PRESIDENT’S VISIT.
THANK YOU.
THE "NEW YORK POST" OUT WITH
THIS BLISTERING HEADLINE.
JOE BIDEN BRINGS A DISHONORABLE
END TO AMERICA’S LONGEST WAR.
THIS REACTION FROM ANDY CARD
WHO SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND
PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN
DEVELOPING POST 9/11
INTELLIGENCE STRATEGIES.
>> I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO KEEP
THE PROMISE WE MADE TO BRING
EVERYBODY OUT OF THERE THAT WE
WANTED TO.
ALL OF THE AMERICANS DEFINITELY.
BUT ALL OF THOSE OTHERS WHO
HELPED OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
AND OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
DURING THE WAR ANTERIOR WE
STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO KEEP THE
PROMISE TO LET THEM GET OUT AND
WE’LL TRY TO DO THAT.
BUT I’M ON THIS ROLLER COASTER,
FRUSTRATED.
I THINK WE’RE GETTING OUT TOO
QUICKLY AND KEPT BAGRAM AS A
BASE OF OPERATIONS TO BE A
CONSCIENCE FOR THE WORLD.
>> Harris: SENATOR TOM COTTON
MEMBER OF THE SENATE ARMED
SERVICES AND INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE.
ALSO A VETERAN OF THE IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN WARS.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU IN FOCUS
TODAY, SENATOR.
I WILL START WITH THE VICE
PRESIDENT INSIDE THE SENATE.
THAT DETAIL JUST COMING TO US
FROM PETER DOOCY.
>> IT’S VERY RARE, HARRIS. NORMALLY THE VICE PRESIDENT
NORMALLY THE VICE PRESIDENT
ONLY PRESENT SIDES OVER TIE
VOTES OR HIGHLY CONSEQUENCEAL
VOTES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZING THIS
IS A DEBACLE THAT WILL
REVERBERATE FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS TO COME NOT JUST IN
AFGHANISTAN BUT IN RELATION TO
OUR ADVERSARIES AROUND THE
WORLD.
THEY’RE TRYING TO PUT A HAPPY
FACE ON AND TRYING TO SPIN IT
FOR DOMESTIC POLITICAL PURPOSES.
MOST AMERICANS REALIZE JOE
BIDEN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
FIASCO WE’VE SEEN IN THE LAST
THREE WEEKS IN AFGHANISTAN.
>> Harris: THERE HAS BEEN MUCH
TALK ABOUT HOW TO GET THE
REMAINING AMERICANS AND AFGHAN
CITIZENS WHO HELPED OUR
AMERICAN MILITARY OUT FOR YEARS
AND YEARS.
HOW WE GET THEM OUT OF THEIR
SAFELY.
YOU HEARD THE PENTAGON
SPOKESPERSON JOHN KIRBY SAYING
WE’RE HEARTBROKEN BUT COMMITTED.
FIRST OF ALL, IS THAT ENOUGH?
>> NO, HARRIS, IT IS NOT.
IT’S NICE TO BE HEARTBROKEN.
BETTER COMMITTED TO GETTING
EVERYONE OUT LIKE JOE BIDEN
SAID HE WAS.
HE PROMISED THE TALIBAN AMERICA
WOULD LEAVE BY AUGUST 31.
JOE BIDEN PROMISED AMERICAN
CITIZENS IN AFGHANISTAN HE
WOULD STAY UNTIL GOAT THEM OUT.
WHEN THE RUBBER HIT THE ROAD,
JOE BIDEN KEPT HIS PROMISE TO
THE TALIBAN AND BROKE HIS
PROMISE TO AMERICANS.
>> Harris: WHAT ELSE IS NOT
TRUE IN THIS SITUATION?
WE’RE LOOKING AT THE DETAILS OF
THOSE WHO WANT TO COME HOME NOW
AND SO ARE WE LEFT TO BELIEVE
IN YOUR ESTIMATION -- YOU SIT
ON SUCH IMPORTANT COMMITTEES.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE DETAILS
OF THIS.
SOME YOU CAN SHARE AND SOME YOU
CAN’T.
YOU HELPED PEOPLE GET BACK FROM
THERE RECENTLY.
ARE WE LEFT TO BELIEVE THAT
PEOPLE WANT TO BE THERE?
WE’RE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO
REALLY WANT TO COME HOME.
A COUPLE OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
IN KABUL STUDENTS TODAY JUST AS
AN EXAMPLE.
>> I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
SAYING WHO WILL YOU BELIEVE, US
OR YOUR LYING EYES AND EARS?
THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO
HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE
CLOCK IN MY OFFICES AND OTHER
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES TRYING TO
GET AMERICANS OUT.
WE WERE ON THE PHONE AS
RECENTLY AS SUNDAY AND
YESTERDAY WITH AMERICAN
CITIZENS AND GREEN CARD HOLDERS
AS WELL TRYING TO GET THEM INTO
THE AIRPORT.
THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO WANTED
TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN.
NOW, OF THE HUNDREDS THAT WE’VE
LEFT BEHIND, THOUSANDS WHEN YOU
ADD IN GREEN CARD HOLDERS
PROBABLY, SOME OF THEM MAY WANT
TO STAY, YES, I’M SURE A
HANDFUL MAY WANT TO STAY BUT IF
THAT IS A FIG LEAF BEHIND WHICH
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS
HIDING TO BREAK THE PROMISE TO
CITIZENS IN AFGHANISTAN THAT WE
WOULD STAY UNTIL WE GOT THEM
OUT.
WE DIDN’T DO THAT AND IT’S
SHAMEFUL.
>> Harris: THE FATHER OF A
FALLEN MARINE, JARED SCHMITT,
ON HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
BIDEN.
LET’S WATCH.
>> I WASN’T GOING TO MEET WITH
HIM BUT I FELT I OWED IT TO MY
SON TO HAVE WORDS WITH HIM
ABOUT HOW I FELT.
IT DIDN’T GO WELL.
HE TALKED A BIT MORE ABOUT HIS
OWN SON THAN HE DID MY SON AND
THAT DIDN’T SIT WELL WITH ME.
>> Harris: HE WASN’T EVEN GOING
TO MEET WITH HIM BUT DECIDED TO.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
>> I WOULD NOT WANT TO
CRITICIZE ANY GOLD STAR MOM OR
DAD OR HUSBAND OR WIFE WHO JUST
LOST A LOVED ONE OVERSEAS AND I
CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION
OF ALL THOSE GOLD STAR FAMILIES
BECAUSE THAT ATTACK DIDN’T JUST
HAPPEN ON JOE BIDEN’S WATCH.
IT HAPPENED AS A DIRECT RESULT
OF JOE BIDEN’S DECISIONS.
THE DECISIONS TO WITHDRAW IN
SUCH A DISORGANIZED,
ILL-PLANNED, CHAOTIC FASHION.
I WOULD NOT CRITICIZE OR
COMMENT ON ANY GOLD STAR
FAMILIES PERCEPTIONS OF THE
MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OR
ANYONE ELSE.
I THINK THEY HAVE EARNED THE
RIGHT THROUGH THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE PAID BY THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS TO SAY THEIR PEACE OF
MIND TO ANYONE THEY WANT.
>> Harris: OUR AUDIENCE KNOWS,
YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER ON
A MEMORIAL DAY ON THE AIR IN
THE PAST THAT YOUR JOB AT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY WAS
ONE HELPING FAMILIES IN THIS
TYPE OF CRISIS.
WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU SAY AND
WE’LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC
AFTER THIS BUT I DON’T WANT TO
MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET
YOUR WISDOM ON THIS POINT.
>> WELL, THE 13 FAMILIES WHO
LOST LOVED ONES LAST WEEK IT IS
A TERRIBLE AS -- ATROCITY.
IT WAS TOTALLY AVOIDABLE.
THEY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF
WHAT THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS
AND HUSBANDS AND WIVES WERE
DOING TRYING TO PROTECT
INNOCENT AMERICANS AND SAVE
THEIR COUNTRYMEN.
I HAVE SAID THAT TO MANY OF THE
GOLD STAR FAMILIES WHO LOST
OTHER TROOPS OVER THE LAST 20
YEARS IS THAT WE HAD A
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN
AFGHANISTAN FOR 20 YEARS.
THAT COUNTRY WAS NOT USED AS A
PLANNING AND LAUNCHING FOR
ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS.
THEY SHOULD BE PROUD.
THEY ARE DEEPLY DISMAYED BY
WHAT THEY’VE SEEN OVER THE LAST
THREE WEEKS.
>> Harris: THE CRISIS IS
AFGHANISTAN IS RAISING CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT HOME AND
KEEPING THE REST OF US SAFE
WITH MANY PEOPLE POINTING TO
MAJOR SECURITY CONCERNS ALONG
OUR SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO.
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER KEVIN
MCCARTHY ON "THE FAULKNER
FOCUS" REITERATED THE NEED TO
PROTECT OUR BORDER CITING OTHER
TERRORISTS WHO HAVE BEEN NABBED
BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS AND
RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT WHO COULD
BE AMONG THE UNVETTED REFUGEES
FLEEING AFGHANISTAN.
>> THE PRESIDENT OPENED UP OUR
BORDER THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR
WE HAVE CAUGHT NUMEROUS PEOPLE
ALREADY ON THE TERRORIST WATCH
LIST FROM YEMEN.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE RELEASE THOSE
PRISONERS OUT OF BAGRAM, WHERE
DO WE THINK THEY WANT TO COME?
EVERY CRISIS THAT HAS COME
BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION
THEY’VE FAILED.
>> Harris: SENATOR COTTON, YOUR
REACTION.
>> WELL, IT’S AMAZING WE ARE
TURNING AWAY AFGHANS THAT
SERVED ALONGSIDE OUR TROOPS
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WHO HAD
AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND VETERANS
VOUFPG FOR THEM AT THE AIRPORT
IN KABUL.
IF THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO GET
THE MEXICO WE WOULD WAVE THEM
RIGHT THROUGH.
THAT’S THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
POLICY.
I DO HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS THAT
AFGHANISTAN WILL ONCE AGAIN
BECOME WHAT IT WAS BEFORE 9/11,
A SAFE HAVEN AND SANCTUARY FOR
FOREIGN TERRORISTS TO LAUNCH
ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS.
I KNOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
TOUTED AN OVER THE HORIZON
TERRORISM CAPABILITY.
IT’S MORE LIKE OVER THE RAINBOW.
THE IDEA THAT WE’LL EFFECTIVELY
BE ABLE TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE
WITHOUT EVEN AN EMBASSY IN
KABUL AND LAUNCH EFFECTIVE
ATTACKS AGAINST HIGH-LEVEL
TERRORISTS AS OPPOSED TO LOW
LEVEL PLANNERS OR FACILITATORS
AS HAPPENED LAST WEEK IS MOSTLY
A FANTASY.
I THINK ANYONE IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WOULD
TELL YOU THE SAME THING.
>> Harris: IF THE
ADMINISTRATION TOUTED LOOK WHAT
THEY DID WITH THE HITS ON
ISIS-K.
>> WE STILL HAD A MILITARY
PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN UNTIL
YESTERDAY.
AFGHANISTAN IS A UNIQUELY
THREATENING PLACE.
IT IS HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY
FROM THE OCEAN.
VERY FEW FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS ON
ITS BORDERS WILLING TO
FACILITATE OUR OPERATIONS.
THAT’S NOT THE CASE WITH ANY
OTHER COUNTRY LIKE YEMEN,
SOMALIA OR SYRIA.
MILITARY HAS OTHER PRESENCES ON
THE GROUND AND EASY ACCESS.
HOW WILL WE COLLECT THE
INTELLIGENCE NOT JUST ON
PLANNERS OR FACILITATORS BUT
HIGH LEVEL TERRORIST
MASTERMINDS?
THE KIND OF INTELLIGENCE WE
DEVELOPED OVER 20 YEARS TO
ALLOW US AN ATTACK COMING FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
AFGHANISTAN IS ONCE AGAIN GOING
TO BECOME A SAFE HAVEN AND
HARDER TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE
FROM ATTACKS ORIGINATING IN
AFGHANISTAN.
>> Harris: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
AL QAEDA AND ANY OTHER OF THOSE
BLOOD THIRSTY TERRORISTS WHO
SQUAT IN AFGHANISTAN UNTIL THEY
CAN HIT US.
WE PRAY THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN.
SENATOR COTTON, THANK YOU VERY