Casey calls for calm in the wake of the withdrawal from Afghanistan

Calling the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan a painful spectacle, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, is calling on Americans to turn down the blame game and concentrate on assisting those trying to escape the Taliban.

Casey said his office alone logged 280 calls about the collapse of Afghanistan as of Wednesday and said congressional offices across the nation are being bombarded with calls for help.

The Scranton Democrat hesitated to talk about how this will impact the nation.

“I don’t’ care what party you’re in, just to watch the last couple of days has been really painful for the country,” Casey said Thursday during a visit to the Tribune-Review in Greensburg. “I think it not only merits examination, but I think what’s happened over the last 20 years warrants a lot of examination. But I don’t think the time for that is now. I think we’d all be better served right now if everyone just held their fire on that until we can examine it more soberly.”

A newly appointed member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Casey said he had some briefings on the withdrawal and expects to learn more over time.

“The most important thing I can do, the president can do and people in both parties can do is to get as many people out of there who want to leave as possible,” he continued.

Casey said his first priority would be assisting American citizens in Afghanistan and those eligible for special immigrant visas. But he also is concerned about how Afghan women will fare under the Taliban. He conceded it could be horrific for women who have stepped forward in Afghan society to assume leadership positions in government and education.

“But I don’t think we should allow that to erase everything that came before it. Because of our fighting men and women, our millions of dollars, government… millions of women and girls went to school they will be benefited over time by that. A lot of other benefits came to that country because of what Americans sacrificed, sometimes sacrificing their lives, sometimes being wounded, sometimes sacrificing time away from their families. I hope we don’t erase that,” he said.