MONITORING DESK
WASHINGTON: Around two dozen ex-military men in the United States (US), including former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ex-Supreme Allied commander of NATO, and several other former commanders in Afghanistan, sent a letter to Congressional leaders on Saturday urging them to act quickly to save Afghan allies who currently face the risk of deportation.
The retired admirals and generals are specifically asking Congressional leaders to include the Afghan Adjustment Act in the omnibus spending bill, CNN reported on Sunday.
The letter, prepared by #AfghanEvac, said that the bill is not only a moral imperative but also furthers US national security interests.
If legislation fails, US will be less secure
The retired military men write that if the legislation failed to pass, the US would be less protected. As defence professionals, it was and remains their duty to be ready for future conflicts. In any such conflict, the US potential allies will remember what is happening now with its Afghan allies. The US must keep its commitments to claim its allies’ support in the future.
Signatories include names the many renowned figures like ex Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Richard Myers, NATO’s ex-Supreme Allied Commander Admiral Jim Stavridis, and the Special Operations Commander during Al-Qaeda head Osama Bin Laden raid Admiral William H. McRaven.
Other signatories worked as commanders in Afghanistan, including Army Generals David McKiernan, Stan McChrystal, David Rodriguez, and John “Mick” Nicholson Jr.
The letter said that with the legislation, the US would implement the strictest security vetting in its immigration system for Afghans, keeping the country secure. Ex-flag officers pointed out that the bill will maintain the American binding commitments, too often sealed in blood, that were made to its allies who joined the US forces shoulder-to-shoulder.
