Ross: Will US end up fighting a third war in Afghanistan?

Republicans intend to hold Joe Biden accountable for his decision to leave Afghanistan. … We all know that. Heck, there are even Democrats saying that. But at a press conference yesterday, House Republicans went even further.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy – a member of the gang of eight with access to intelligence briefings – says the latest briefing left him to conclude the evacuation will be a failure.

“There’s no possible way that we can get every American that’s still in Afghanistan out in the next seven days,” McCarthy said.

So, they asked the reporters in the room to put pressure on the president to issue an ultimatum. Texas Republican Jake Ellzey – a veteran of the war – laid out what Biden should say.

“The mission is complete when the mission is complete, and if the Taliban harms a hair on an American’s head, all those aircraft and all those aircraft carriers, those AC-130s, we will rain hell fire down on you until all Americans are out — that’s what this administration needs to be saying,” he described.

Rep. Ellzey is prepared to restart the war if we can’t get everyone out.

Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida agreed, and then went beyond that, saying that the threat to the United States posed by the Taliban in Afghanistan is now greater than ever.

“The Taliban takeover equals al-Qaeda 3.0, and one thing Joe Biden either won’t admit or doesn’t understand is that what happens in Afghanistan doesn’t stay in Afghanistan,” Waltz said. “It spreads like a cancer — it will follow us home.”

If Republicans can take back Congress in 2022, it sounds like their top priority will be to stop that threat.

“I can tell you we’re going to lead that effort from Congress because the administration won’t lead to continue to the fight, and to continue to keep America safe,” Waltz said.

And just to be clear, based on the intel he’s seen, Rep. Waltz says that will mean sending soldiers back to stop the terrorists who he says are already gathering in Afghanistan.

“The intelligence community has been very clear,” Waltz said. “They have the will and the intent to hit us again. So as we head into the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we now face the prospect of our soldiers having to go back in.”

At least for these members of Congress, it isn’t over. They are prepared to return. To learn from the 1980s; to learn from 2001; to pick up the fight where it left off. And this time – get it done right.

Well, as they say, the third time’s the charm.

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