2 Congress members fly to Kabul amid chaotic evacuation

[demmiblue]

Source: The Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON — Two members of Congress flew unannounced into Kabul airport in the middle of the ongoing chaotic evacuation Tuesday, stunning State Department and U.S. military personnel who had to divert resources to provide security and information to the lawmakers, U.S. officials said.

Officials said Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., flew in on a charter aircraft and were on the ground at the Kabul airport for several hours. Officials said the two men were flying out of Kabul on another charter aircraft, prompting officials to complain that they were taking seats that could have gone to other Americans or Afghans fleeing the country.

Two officials familiar with the flight said that State Department, Defense Department and White House officials were furious about the incident because it was done without coordination with diplomats or military commanders directing the evacuation.

The U.S. military found out about the visit as the legislators' aircraft was inbound to Kabul, according to the officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.

Read more: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/08/24/congress-kabul-evacuation-rep-meijer-moulton/5580577001/?906

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Yeah, that's helpful.

[RockRaven]

1. We were sending a plane over there and didn't put Boebert, Greene, Gohmert, Cawthorne, or Issa

on it? Sounds like a missed opportunity to me...

[rpannier]

5. Devin Mooonez... I mean Nunez would be a good addition if there was room

[Lovie777]

2. Shakes head . . ..

[2naSalit]

3. Saboteurs?

[brooklynite]

13. Seth Moulton is a Democrat...and a former Presidential candidate

[2naSalit]

14. And?

I'm not favorably impressed with that. He had a motive for his stunt and whatever it was, it stinks.

[brooklynite]

15. But you chose to suggest "sabotage".

[2naSalit]

18. It's one variable in a list of variables...

Just happened to stand out as a question that needed asking.

[Drunken Irishman]

20. That did not answer the poster's question.

[Mawspam2]

27. He also challenged Nancy Pelosi for speakership.

I'm not surprised by his idiot stunt. I am surprised Meijer went along. I thought he was smarter. Guess not.

[dalton99a]

30. +1. Moulton clearly lacks decency, courtesy, and common sense.

[Magoo48]

48. Small, diseased frogs leaping from a polluted pond to gain recognition.

[Phoenix61]

4. What a couple of jackasses. nt

[magicarpet]

6. This is like something Tom Cotton would do. No authorization,.. no coordination,.. no prior notice.

Just pull a fast one to get your 15 minutes of fame and attention. Fuck the safety of all others involved in the task of getting Amrricans safely back to our country and out of the war zome that could blow up at any minute.

How selfish,.. how grandstanding,... how thought less.

[KS Toronado]

8. I was thinking more along the lines of Gym Jordan.

[2naSalit]

17. Except...

Gym's too chickenshit to go to a dangerous place.

[KS Toronado]

19. You're probably correct.

Goodnight everyone.

[keithbvadu2]

26. Cotton could again falsely brag about serving as a Ranger.

Cotton could again falsely brag about serving as a Ranger.

[dalton99a]

7. Arrogant assholes.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Lucky they didn't get shot out of the sky by one or both sides. . . nt

[SunSeeker]

10. Oy.

That's 2 more we have to worry about evacuating...and their staff.

[monkeyman1]

11. IT'S CALLED ENDANGERING A MILITARY OPERATION ! HIGHLY CHARGEABLE OFFENSE

[Eugene]

12. Criticism from the White House is scathing.

Rachel Maddow just finished covering this.

"... as moronic as it is selfish..."

[Evolve Dammit]

16. Thrill seeking and show boating to what end? Seems very foolish and dangerous to many.

[Drunken Irishman]

21. They should have been forced to stay until every American was removed.

[Corgigal]

22. Two tough guys gonna fix the world, eh?

Yawn. Where were they 20 years ago. They look like fools.

[Ford_Prefect]

23. Rep. Seth Moulton (D) sees himself as presidential material.

Rep. Peter Meijer (R) was one of the few in his party to publicly accept the 2020 results. He has condemned MTG and voted to impeach TFG. He also voted to end the resolution that enabled the Afghan and Iraq wars.

Moulton was decorated as a Marine who served 4 tours in Iraq. Meijer served as in Iraq as an Intel advisor in-country for a year. Both seem to be part of the centrist group who want different leadership in the house than Pelosi.

Whatever they were doing, or thought they were doing, it had no sanction from either party. IMO they are serious about it and didn't do this primarily for the headlines. They are as far from chicken-hawks as you could ask for.

[Lasher]

24. A breach of ethics.

No purpose but to draw attention to themselves.

[h2ebits]

25. Moulton and Meijer are a disgrace to our country. Throw the book at them!!

[keithbvadu2]

28. Two volunteers... Only need seven more now

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215770638

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/im-gonna-kill-everyone-i-see-ex-navy-seal-who-claimed-to-kill- bin-laden-says-he-could-rescue-americans-in-kabul-with-nine-guys/?utm_source=mostpopular

Ten guys could rescue the Americans?

This guy and nine others could rescue the Americans in Kabul?

That's his plan.

‘I’m Gonna Kill Everyone I See’

After all, there are only thousands of Taliban.

Color those Taliban gone!
.
.
Now we need nine volunteers.

[totodeinhere]

29. Talk about political grandstanding at the risk of endangering innocent life.

Those two should be ashamed of themselves. And I know one was a Democrat, but I don't care. What those two did was self serving and stupid. If you want to alert me for bashing a fellow Democrat then go ahead.

[Galraedia]

31. We don't need this kind of bipartisanship

Seriously.

[quakerboy]

32. How?

Given the situation in Afghanistan.. can just anyone fly in? Like.. Can i just pop over to see it with my own eyes because im curious?

[orleans]

34. seth has a twitter thread with several tweets on his BIG ADVENTURE

Link to tweet

Today with
@RepMeijer
I visited Kabul airport to conduct oversight on the evacuation.

Witnessing our young Marines and soldiers at the gates, navigating a confluence of humanity as raw and visceral as the world has ever seen, was indescribable.

read the whole thread here
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1430330574217093123.html

[SunSeeker]

37. He is getting RIPPED on Twitter! nt

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

35. It would have been more than two congressmen. Each one would have to have members of his staff.

I don't understand whether they personally chartered a flight or hitched a ride on the flights chartered by the government for the refugees. If the latter, they should have to pay for their seats. They should also be censured for flying into an active military operation without prior authorization.

What were these two assholes thinking?

[left-of-center2012]

36. How long were they there?

What did they do while they were there?

I read in one post that they said they went to provide 'oversight'.
How was that done?

[SunSeeker]

38. Apparently just a few hours, long enough to get in the way and risk lives. nt

[left-of-center2012]

40. Long enough for some photo ops

[Rhiannon12866]

39. Rachel Maddow reported on this - video:

Officials Rip Congressmen For Impromptu Afghanistan Trip - Rachel Maddow - MSNBC
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017676851

John Hudson, national security reporter for the Washington Post, talks with Rachel Maddow about the "absolute irate anger" expressed by Biden administration officials at Rep. Seth Moulton and Rep. Peter Meijer for taking it upon themselves to travel to Afghanistan in the midst of extremely intense U.S. operations using all available resources to conduct the largest airlift in history. Aired on 08/24/2021.

[Deminpenn]

41. As if the diplomatic staff and military don't already have

their hands full. These two dolts parachute in and add to the difficulty of the evacuation operation.

[NCjack]

42. Those two asses should have gotten reservations on the last plane out.

[MrModerate]

43. Pelosi needs to rip Moulton a new one. Meijer's just a Republican, and so beyond instruction. n/t

[Mysterian]

44. Not smart enough to stay out of the way

during a high pace operation. Idiots.

[Midnight Writer]

45. They were there "to conduct oversight"? Without coordinating with our military or State Department?

Looks like a stunt, sounds like a stunt.

Like the parents showing up on the honeymoon to see how the kids are getting along. Not helpful and not wanted.

[BlueIdaho]

46. Fucking Show Ponies.

I hope they end up with broom closets for offices until voters can run them out of office.

[sdfernando]

47. Pelosi needs to cuff Moulton....

I'm all for taking away his committee assignments and any other punishments she can mete out. Full restitution for the resources they used, including the military that needed to babysit their asses!

I'm so livid that a DEM would do this!