Next month will mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives that day. We were all resolved that terrorism would not reach our soil again. In response, 181,510 Americans enlisted in the ranks of active duty service and 72,908 joined the enlisted reserves in the year following September 11th. Those men and women left their homes, their families, and risked everything. To date, more than 6,294 Service Members and American contractors have given their lives in Afghanistan. More than 52,000 troops have been wounded in combat. Here at home, twenty Veterans a day die at their own hand. In fact, by next month, Veteran suicides since 9/11 will total more than 146,000.
Now the very men and women who valiantly served and followed orders in Afghanistan are witnessing a moment in history that was previously unfathomable. The free Afghanistan of the past twenty years has crumbled into the hands of Taliban rule. It has been horrifying to observe their rapid takeover. As I write this, history’s perception of the War in Afghanistan and of our Veterans is being forged.
How will history remember them? Was their sacrifice in vain?
Certainly not.
As we see images of Afghan natives clinging to planes and falling to their death, the plight of those who remain under Taliban rule is clear. The Afghan people have enjoyed freedom from oppression since 2002, and now their country is slipping away before their eyes. The safety and opportunity they’ve experienced have been ripped away. We have even watched dozens leap onto the wings of an outgoing aircraft to avoid living under the oppressive rule of the Taliban.
Their desperation for freedom should be lost on no one. Our American Veterans not only provided two decades of security and opportunity for millions of Afghans, but they have kept America safe from further terror attacks. We are forever indebted to them.
I also think of our wartime combat interpreters who fought with us, some of whom have already lost their lives at the hand of the Taliban fighters who will show no mercy to American allies. They are brave men and women, Afghan nationals, who were embedded with American troops and promised special immigrant visas upon their faithful service to America. They’re now facing beating, slaughter, and execution of their loved ones— because of their service to America.
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My state of North Carolina stands ready to welcome these heroes who have demonstrated their loyalty to our country. This is not simply a humanitarian gesture— it is our duty.
If the Biden Administration fails to provide them with the Special Immigrant Visas these heroes were promised, what does it say about our country? Will we not stand up and stand by those who fought with us? We need to honor the commitments we made when so many folks took that oath, put their lives on the line to fight for the ideas of America. It’s our turn to honor that commitment and do all we can to help them find freedom.
As former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in the Washington Post last week, “If we do nothing else, we must urgently provide refuge for the Afghans who believed in us. We must demonstrate that we still believe in them.”
Will we stand in the gap for them? Will we honor our commitment to our allies who fought alongside us? Will we keep our moral obligation to our American Veterans and their Afghan counterparts?
And to our Veterans at home, to our military and their families, we salute you, we thank you for your service, and we honor your sacrifice. For the rest of us, let us not forget our North Carolina brothers and sisters who fought so bravely in Afghanistan for our safety and freedom from terror. See them, hear them, help them, and support them. We owe them a great debt.
For Veterans who are struggling, help is available. The Veterans Crisis Line is 800-273-8255.
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