Pelosi Demands Gender Equality in Afghanistan as Nation Collapses
'...to avert bloodshed[, we] must include having women at the table'
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Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is demanding gender equality in Afghanistan as the middle-eastern nation rapidly collapses.
Pelosi issued a statement on Saturday night praising Joe Biden for "the actions he has taken," many of which have led to the Taliban rising up and taking control of several key cities.
She said Biden “is to be commended” for his administration's disastrous withdrawal from the country.
The speaker's statement comes as Afghanistan continues to fall under Taliban control.
The terrorist group now controls the majority of the country after seizing a significant amount of U.S. military hardware and weapons.
Disturbing reports are now emerging that the Taliban is already carrying out atrocities and human rights abuses.
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Despite the horrifying situation on the ground in Afghanistan, Pelosi focused on gender equality in her statement.
"The Taliban must know that the world is watching its actions," Pelosi said.
"We are deeply concerned about reports regarding the Taliban’s brutal treatment of all Afghans, especially women and girls.
"The U.S., the international community and the Afghan government must do everything we can to protect women and girls from inhumane treatment by the Taliban.
"Any political settlement that the Afghans pursue to avert bloodshed must include having women at the table.
"The fate of women and girls in Afghanistan is critical to the future of Afghanistan," the speaker warned.
"As we strive to assist women, we must recognize that their voices are important, and all must listen to them for solutions, respectful of their culture.
"There is bipartisan support to assist the women and girls of Afghanistan.
"One of the successes of U.S.- NATO cooperation in Afghanistan was the progress made by women and girls.
"We must all continue to work together to ensure that is not eroded."
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Pelosi again doubled down on praising Biden for “the clarity of purpose” of his “statement and the wisdom of his actions.”
Biden’s statement blamed President Donald Trump for the decisions that his own administration made.
Experts quickly pushed back on Biden’s attempts to deflect blame:
- Rebeccah Heinrichs, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, blasted Biden’s statement: “He begins by listing what his administration is scrambling to do to avoid American and partner deaths, and to have the ability to conduct counterterrorism operations. And this horrible scramble with high stakes is all because of Biden’s order to withdrawal immediately. There is plenty of blame to go around for the failures in Afghanistan, but what happens as a result of the way the withdrawal happened will be Biden’s alone. He can’t pass this off on Trump. He owns all of this. Also, I don’t care if he reads a script word for word, he needs to address the nation. There are a lot of military families who deserve it and so much more.”
- Andrea Stricker, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD): “The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan fits a pattern of this administration deciding on a course of foreign action without consideration for the ramifications. Biden wanted out regardless of the cost to the Afghan people, regional security, and years of effort and dedication by many brave Americans and allies. This poorly planned exit will go down in history as a major U.S. strategic failure.”
- Jamil N. Jaffer — who serves as Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute and as an Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the National Security Law & Policy Program at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University: “Pathetic for the President to lay the situation he created by his own choices at the feet of his predecessor. Having inherited whatever he inherited, it was his job to do what the nation required, and the President ought admit he made the wrong choice. Be better @JoeBiden.”
