JD Vance on Afghanistan
Vice President JD Vance holds a strongly critical view of the United States' 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, labeling the event a "catastrophic error" that led to significant loss of American life and military assets. His position emphasizes holding the Biden administration accountable for the chaotic nature of the exit and the subsequent takeover by the Taliban.
Vance has explicitly condemned the Taliban, labeling them "one of the worst terrorist organizations in the world," and has criticized the continued flow of U.S. funding to the country under their rule, calling such aid "insane" since the group is now in control and allegedly training terrorists.
Furthermore, as Vice President, JD Vance has strongly defended the Trump administration's decision to suspend the Afghan refugee resettlement program, arguing that security screening processes were inadequate and posed a risk to American communities. His stance on Afghanistan is closely tied to his broader populist and national conservative platform, focusing on national security through restrictive immigration policies and challenging past foreign policy decisions.
Context
JD Vance's military service as a U.S. Marine Corps journalist from 2003 to 2007 provides a background for his strong opinions on military operations and foreign policy, including the events in Afghanistan.
As Vice President in the Trump administration, Vance's statements carry significant weight regarding the administration's foreign policy direction, especially concerning the legacy of the 2021 withdrawal and subsequent immigration/refugee policy.
Timeline
- The chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan occurred, which JD Vance later identified as a "catastrophic error" resulting in 13 American deaths and the loss of $80 billion in military equipment.
- Senator Vance strongly condemned Vice President Kamala Harris over the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, blaming her for the deaths of 13 service members and asserting a lack of investigation or accountability.
- As Vice President, Vance firmly defended President Trump's decision to suspend the Afghan refugee resettlement program, citing concerns over inadequate security vetting for asylum seekers.
- Vance sharply criticized the Taliban, explicitly labeling them “one of the worst terrorist organizations in the world,” while speaking during a visit to Greenland.
- Vance criticized the continued U.S. financial support to Afghanistan under Taliban control, calling the funding "insane" given the regime's current status.
Actions Taken
- Policy SupportStrongly supported President Trump's decision to suspend the Afghan refugee repatriation program upon taking office.
Key Quotes
I remember about four years ago when American military leadership made a catastrophic error that got 13 innocent Americans killed in Afghanistan and turned over about $80 billion in military equipment to one of the worst terrorist organizations in the world.
She can go to hell.
It's kind of crazy if you think about it... Maybe it made sense when we were trying to convince the Afghans to build their own military and resist the Taliban. But it sure as hell doesn't make sense today when the Taliban are in control.
I don't believe that all of these asylum seekers have been properly vetted... We certainly can't let thousands of people into our country without asking.
Sources5
J.D. Vance calls Taliban 'worst terrorist organization in the world'
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.