Biden’s appeasement of Taliban in Afghanistan is worsening the American hostage crisis, top Republican Michael McCaul warns: Wife of husband held against his will by terrorists tearfully says he’s ‘forgotten’ by the administration

Top Republican Michael McCaul is shining a light on the growing number of Americans being held hostage in Afghanistan, which he says is being perpetuated by the Biden administration’s appeasement of the Taliban.

McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is hosting a hearing today on the administration’s policies in the wake of the Biden administration’s deadly withdrawal from the country in August 2021.

According to his opening statement, first obtained by DailyMail.com, McCaul has called Afghanistan a “safe haven for terrorists” since the departure of US troops.

He goes on to say that the terrorist group is holding “several” American hostages. “This is unacceptable and demonstrates the deeply flawed approach this administration has taken since the Taliban regained power,” McCaul continued.

His committee also hears Anna Corbett, whose husband has been held hostage by terrorists in Afghanistan for fifteen months. She will testify publicly for the first time on Tuesday.

“We will do everything in our power to bring your husband home,” McCaul said. “I won’t give up the fight easily, and I’m going to fight hard for your man.”

The Biden administration failed to properly plan and foresee Kabul’s rapid collapse amid Afghanistan’s chaotic withdrawal, a damning State Department report has concluded.

Corbett is concerned about his mental health and quality of life when he is eventually brought home.

“We have been unable to schedule health and safety visits for Ryan,” she continued, “let alone secure his release.”

“It is a tragedy for our family… and for the United States,” Corbett continued in a tearful opening statement.

“More Americans are being held by the Taliban today than at any time since the U.S. withdrawal,” McCaul also said in his remarks.

He then describes the worsening humanitarian crisis and how women and girls have to live under ‘house arrest’ every day.

“They are barred from public places and are not allowed to travel outside their homes without a male chaperone,” he says, noting that girls are not allowed to attend school after the sixth grade.

This is the ‘only place in the world’ where there is an education limit, he complains.

“What concerns me is that the Biden administration is pursuing a policy of engagement at all costs and has failed to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes.”

McCaul accuses the Biden administration of “all but recognizing” the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan because of their policies.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee will also hear from Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko during Tuesday’s hearing.

Sopko said the Taliban’s diversion of U.S. humanitarian aid is a major concern.

Now U.S. aid can “finance terrorist activities,” he said.

McCaul added that Taliban interference has increased by 32 percent this year alone.

Republicans have stepped up scrutiny of the Biden administration’s hasty exit from Afghanistan to mark a two-year withdrawal that saw the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans.

The relatives of the 13 US troops killed are still demanding answers as no Biden administration official has taken blame for the horrors that unfolded during the withdrawal.

Over the summer, the committee postponed holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress after he agreed to allow committee leadership to see a secret derogatory cable that employees of the U.S. Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent prior to the Taliban takeover of Kabul on July 13, 2021.

The cable warned of a “deteriorating” security situation and urged the immediate evacuation of allies, a warning the Biden administration failed to heed, Republicans say.

It would have been the first time in American history that a secretary of state had been in contempt of Congress.

The State Department released a scathing 87-page report on Afghanistan’s failed withdrawal in early July, just before the long Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The Americans killed in the blast were: (from left to right, starting with top row) Cpl. Daegan W. Page – Sergeant. Johanny Rosario Pichardo – Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover – Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza – Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum – Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui – Cpl. Hunter Lopez – Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz – Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss – Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez – Marine Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak – Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola – Sergeant. Nicole L. Gee

The State Department released a damning 87-page report on Afghanistan’s failed withdrawal in early July

“Both President Trump and President Biden’s decisions to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,” the report said.

‘These decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the (evaluation) team found that insufficient consideration was given during both administrations to the worst-case scenarios and how quickly they could follow.’

It also outlined several strategic failures as the Taliban overran cities – saying not enough attention was paid to “worst-case scenarios”.

As a result, thousands of allies who helped the US in the war were left behind, and chaos ensued at Hamid Karzai International Airport as men, women and children desperately tried to flee.

Although planning for the evacuation of Kabul had begun “some time” in advance, the State Department was “hampered by the fact that it was unclear who within the ministry was in charge.”