Senate Foreign Relations chair: Kabul attack shows 'we can't trust the Taliban with Americans' security'
In the wake of two explosions near the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued a statement condemning "in the strongest and most forceful of terms" the day's tragic events, and calling on the U.S. government to help those "desperately trying to leave the country."
"I understand that American personnel were among the casualites and my prayers are with the victims of this cowardly attack and their families," wrote Menendez. "As we wait for more details to come in, one thing is clear: We can't trust the Taliban with Americans' security." U.S. officials had warned Americans late Wednesday to stay away from the airport or "leave immediately" due to an "unspecified security threat," per The Associated Press. The administration had also previously "raised alarm" about the potential of an attack from the ISIS-affiliated terror group, ISIS-K, reports CNN.
"This is a full-fledged humanitarian crisis," said Menendez, whose criticism The Philadephia Inquirer's Jonathan Tamari notes has previously been "somewhat restrained" until now. The senator added that the U.S. government "must secure the airport and complete the massive evacuation" of those "desperately trying to leave the country."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday's attacks resulted in "a number of U.S. and civilian casualties," though no exact count has been confirmed.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'They inspire in us both a sense of awe and an acute sense of loss'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Gavin Newsom, the California governor who could hit the national stage
In the Spotlight Newsom's name has been floated as a presidential candidate for 2028 — or maybe before then
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
New Panama president vows to halt migration
Speed Read José Raúl Mulino will stop migration through the Darien Gap
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published