Washington, DC– A resolution introduced by Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E., (WV-1) demanding President Obama refer to the Taliban in Afghanistan as “terrorists” was approved by the Judiciary Committee today.

The vote comes only hours after the Taliban killed 14 people, including one American, in an attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the hotel was targeted because of the presence of Americans.

“My prayers are with the families of those murdered today, and I call on the President to pursue justice for the victims of this terrorist attack. It is clear the Taliban is a terrorist organization eager to target civilians and murder Americans and they should be labeled as such,” said McKinley.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the Taliban and labeled them “terrorists and enemies of Afghanistan.” White House and State Department officials have repeatedly refused to call the Taliban “terrorists,” despite repeated attacks against civilians, including Americans and other foreigners.

Under federal law, a “foreign terrorist organization” is a group that is:

·         foreign,

·         engaged in terrorist activity, and

·         threatens the security of the United States or its citizens.

“It is past time for the President to call our enemies what they are and label the Taliban ‘terrorists.’ Americans deserve leaders who tell them the truth, not equivocation and misleading wordplay,” said McKinley.

The text of Rep. McKinley’s resolution can be found here and the Judiciary Committee mark-up information here.

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