“The Afghans now at greatest risk are the same ones who have been on the forefront of progress inside their nation,” Bush said Monday in a statement, adding that “we have the responsibility and the resources to secure safe passage for them now, without bureaucratic delay.”
Former President George W. Bush said the United States must “cut the red tape for refugees” in Afghanistan who are trying to flee in the wake of the chaos caused by the Taliban’s rapid takeover of the country.
President Joe Biden said he had informed Bush about his plans to fully withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan before his public announcement in April.
Bush said in an interview last month with the German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle that he was against Biden’s decision and that troop withdrawal from Afghanistan would be particularly devastating for Afghan women, children and other innocent people.
Bush on Monday said he and wife, Laura, were “watching the tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan with deep sadness,” but remained “confident that the evacuation efforts will be effective” because of the military, diplomatic corps and intelligence community working on the ground
