President Joe Biden has a track record of leaving Americans in the middle of crises and disasters, offering little help along the way. Here are four events that Americans had to fend for themselves.
1. Afghanistan
The Biden administration boasted that it had evacuated more than 120,000 people during the chaotic and deadly evacuation, but managed to leave more than 800 Americans behind enemy lines.
Initial findings from Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the withdrawal show that Biden plans to withdraw all United Airlines flights, even though the Biden administration has maintained that only 100 to 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan. By the time they were evacuated, more than 800 people were found to have been abandoned. The National Guard was dispatched.
This number does not include people evacuated by nongovernmental organizations or civilians.
The committee's report states:
The State Department has evacuated more than 800 American citizens since August 31, 2022. This does not include AMCITS that have been evacuated by outside groups. And it clearly exceeds the “approximately 100 people” figure that was repeatedly said after NEO. [non-combat evacuation operation] Ended. For reference, the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis left 52 Americans in Iran.
Additionally, 13 American servicemen lost their lives, but no senior military leadership was held accountable.
2. Sudan
In April, the Biden administration left an estimated 16,000 civilian Americans in Sudan to flee the country on their own as the country escalated into violent conflict.
The administration considered options to help evacuate U.S. embassy staff, but the White House said there were no plans to help the thousands of Americans who were in the embassy at the time.
According to the Associated Press, White House National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby said at the time: “It is absolutely essential that U.S. citizens in Sudan make their own arrangements to stay safe in this difficult situation.” It is said that
“Americans should not expect a coordinated evacuation from the U.S. government at this time. And we expect that to continue,” he added.
The Associated Press reported:
The United States is under scrutiny for: Approximately 70 people are evacuating. Over the weekend, embassy officials participated in a helicopter mission by an elite group of SEAL special forces to warn thousands of American civilians in Sudan that similar evacuations would not occur.
On the other hand, in other countries such as France, sent a warship This is to help people evacuate.
Evacuation of British nationals from Sudan: In this handout image provided by the Ministry of Defence, British soldiers prepare to depart on a Royal Air Force plane bound for Cyprus from Wadi Saydna Air Base in Omdurman, Sudan, 30 April 2023. It depicts images of military personnel. Royal Air Force flights continue between Sudan's Wadi Seydna Airport and Larnaca International Airport after conducting three late-night evacuation flights between Tuesday 25th April and Wednesday 26th April. The British government, with support from the British military, evacuated British nationals from Sudan. (MoD Crown copyright from Getty Images)
3. Israel
After Hamas launched a major terrorist attack in southern Israel on Saturday, October 7, Americans in the country at the time were unable to contact the US embassy and were forced to return home on their own.
Silver Prout, a former Trump administration official who was at the embassy with a church group, said he had not been able to contact anyone for several days after the embassy was closed on Monday, Oct. 9 for the Christopher Columbus holiday. Told.
“On Monday, there was no response because the U.S. Embassy in Israel was closed,” she said. She said she finally received a response on Tuesday, October 10, and was advised to leave the country for commercial purposes. However, a series of flights were canceled, and Congressman Cory Mills (R-Florida) was forced to personally board a plane to retrieve the American citizens.
Biden hosted a barbecue at the White House a day after the attack by Hamas that killed Americans and took some hostages.
Joe Biden enjoys picnic with live band as Hamas takes Americans hostage pic.twitter.com/0xqRDwyuoR
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 8, 2023
4. East Palestine, Ohio
Biden said he would visit after a February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, released toxic chemicals and contaminated the community's air and water.
jessica conard Said new york times When she heard this, she was relieved, believing that his visit was to let the world know that a disaster had occurred. But he never came.
“I feel like it doesn't concern me,” Conard, who voted for Biden in 2020, told the paper, explaining that she flew over East Palestine to meet with union members in Michigan in September. “I am particularly appalled,” he added. state.
Another resident, Chrissy Ferguson, said: “If we were in the blue area, I think he would have come. That's heartbreaking.”
Biden also did not sign a disaster declaration that would have allowed the state to tap federal resources, but instead issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to conduct an assessment to hold Norfolk Southern accountable. I put it out.
“The fact that the president didn't come is disappointing,” Conard added. “But every day Biden doesn’t declare a state of emergency puts my community at risk.”
“But where are we going?” she added. “Where do you go when your community is ignored over and over again by the president of the United States? That's where I want to be. I want to go somewhere where I feel worthy of being saved as an American.”
Former President Donald Trump visits East Palestine, Ohio, after train derailment: Former President Donald Trump visits East Palestine, Ohio, on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, after a Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern freight train. Excursion to visit and tour Little Beaver Creek and water pumps. (Javin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
