Another Joe Biden nominee is drawing backlash from Republicans, this time for her role in the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Tracey Jacobson, who has been nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, was in charge of the visa program to evacuate Afghan allies during the Taliban takeover in 2021. This has raised serious concerns among veterans, who see her nomination as a “slap in the face” and a prime example of “failing up” within the Biden administration.
Retired Army Lt. Colonel Scott Mann, who led Operation Pineapple Express to evacuate hundreds of Afghan allies, called out Jacobson for her lack of accountability during the chaotic withdrawal. He pointed out that while 13 American service members tragically lost their lives during a terrorist attack at the airport in Kabul, there are still 150,000 U.S. allies waiting to escape Afghanistan.
Mann’s criticism echoes that of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, who slammed Jacobson for her role in the “catastrophic” withdrawal and the abandonment of hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies.
“The U.S. State Department role in all of this has been a colossal embarrassment and this promotion is just another slap in the face to the veteran population,” Mann told DailyMail.com.
“Instead of being held to account and relieved her duties [Jacobson] was promoted,” he continued.
But it’s not just her failure during the withdrawal that has Republicans outraged. Jacobson’s nomination also serves as a glaring example of the lack of consequences within the Biden administration. Despite her glaring mistakes and mishandling of the visa program, instead of being held accountable, she has been rewarded with a prestigious ambassadorship. This promotion is just another example of the Biden administration’s refusal to take responsibility for their disastrous actions. And now, they are even doubling down on their failures by promoting those responsible for them.
No words…
Tracey Jacobson Abandoned Our Afghan Allies. Now She’s Getting a Promotion. https://t.co/4ayuyRo4Dy
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) February 1, 2024
The fact that it has been 900 days since the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and there has been no accountability is a slap in the face to the brave men and women who served our country and the Afghan allies who put their lives on the line to help us. These allies are now being hunted and killed by the Taliban, and Jacobson’s nomination to such a prestigious position only adds insult to injury.
Joe Biden administration official accused of abandoning 150,000 US allies in bungled Afghanistan withdrawal is PROMOTED to US ambassador to Iraq
The White House nominated Tracey Jacobson, 59, as the new envoy to Baghdad.
The deadly pullout from Baghdad was an embarrassment to… https://t.co/VMDQvGdPmQ
— Jungle Ball (@JungleBall_) February 1, 2024
Republicans in Congress are speaking out against Jacobson’s nomination and sending a clear message to the American people that this administration has no regard for justice or accountability. Come November, it’s up to the voters to hold this administration accountable and to make sure that politicians who prioritize political connections over competence are ousted from office. Enough is enough. It’s time for real leadership and accountability in the White House.
