With the Afghanistan debacle still earning President Biden (D) his fair amount of criticism, the US has seemingly started to move on from the messy situation. However, US. Rep Michael Waltz (R-FL) is concerned there are new axis powers on the rise in Asia.
A former Green Beret and avid Biden critic, Waltz appeared on Fox News in which he gave further detail of the current state of Afghanistan. While many bash Biden on assigning too much trust to the Taliban, Waltz is furious that the United States lost an extremely valuable and strategic base bordering China—Bagram Air Base.
Waltz reportedly asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III directly, "Why would we give away the only base in the world that we have that physically borders China and its back door, but also sandwiched between Russia and Iran." Adding it's a "12,000-foot runway there.":
Bagram Air Base, bordering China & sandwiched between Russia & Iran, was our most critical strategic base in the world. Without it, we & our allies are now blind in the region.
If China had an air base in Mexico, would they give it up for free? pic.twitter.com/dcwSuBHzL2
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) September 12, 2021
The Congressman warned that losing bases in the region could cost us strategically with China in terms of issues arising in Taiwan and staying in their "backyard."
Not only would this have been beneficial from a militaristic standpoint, but Waltz believes that it would have been critical to be the "eyes and ears" on "critical infrastructure that we could have held at risk," in reference to China's major semiconductor.
Waltz also showed concern for the nation of India. "A critical ally in the 21st Century and the largest democracy, and very very concerned about the CCP. Well, guess what, China now has a new ally against India, with this axis from China to Pakistan, to the Taliban."
