U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement on the end of the United States military presence in Afghanistan:
"Today, America’s longest war comes to an end. Yet the commitment to all who fought there is still not complete, as we work to ensure safe passage for any Americans, Afghan partners, and foreign nationals who still want to leave Afghanistan. Our deepest thanks go to our brave men and women in uniform who served courageously, and at great cost, over this two-decade conflict. We owe special gratitude to those who just executed the largest airlift in U.S. history, with over 120,000 U.S., Afghan and ally citizens evacuated – a truly remarkable feat. Ending this mission now, while extremely difficult, is the surest way to avoid increasingly dangerous conditions for our troops and allies on the ground. Going forward, we will continue to work with our partners in the region to ensure continued departures and humanitarian assistance. We must also help welcome our Afghan allies to their new homes around the globe, and here in the United States. Today, a brutal conflict ends, but the debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who served and made the ultimate sacrifice to complete this mission, will forever be owed by our nation."
