During a recent press conference, Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs John Kirby stated that during the Afghanistan withdrawal, "For all this talk of chaos, I just didn't see it." Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) responded harshly, "Either the @DeptofDefense forgot, or they weren't paying attention," adding, "Chaos doesn't even begin to describe it."
"Either the @DeptofDefense forgot, or they weren't paying attention. "Chaos" doesn't even begin to describe it. It's outrageous. Their aversion to taking responsibility has them denying a botched withdrawal that cost 13 servicemembers their lives," said Sen. Scott.
Either the @DeptofDefense forgot, or they weren't paying attention. "Chaos" doesn't even begin to describe it.
It's outrageous. Their aversion to taking responsibility has them denying a botched withdrawal that cost 13 servicemembers their lives. https://t.co/9r258MqNw7
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) April 7, 2023
Sen. Scott has been fiercely critical of the Biden Administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal since August 2021, when he called President Biden "unfit to lead." Scott had also been calling for investigations into why the evacuation went so poorly, condemning Democrats for their "shamefully silent" attitude, introducing a bill to begin formal investigation early this February.
To her credit, former Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) did call photos coming from Afghanistan "heartbreaking" and pledged support in aid.
Other Florida Republicans, most notably Representative Mike Waltz, have been equally vociferous in their condemnation.
Most recently, when Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated he held "no regrets" on the withdrawal, Rep. Waltz called the remarks "sad and pathetic," "gutting," "heart-wrenching," and "disappointing."
"I think this current world in chaos started with the debacle; the withdrawal from Afghanistan. And it was gutting and heart-wrenching and disappointing today to hear the Secretary of Defense say, number one, he has no regrets, and number two, not a single military officer has been disciplined, relieved, removed, anything as a result of that," said Rep. Waltz.
Representative Cory Mills, who had personally rescued an American family trapped in Afghanistan, similarly ripped President Biden as "single-handedly" arming the Taliban, which only emboldened America's adversaries.
"Joe Biden has singlehandedly armed and equipped one of the worst terrorist organizations in the world, and there needs to be transparency and accountability held," Rep. Mills told Fox.
