As Iowa Republicans clamor about the challenges the Biden Administration is having with ending the war in Afghanistan as well as the difficulties in getting special immigrant visas for Afghanis who were allies of the U.S. during the 20-year war, a clarification is in order.

In 2018, President Trump negotiated the release of Mullah Addul Baradar along with 5,000 Taliban prisoners from a Pakistani prison. In 2020, Trump agreed to a full withdrawal from Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for prohibiting Al Qaeda recruiting in Afghanistan. According to Olivia Troye, VP Pence’s Homeland Security/Counter Terrorism advisor, Trump and Stephen Miller deliberately sabotaged the visa process by putting barriers for approval, even under-resourcing and reducing the approval staff. General Mattis’ memo concurs with her. The purpose? Keep Muslims out!

Don’t forget that after losing the 2020 election, Trump refused to let the departments of state and defense cooperate with President-elect Biden’s transition team, until after Biden’s inauguration.

I wonder why Senators Grassley and Ernst, Governor Reynolds and Representative Hinson don’t mention these facts?