The Former Guy surrendered to the Taliban! Now we must welcome Afghan refugees

Welcome the refugees from Afghanistan!

This opinion echo letter was published in the Eugene, Oregon, Register-Guard newspaper.  

Also, check this link here to the Rotary International District 7780 newsletter, where Rotarians are called upon to help receive the Afghan refugees.

Rotary service opportunity to collaborate with Catholic Charities of Maine to assist with the resettlement of Afghan refugees.

Wrong! Marc Thiessen wrote that Joe Biden surrendered to the enemies who attacked us on 9/11!  But! Hello? Fourteen of the September 11, now dead terrorists, carried Saudi Arabian passports!

Thiessen obviously forgot that Saudi Arabian nationals, and not the Taliban attacked us on 9/11?

The Trump administration negotiated the exit directly with the Taliban, ignoring the Afghan government and planning a much earlier withdrawal. Trump praised the Taliban, and his administration worked to slow down the process of bringing Afghan allies to safety, despite the extreme vetting taking place.

The U.S. government was caught off guard by the quick fall of the Afghan government, leaving little time to evacuate citizens and allies. Our military should be commended for carrying out the amazing feat of airlifting 120,000 people from Kabul within two weeks. Had they stayed longer, they risked another ISIS attack on American troops conducting the evacuation.

Thousands were able to leave during the recent airlift and now the Biden administration continues to work with Qatar and the Taliban to ship the remaining Americans and Afghan allies out of the country. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were misguided, tragic responses to 9/11 starting in the Bush administration, but now we must welcome the refugees.

Kathleen Shorack Petty, in Eugene, Oregon