Silver State Times

A new poll showed veterans in Nevada did not support how President Joe Biden handled the final withdrawal of U.S. forces in Afghanistan — ending the 20-year war that resulted in the deaths of thousands of American troops.

According to the Facebook survey of veterans, 140 respondents, approximately 88%, disapproved of the exit strategy that took place in August; 10% said they supported the decision and 2% had no opinion. 

Sixteen Nevadans have lost their lives in Afghanistan since the conflict began, according to KDVR.

"Can you believe it? Our President and his staff are excited they were able to collaborate with terrorists to rescue Americans that they should never have left behind. This President should be impeached. Immediately. If not sooner," Nevada Congressional District 4 candidate Sam Peters recently Tweeted.

Nationally, the social media poll targeting veterans in seven states found that 93.4% of respondents did not believe that the withdrawal honored those who served and gave their lives in the conflict. The poll took place from Sept. 1 to Sept. 9 and received 769 responses.

The poll results are similar to the opinion of most Americans when it comes to how the military withdrew from Afghanistan, according to a recent poll from the Washington Examiner, which reported that 69% of citizens disapproved of the exit strategy. 

Part of the criticism the Biden administration faced around the withdrawal is that many Americans and Afghanistan allies were left behind, along with the dramatic photograph of Afghans clinging to U.S. military transport planes while they were traveling on the runway at the international airport in Kabul. 

Before the final pullout, the State Department was not able to assist all the Americans stranded in Afghanistan and instructed people not to call the embassy for help, stating in an official advisory, “Do not call the U.S. Embassy in Kabul for details or updates about the flight," the Wall Street Journal reported. 

In a set of pre-written remarks, Biden stated, “I always promised the American people that I will be straight with you. The truth is: This did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.” However, a former CIA expert says Biden’s statement is “misleading at best” as his agency and others anticipated this scenario and briefed the president months ago, the website justsecurity.org reported.  

Joe Biden denied that his military advisers warned him against a quick withdrawal from Afghanistan “that [he] can recall,” but Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that he was briefed in April about the risks of his strategy, Daily Caller reports.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and his team have set up a hotline for Americans that are stranded in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American forces. Cotton launched a page on his website reading, “If you’re an American stranded in Afghanistan, or know one who is, please contact my office immediately at (501) 223-9081 or evac@cotton.senate.gov. The situation is dire, but we’ll do everything in our power to help keep you informed and to help get you out.”

General Jack Keane told Fox News that Americans have a right to know about the number of Americans stranded in Afghanistan, saying that it is “insulting” that the Pentagon refuses to release the numbers.

The military abandoned 22,174 Humvee vehicles, nearly 1,000 armored vehicles, 64,363 machine guns, and 42,000 pick-up trucks and SUVs in Afghanistan, FEE reports. The list of abandoned weaponry also includes up to 358,530 assault rifles, 126,295 pistols, and nearly 200 artillery units. The Taliban has seized billions in state-of-the-art military helicopters, warplanes, and other aircraft from the US as well.

Forbes reports that the left-behind vehicles "will offer little military value to the Taliban" and that vehicles like the intelligence-gathering drones and Black Hawk helicopters were stripped of sensitive electronics.