WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) penned an op-ed in Townhall reflecting on the ongoing one-year anniversary of the Biden Administration's disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.

The Cost of Weakness

As Americans reflect on the ongoing one-year anniversary of the Biden administration’s catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, the ongoing silence from the White House is deafening. While the world remembers destructively pivotal events day after day, President Biden conveniently remains cooped up in his multimillion-dollar beach house — selfishly ignoring his administration’s atrocities.

Despite Biden’s deflection, remembering the harrowing images and daunting memories continue to profoundly impact the nation and the world.

Afghans desperately clinging to a U.S. C-17 leaving Kabul.

Taliban terrorists flaunting seized U.S. military equipment in the streets.

13 flag-draped caskets returning heroic U.S. troops back home.

As a three-time combat veteran, it’s difficult to look back at the Biden administration’s countless strategic failures that amounted to one of the greatest military debacles in recent history. In contrast to President Trump’s conditions-based withdrawal plan, President Biden haphazardly anchored the United States’ exit to a symbolic deadline — defying his military’s advice and expediting the Taliban’s takeover.

The ramifications of the Biden administration’s haste and ignorance have become painfully evident. From handing over $7 billion worth of military equipment to the Taliban to abandoning hundreds of Americans behind enemy lines, mountains of evidence reveal just how chaotic the evacuation was under President Biden’s failed leadership.

Regrettably, the tragic killing of 13 brave servicemembers remains the most heartbreaking consequence of the administration’s botched withdrawal — yet Biden routinely fails to muster the courage to rightfully honor these American heroes. While it’s not surprising that the White House avoided lauding the debacle in the president’s State of the Union speech back in March, commending the troops’ sacrifice and recognizing their subsequent Gold Star Families was the very least our commander in chief could do to honor their legacy.

This silence serves as yet another example of President Biden’s dereliction of duty — demonstrating weakness that the American people must not ignore.

But the president’s incompetence has been recognized far beyond concerned Americans and political pundits. The blatant lack of leadership radiating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has dangerously emboldened terrorists, gravely disappointed allies, and recklessly bolstered adversaries across the globe. While the world respected and feared the United States’ power under President Trump’s skilled leadership, friends and foes alike watched this power wither away in just the first eight months of President Biden’s tenure.

Afghanistan is once again a terrorist safe haven, Russia is still pursuing an unjust war in Ukraine, and China is nipping at the heels of Taiwan. The ripple effects of the Biden administration’s disaster continue to spread across the world — yet not one solitary individual has been held accountable for the unmitigated failure.

It’s shameful that the left-wing media and Democrats in Congress continue to shield the administration from crucial investigations, including the mismanaged mess of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Moreover, it’s dishonorable that President Biden, as well as State Department and Pentagon officials, have chosen to revel in this convenient cover rather than provide Americans with answers, transparency, and accountability.

The American people deserve a real leader, not a 'commander in hiding.'

For over 246 years, the fabric of our Republic has been stained with blood, sacrifice, and patriotism — both at home and abroad — to defend our freedom and God-given liberties. Yet the history of our hard-fought freedom is also marked by mistakes, and it takes courage to recognize and rectify those blunders — but only arrogance to disregard them.

The cost of weakness, incompetence, and failed leadership are exorbitant. Until the United States returns as the leader of the free world — exuding strength, tenacity, and resolve — we will only face additional turmoil that threatens the future of our great nation.