Ex-military blame Biden administration for chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
Former U.S. Service Members Blame Biden Administration for Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal
During a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on Thursday, retired Col. Seth Krummrich, retired Col. Christopher Kolenda, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jacob Smith, all former U.S. service members, shared their perspective on the chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan nearly two years ago. They laid the blame squarely on the Biden administration.
Republicans used the hearing to focus on the final weeks of the U.S. military’s presence in Afghanistan, while Democrats argued for broader congressional oversight to learn lessons from the entire war. Krummrich emphasized that the administration controlled the withdrawal process, making them responsible for the failure and the current Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
Despite the advice of top military advisers, President Joe Biden decided to withdraw the entire U.S. military presence in Afghanistan by the end of August 2021. This decision came as a shock to planners like Krummrich, who felt frustrated and let down by the administration’s actions. Kolenda referenced the loss of service members in his unit, highlighting the human cost of the withdrawal.
As the Taliban rapidly gained power in August, the U.S. conducted a noncombatant evacuation operation, evacuating approximately 120,000 at-risk Afghans. However, this operation was marred by tragedy when an ISIS-K terrorist, released from Bagram prison, detonated a suicide bomb, killing 13 U.S. service members and around 170 Afghan civilians.
The families of the fallen service members were present at the hearing, and both lawmakers and witnesses expressed gratitude and recognition for the Gold Star families.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee, under Republican control, has made the withdrawal a priority for investigation. Chairman Michael McCaul has clashed with the State Department and issued subpoenas for requested documents, citing a lack of transparency.
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