A new report released by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Sunday has shed light on the Biden-Harris administration’s blunders that resulted in the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
According to the 354-page report, the administration failed to heed recommendations from NATO and senior military officials about the withdrawal, putting American troops in danger and leading to the horrific Abbey Gate suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 13 service members. The report also alleges that the administration disregarded conditions set in the Doha Agreement and ignored pleas from the Afghani government, while also “directly lying to the American people” about the withdrawal process.
The report contains testimonies from 18 administration officials, including former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, former Acting Ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson, and Gen. Austin Miller. Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that “optics were prioritized over security” in the administration’s decision-making concerning the withdrawal.
The Abbey Gate bombing killed approximately 170 civilians and resulted in an estimated $7 billion worth of military equipment falling into the hands of the Taliban. Despite the outcry from Gold Star families and the alarming repercussions of the withdrawal, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declared that it was the “correct policy choice” just two days after the attack took place in August 2021.
The report highlights the administration’s pattern of “misleading and lying” to the American people throughout the withdrawal process, from the initial decision to withdraw until the present day. It accuses the National Security Council and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan of being the main sources of this misinformation campaign.
Moreover, the report emphasizes the detrimental impacts of the withdrawal, including the degradation of U.S. national security as Afghanistan once again becomes a safe haven for terrorists like al Qaeda and ISIS-K. It also raises concerns about America’s reputation on the world stage, as allies were abandoned and Afghan allies who were promised protection faced retaliatory killings from the Taliban. The report also notes the harm inflicted on American veterans and active-duty service members as a result of the botched withdrawal.
Vice President Kamala Harris herself confirmed in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash in April 2021 that she was the “last person in the room” when President Joe Biden made the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. She also stated that she was “comfortable” with the decision. White House officials have maintained that the withdrawal was the “right thing to do,” despite the damning revelations in the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s report.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is getting to the bottom of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. The decision to remove all troops regardless of conditions being met was reckless and deadly. People deserve to know what happened and will learn more in tomorrow’s report. pic.twitter.com/E0VrAvphje
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) September 8, 2024
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his dismay at the lack of consequences for the debacle, stating that “not a single administration official was fired over this catastrophe.” He went on to criticize the administration for prioritizing optics instead of being held accountable and ensuring the safety of American personnel.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s report paints a damning picture of the Biden-Harris administration, highlighting their disregard for recommendations, their history of dishonesty and evasion, and their failure to take responsibility for the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. This failure has led to severe consequences for American troops, U.S. national security, and the country’s reputation on the world stage.