New book reveals State Department’s effort to comfort diplomats during Afghanistan withdrawal with therapy dog.

State Department Employees Distressed by Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal

President Joe Biden’s botched 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan left State Department employees in a ‌state of distress. According to a new book by Atlantic reporter Frank Foer, the⁢ deputy secretary of state, Wendy‌ Sherman, found diplomats working on the evacuation in tears. To help ease their pain, the State ​Department brought in a therapy ‌dog.

“Afghanistan was a collective trauma ​for the administration, especially the State Department,” writes Foer in his book The Last Politician. “To deal with the trauma, the State Department brought a ‍therapy dog into the building‌ with the hope that ⁢it might ease⁣ the staff’s​ pain.”

Foer reveals that the rush to ⁤evacuate U.S. forces from Afghanistan, resulting in 13 American deaths and the return of the Taliban to ⁤power, had a particularly‌ strong impact on the State Department. Sherman‌ discovered “grizzled diplomats in tears” ‌when‌ she checked on the team responsible for the evacuation.

Upon ⁣returning to Washington, D.C., veteran⁣ State Department employees ‍fell into a deep depression as Afghanistan descended into chaos under Taliban control. The ‌therapy dog was brought in to uplift their spirits.

“Even in the seat of American power, they⁤ felt‍ the ​shame and anger that comes with the inability to help,” writes Foer.

Support for State Department Employees

The State Department confirmed that therapy ​dogs were brought in to give employees a chance to take a break and relieve stress during the workday. Additionally, mental ‌health professionals were deployed ⁢across the Middle⁣ East to provide employees with additional support for their mental health and trauma.

Investigations and​ Ignored Warnings

In the two years since Afghanistan fell, Congress has been conducting ongoing investigations into the matter.⁤ It has been​ revealed that the Biden administration⁣ ignored the warnings of senior military ‍leaders and proceeded with a rushed evacuation effort, which ultimately‍ led​ to the terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 13 American service members.

“There was very little intelligence to suggest ​the ⁣Biden administration’s plan would work and a⁣ mountain range ⁣of evidence to suggest‌ the plan would fail,” testified retired Col.‍ Seth Krummrich, former chief of staff for special operations at U.S. Central ⁣Command.

Furthermore, ‍U.S. military snipers stationed at the⁣ Afghanistan airport were denied permission⁣ to ‍shoot the terrorist bomber before ⁢the attack, as revealed by ⁣Sergeant Tyler Vargas-Andrews ⁣of the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Plain and simple,‍ we were ignored,” Vargas-Andrews stated. ‍”Our expertise was disregarded. No one was held accountable for our ‍safety.”

Funding the Taliban

Since leaving ‌Afghanistan under Taliban control, the Biden administration has provided over $2.35 ⁣billion in taxpayer aid‌ to the country. This cash is potentially propping up the terrorist group’s government.

“I‌ cannot assure ​the⁣ American taxpayer that‍ we are‍ not currently funding ​the Taliban,” warned John Sopko, the special‌ inspector general for Afghanistan ‌reconstruction, during ⁤his testimony‍ to Congress.