Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a former Marine and Iraq war veteran, called on the Trump administration to pull U.S. forces out of Afghanistan, saying their presence runs counter to national interests.
“It’s draining our treasury, it’s draining our military,” Gallego told Hill.TV during an interview on Wednesday.
“The only winners who really come out of this by us being bogged down is Russia and China,” he added.
Gallego insisted that the U.S. has accomplished its goals and objectives, adding that American troops have already helped establish a self-sustaining Afghan government and army.
“Honestly, I would just like to see for us to just get out of there,” he told Hill.TV. “Our goals and objectives are done.”
Gallego’s comments come on the 18th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93, which lead to the invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump held a moment of silence at the White House in honor of the victims of the attack.
House and Senate leaders also led a commemoration ceremony on Capitol Hill.
Observances in New York and at the Pentagon and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania were also held.
—Tess Bonn
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.