Veterans in Congress urge Biden to put a War on Terror memorial on the National Mall as US troops withdraw from Afghanistan and Taliban runs rampant
A group of 25 lawmakers who served in the US military are asking Joe Biden for a meeting to discuss placing a Global War on Terrorism memorial on the National Mall to honor 'the past two decades of conflict and sacrifice' as American troops near completion of their full withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In a letter sent on Monday, the bipartisan For Country Caucus begins their message by acknowledging the looming 20th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks.
'As we prepare to observe that somber milestone and remember the nearly three thousand lives taken that fateful day, we also honor the more than 2.7 million men and women who have voluntarily served in the United States Armed Forces over the past two decades of conflict and sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism ,' the members of Congress write.
Four lawmakers within the For Country Caucus are leading the push to erect the memorial: (left to right) Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
The lawmakers praise Biden on his 'leadership' in getting past war memorials enacted before restating that it was time to commemorate the country's longest war
The United States' longest war is finally drawing to a close after Biden set a formal deadline for a full military withdrawal on September 11th of this year. The drawdown is expected to be complete at the end of this month.
Nearly 2,500 US troops have been killed and 20,666 wounded in the war since 2001, according to the Associated Press. It’s estimated that over 3,800 US private security contractors have been killed, though the Pentagon does not track their deaths.
'As the United States withdraws troops from Afghanistan, it is more urgent than ever that we offer our nation’s veterans, servicemembers, and their families a place to heal and reflect,' the lawmakers state.
The For Country Caucus is hoping for White House backing to formally authorize the memorial's construction on the National Mall
Their request comes as Taliban aggression against the Afghan government ramps up at an alarming speed in the wake of US troops' exit.
As of Monday morning the extremist group controls six capital cities out of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
Two lawmakers told the Associated Press that Aybak, capital of the war-torn country's Samangan province, fell to the Taliban without resistance Monday. They said government officials had fled.
The Taliban recently took control of Kunduz, the capital of northern Kunduz province, according to the New York Times.
The 25 Congressional veterans' request to Biden comes as the Taliban takes over Afghanistan government-controlled land at an alarming pace (pictured: Taliban fighters stand guard in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan, on Monday August 9th)
The Taliban's dramatic takeover comes as US and NATO forces near a full military withdrawal from the war-torn country (pictured: US forces at Bagram Air Base outside of Kabul in 2017)
In 2017 Donald Trump signed the Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act, which authorized the funding and construction of the memorial on federal land. It also provides an exemption for the normal 10-year waiting period from the end of a conflict after which a memorial can be built.
Now the lawmakers, led by Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) in the House and Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), are asking Biden to authorize The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act.
The law is 'the final step needed to authorize construction of the memorial on the National Mall,' the military veterans write.
They add that White House supporting GWOT veterans with the memorial would 'ensure this legislation's prompt passage into law.'
'We appreciate your continued support for our veterans, servicemembers, and their families as well as your leadership in helping establish the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans memorials,' the letter reads. 'Twenty years after September 11th, now is the time to begin the establishment of a memorial for the thousands who served in America’s longest war.'
'We respectfully request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss this legislation and to ask for your help in making this memorial a near-term reality.'