Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday denounced what he called the “mismanagement” that led to the chaos in Afghanistan amid the United States’ withdrawal, saying the situation was a “catastrophe” after the Taliban takeover of Kabul left many fearing for their lives.
“The mismanagement that led to the catastrophe unfolding in Afghanistan has needlessly endangered Americans and our allies,” Baker said in a tweet. “I am deeply thankful for the men and women who have fought to protect the homeland and pray for the safety of all of those now serving.”
In a follow-up tweet, Baker also indicated that Massachusetts would accept Afghan refugees. US forces are in the process of evacuating Afghans who aided the US government during the 20-year war.
“Massachusetts is ready to assist Afghan refugees seeking safety and peace in America,” he said.
Massachusetts is ready to assist Afghan refugees seeking safety and peace in America.
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— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) August 17, 2021
On Tuesday, Pentagon officials said they are coordinating with the Taliban and bringing in thousands of additional US troops to finish evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from the Kabul airport within two weeks.
Afghanistan has plunged into chaos in recent days after its government collapsed, the president fled the country, and the Taliban took control of its capital. Afghans attempting to leave Kabul flooded its airport Monday, leaving at least seven people dead in the chaos, including some who plunged to their deaths after clinging to a US military jet as it took off.
Baker’s statement comes as President Biden has faced criticism over the withdrawal, which has sparked comparisons to the end of the Vietnam war. On Monday Biden said in a speech that he stood by the decision to pull US troops from the country, and blamed the collapse of the government on the refusal of the Afghan military to fight the Taliban advance.
Biden returned to the White House from Camp David to give his Monday address, in which he said he did not regret the decision to end the longest military conflict in US history and acknowledged that the Taliban’s takeover had come faster than the US anticipated.
To those who criticized the withdrawal, Biden asked: “How many more generations of America’s daughters and sons would you have me send to fight Afghans — Afghanistan’s civil war, when Afghan troops will not?”
Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, a Republican, on Tuesday asked the Biden administration for information on how many New Hampshire residents there may be stranded in Afghanistan, citing “countless calls” to his office from constituents.
Massachusetts’ congressional representatives have expressed concern for the safety of US personnel and allies in Afghanistan while acknowledging the futility of the US’ decades-long effort there. Some said Biden did the best he could with the situation he inherited.
Representative Ayanna Pressley of Boston said that “the tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan are further proof that the US policy of forever wars — endless occupation and intervention — will not bring lasting peace to the region.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a statement Monday that Biden made the right decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after inheriting the Trump administration’s deal with the Taliban.
“I agree with him that an endless military presence in another country’s civil conflict is not in our nation’s interest,” she said. “Now, it is our moral responsibility to immediately admit more refugees and to ensure the safety of those who aided the United States throughout this conflict.”
Senator Ed Markey said in a statement after Biden’s speech that the events of the past week “demonstrate how ineffective a 20-years long effort to prop up the Afghan military and government was” and the need for the United States to prioritize diplomacy over the use of force to stop wars before they begin.
Massachusetts has offered to assist fleeing refugees in the past. In 2014, former governor Deval Patrick said in an emotional speech that the state would provide temporary shelter for up to 1,000 children who crossed the US-Mexico border, submitting two locations in the state for federal approval, though they ultimately weren’t needed.
Jim Puzzanghera of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Material from The Associated Press was used.
Amanda Kaufman can be reached at amanda.kaufman@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandakauf1.
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