>> Radio show like no other. And kill me. >> When we took office in
January. The Trump
administration had not
processed single special
immigrant visa since March of
2020 in nearly a year. So what
we did when we came in was move
as rapidly as possible to
process as many applications as
possible as fast
as possible streaming months
and months and months off of
that process.
>> Those side these were
processed and fact they were
recorded in fact it list
but of course, Jake Sullivan
national security advisor
to President Biden is not
taking blame is pointing
fingers, he’s great at that.
Former Vice president Mike
pence has something to say
about that wrote about the Wall
Street Journal and now wants to
join us to talk about it.
Mister vice president great to
hear from you.
>> Great to be with you Brian
thanks for having me on the
program and for your.
>> You’re Clarion voice on the
airwaves of America, especially
now I mean thank you, but it
just I remember every step of
the way for the last 20 years
the ups and downs of the
Afghanistan war, the invasion,
the surge things that have
happened since and of course
the agreement that was cut
first of did you guys not
process visas and is that the
problem and why the airport is
so backed up.
>> Well of course is not the
problem, but let me
you’re one of my favorite
historians out there Brian, so
let me let me push away from
the table for just a second.
>> You know I was in Washington
DC on September 11.
the Biden administration’s
disasters withdraw from
Afghanistan.
It’s a foreign policy
humiliation unlike anything our
country has endured since the
Iran hostage crisis but I want
to be clear
to our soldiers sailors airmen,
Marines and Coast Guard and to
the families of our fallen some
2400 Americans that were lost.
20,000 Americans wounded
in Afghanistan. That
that the the EU
Millie aiding withdrawal that’s
under way today the complete
mismanagement.
>> The withdrawal of American
Afghanistan does not take
anything away. From
incredible service. That’s
taken place over the last 20
years or car, our armed forces
took the fight to
Al qaeda and to the Taliban in
Afghanistan. I believe we
will mark the 20th anniversary
of September 11th without
another major terrorist event
on
American soil. And as a direct
result of the service and
sacrifice of those who serve so
I.
>> I think it’s important that
we make that
clear from the outset to all of
the hour service members.
You know, I’ve got to an active
duty military and my immediate
family right now our son is
deployed.
The reality is we’ve got to
make sure they understand
that we will never forget their
service or sacrifice will never
fail to honor it
that being said what you’re
seeing in the Biden
administration I think is just
an effort.
To shift the conversation and
shift the blame to do
you know
just an unspeakably. Poor.
Effort to withdraw
troops from Afghanistan, what
we all want our troops to come
home but not like Pat.
And our administration
beginning in February 2020.
Had reached an agreement that
would provide for gradual
withdrawal if certain
conditions were met by the
Taliban.
That and all attacks on us
military personnel and that
we’re 18 months there hasn’t
been a single American
casualty. In our last year in
office there was not a single
American casualty. They had to
refuse terrorists Al qaeda Isis
case in Carver and they had to
agree to negotiate with Afghan
leaders are creating a new
government and I can tell you.
>> There was healthy debate
within the administration about
what that would finally look
like Ryan and what. You know
whether or
you know that there would be an
enduring presence if the
Taliban sale. And I you know
always keep my opinions
between May and the president
the present moment, but I.
The president Trump always
invited a healthy debate, but
what what the Biden
administration is done and in
this case by arbitrarily
announcing each that they were
going to
bring troop levels to 0 by
September the 11th place they
announced America is back
diplomacy is back irrespective
of the situation on the ground.
>> Set this
disaster in.
>> Motion and I I can tell you
from a position of touch
of weakness as opposed to our
administration’s position of of
C strength things would have
been but I think diametrically
the opposite.
>> Bringing our troops home
with honor and not like we’re
seeing to know a couple of
things did they violate by
taking Kabul was that part of
the deal is they were not
supposed to take Kabul and the
minute they did it that’s a
violation what would you guys
have done.
>> Well what would we left
office. The
the Afghan
government and the Taliban
controlled their respective
territories are no major
offensive smell that and we
only had 2500 American troops
in the country that’s the
smallest number since 2000.
And one and I think the reason
why things would have been
different night. You know
people people ask a lot in the
debate is how would have been
different. You know
the administration is very
quick to want to point pass
while to get the difference.
The difference is strength.
When when our
administration negotiated the
agreement with the Taliban it
was just a matter of weeks.
After we had taken out Qasim
soleimani he was just 4 months
after we had
destroyed the Isis caliphate
and taken bakir Al baghdadi I
mean the one thing the world
knew with President Donald
that went
when he made it clear that we
would use American force to
defend America’s
interests, he.
>> He’d follow through on it
will Mister vice president
you’re right but in Syria
learned that the hard way with
58 crews right so to come, but
you know he won by Brian yeah I
was in the Oval Office when
President Trump spoke all of
our other and he made it clear
at the outset of the agreement
that if they broke the
agreement the consequences
would be
sought whipped and severe I
understand a couple of a couple
things of his vice on border in
particular on Biden to killer
did not make that clear it
created the created that
disasters environment but do
you think that ambassador
Callas I did a good job because
one of the things and he still
working.
>> When things he did recommend
to the president to Mike pompeo
that we get bored or at a
prison. I was an aide more
we get him out of prison.
He’s now running things he’s a
guy we’ve got to talk to now he
was sentenced. He was captured
by the CIA.
>> And then he was sentenced to
prison for 8 years and we got
him out. Do you think that was
a good move.
>> Look I think there’s an old
adage in history that you do
don’t make.
>> Peace with your allies you
make peace with your at ups.
Unite. I can tell
you that President Trump.
And I were elected in 2016 on a
promise of getting out troops
home but there’s no question
the American people.
And not just service families
like mine, but the American
people wanted to bring our
troops home, but we wanted to
bring them home with honor and
I believe that that from a
position of strength.
Demanding that the
conditions be met by the
Taliban that we wouldn’t be
seeing what we’re seeing today.
Now that being said I you know
that’s air stop I think it’s
absolutely essential. But every
voice in America. Be a course
to this president and that
this administration saying
you’ve got to do whatever it
takes.
To get our American citizens
home to get our troops home
safely. And to bring our allies
out
of Afghanistan. The people that
stood with our soldiers in the
field but to do that with the
kind of betting that we don’t
have people that are slipping
through the process that would
would ultimately threaten our security our citizens in this country would now what about
the order in which you would
have done this.
>> Dizzy true that you’re going
to leave bagram air base first
as you going to keep our ground
air base.
>> And not you and not use
Kabul airport.
>> To get citizens out let
alone military but citizens out
our out of the public that we
want out like are the people
that helped us.
>> What what I can tell you
it’s what you know what
president Trump said we could.
Which was the logical way to to this would be to bring our citizens out first.
>> To help our allies come out
while we still have force
presence on the ground. But you
know what was really lacking in
this case was less
about logistics. Then it was
about a credible threat of the
use
of force whether it be 58
cruise missiles into Syria
weather be taking down Isis as
our military forces did at the
direction of the commander in
chief taking down Baghdad using
to take down. Iranian general
qassem soleimani what the with
our administration.
Was that we would use force to
prosecute Americans.
>> Can you know you interest
and I spent the merit of
violation in Afghanistan right
communion, the violations of
your agreement that would have
led to military action. Number
one they never denounced Al
qaeda and Al qaeda’s got a
presence in this new government
through the economy network
that we know of number 2 is
they weren’t supposed to take
Kabul. There was supposed to
get agree to a coalition
government.
But when you said when the
agreement was done it was a new
directly but it was You know
this the the secretary of
state. When the agreement was
done the word was. There was
going to be a coalition
government. But when the
agreement was actually signed
if a violation happened to be a
military strike against them.
But you guys we’re going to be
out in May if you guys route
may how would things have been
different because one of the
things you did is don’t attack
our guys
but they picked up the pace and
attacking the Afghans lot of
people think that dispirited
them.
>> Well I think the difference
is strength. I think the
difference was was with
President Trump in the White
House and our team on the
ground.
Week re when we left office
there was. Essentially a stable
environment a year of no
American casualties and as I
said the Taliban and the Afghan
government were in their
respective territories was no
major offensives and the one
thing I I’m absolutely is that
had we been you know had we
been in
office turn this withdrawal
that we would have ensured that
those conditions were met in
it, they wore Matt. That
we would we would follow
through on the use of force and
that we would just an attack
according much but in in the
manner that put American lives
first and the security of our
nation first I’ve no doubt
whatsoever that you would not
have seen. The Taliban March
into Missouri officer reached
without consequence she would
not have seen
the Taliban March into Kabul
and now here we said
with the Taliban in the last 24
you’re making threats. We told
keep to the August 31 deadline,
you know we shouldn’t we
shouldn’t be taking orders
from that the Taliban we should
tell them we’re going to we’re
going to be out when it’s done
we’re going to be doubt when
when American citizens are out
American troops are out and all
of brave afghanis that stood
with an assisted
our effort to defend our
freedom. In that war torn land
we’ve been given safe passage
of the country.
>> Mister vice president you
allow our 5,800 military
members to leave the airport
and retrieve American citizens
and allied and allies of ours.
>> Look what we have the and this is this this is going in part administration
we saw the largest increase in
investment in our national
defense. Since the days of
Ronald Reagan, Brian, you know
that I mean our are armed
forces demonstrated in in
Iraq and Syria when they’re
given a mission and that given
the freedom prosecute that
mission. There’s there’s no
force in the world that can
resist them.
>> The very idea the armed
forces of the United would
hesitate. To take such action
is
necessary to.
>> A secure safe passage for
Americans out of Afghanistan,
this it’s anathema to me that
any American we did we ought to
do what we need to do we can do
it.
>> Our military is more than
capable. and and we have to
tell
the Taliban when we’re not not
be listening to them dictating
timetables or they did do is
take back, you know Jennifer
Griffin asked John Kirby.
>> You know once you take
bagram air base back good they
have 2 airfields it’s much
better equipped is much more
secure any could be able to get
more flights in and out.
>> And he basically said we
don’t want a Monday morning
quarterback right now vice
president pence a new oce
you’re almost always consider
presidential. Contender in the
next cycle in 2024. Would you
do that would you take back
bagram air base.
>> Well I can tell you I
wouldn’t give it up right and I
by Monday Air Force Base.
At least a half a dozen times
over my course, the course of
my career in the Congress and
as governor in us.
He sure vice president and the
very idea that we abandon
Bob Graham.
>> And now have relegated with
their withdrawal effort to a
civilian airport with one
runway is.
>> For me personally is just in
comprehensible I don’t believe
our administration would have
done that I.
I believe the success
we achieved. In taking down the
Isis caliphate.
Was evidence of of having
a president that gives our
military mission and tells I’m
going to get it done.
And is willing to adjust along
the way to allow them to
accomplish their mission and so
absolute limit.
My bottom line you know I I
again I love your history books
Bryant. Thank you you remember
they remember the Battle of the
Bulge.
When German forces in Europe,
some sort of ultimatum us Army
general at the Battle of the
Bulge. And he simply wrote that
one word.
They told him they told him to
get lost. He de gea
and I I think we ought to make
it very clear to the Taliban
that we’re going to be there.
And and we’re going to take
such action is necessary to
defend our citizens got you
depend on and defend our allies
in the region and Mister vice
your radio to see understand
we’ve got 45 seconds left but.
>> And you feel about the
president not committing to
running with you again for
reelection.
>> Call my focus actually is is
is on
2022. You know the president
and I have talked many times a
sense the inauguration
I know he feels the very same
way when you look at the
radical left agenda.
The advance. I mean you know a
crisis on the border a crisis
in this
disasters, Afghanistan,
withdrawal inflation on the
rise, a plan for
some 5 trillion dollars in big
government socialist spending.
We have got to win the
Congress back. And we’ve got to
support conservatives running
for governor. Around the
country. I was on the stump
just last week with her great
candidate in Virginia not.
I will tell you all of my
energy all of my focus is going
to be on 2022. We
went back. Then we’ll talk we
went back to Congress and then
2024 win back America. I will
you did a great job as vice
president be crazy not to run