channel’s ‘Special Report with Bret Baier’
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined Bret Baier on Fox News Channel's 'Special Report with Bret Baier' tonight. See below for highlights or click here to watch the full interview: On the Biden's Administration's Precipitous and Incompetent Withdrawal from Afghanistan: "Well, first, let's talk about the decision to withdraw, itself. We were spending about one percent of the Pentagon budget every year to keep the lid on in Afghanistan. We hadn't lost a … Continue Reading
08.15.21
McConnell on Biden’s Afghanistan Collapse: “The Embarrassment of a Superpower Laid Low”
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement after receiving a Biden Administration briefing on the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan: "The Biden Administration's botched exit from Afghanistan including the frantic evacuation of Americans and vulnerable Afghans from Kabul is a shameful failure of American leadership. "The rapid advance of the Taliban was expected after the US abandonment of Afghan security forces. The plig… Continue Reading
08.13.21
McConnell Speaks with Afghanistan’s Ambassador Raz
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement after speaking with Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States, Adela Raz: "I just spoke to Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States, Adela Raz. We had an urgent conversation about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the unfolding humanitarian crisis. "This debacle was not only foreseeable, it was foreseen. The President and his team actively decided against a far m… Continue Reading
08.12.21
"Afghanistan is Careening Toward a Massive, Predictable, and Preventable Disaster"
LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding Afghanistan: "Afghanistan is careening toward a massive, predictable, and preventable disaster. And the Administration's surreal efforts to defend President Biden's reckless policy are frankly humiliating. "The Biden Administration has reduced U.S. officials to pleading with Islamic extremists to spare our Embassy as they prepare to overrun Kabul. Absurdly, naively, our government is … Continue Reading
06.24.21
Leader McConnell Meets With President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan
Download the photo here. WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement after meeting with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan: "I was honored to help welcome President Ghani to the Capitol at a critical moment in our two countries' relationship. "For decades, the people of Afghanistan and their democratic government have been essential partners in our shared fight against terrorism. During much of that time, brave Afghans have taken … Continue Reading
10.14.19
McConnell: We Must Avoid Strategic Calamity in the Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding the situation in Syria: "I am gravely concerned by recent events in Syria and by our nation's apparent response thus far. "Turkey is our NATO ally and has legitimate security concerns stemming from the conflict in Syria. But Turkey's offensive against our Syrian Kurdish partners is jeopardizing years of hard-won progress in the fight against ISIS. "For years, the United States and ou… Continue Reading
08.21.17
McConnell Statement on President Trump’s Address to the Nation on Afghanistan
LOUISVILLE, KY. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement tonight regarding President Trump's address to the nation: "Tonight President Trump reaffirmed to the American people the painful lesson glaringly brought to our shores on September 11, 2001: the United States cannot permit terrorist organizations such as ISIL, al Qaeda or its affiliates to train, recruit and plot from ungoverned sanctuaries--whether within Afghanistan, in the tribal areas of P… Continue Reading
07.08.16
Leader McConnell Statement on Democrat Filibuster of Department of Defense Funding Bill
"It is inexcusable to see Senate Democrats filibustering the defense appropriations bill, jeopardizing both our combat readiness and our national security. "This defense appropriations measure, like every other Fiscal Year 2017 funding bill, respects the budget caps in place and was reported out of committee at the earliest point in more than a decade - despite all of Democrats efforts to dismantle the appropriations process. It also earned the support of every single Democrat in committee. As … Continue Reading
04.06.15
McConnell Statement on Interim Iran Nuke Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement today regarding the interim agreement on Iran's nuclear program: "Last week I led a Senate delegation to Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Iran's support of Hezbollah, the Assad regime, Shia militias in Iraq, Houthi insurgents in Yemen - along with its ongoing nuclear ambitions - reveal an ongoing effort to both expand the Iranian sphere of influence throughout the greater Middle East and undermine Am… Continue Reading
