Committee begin to investigate Biden’s Afghan withdrawal

OAN Brooke Mallory
UPDATED 2:14 PM PT – Wednesday, March 8, 2023

House Republicans demanded more information from the Defense and State Departments heads regarding President Joe Biden’s withdrawal form Afghanistan on August 20, 2021.

“U.S. servicemen and women lost their lives, Americans were abandoned, taxpayer dollars are unaccounted for, the Taliban gained access to military equipment, progress for Afghan women was derailed, and the entire area is now under Taliban control,” James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, stated.

Other Republicans such as Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, expressed concern that this order and decision was simply an administrative one. “stunning failure” Biden provided leadership, which enabled the Taliban to rapidly take over Kabul’s capital as American troops prepared for withdrawal.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee will begin its first hearing in front of the 118 on Wednesday.^Th Congress is investigating the disastrous withdrawal by the Biden Administration that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. military personnel and 170 civilians.

Surprisingly thousands of American citizens and their allies had to leave the Taliban-controlled nation after a suicide bomber detonated explosives nearby the Hamid Karzai Airport.

An aide to the GOP committee stated that this hearing would be dual-edged, and serve both as a reminder of past events. “scene-setter” An opportunity for veterans to speak about their experience on the ground, and to remind them why it is important to conduct an investigation.

Many military personnel feel like our government ignores the trauma caused by this incident. Even now, 18 months later, many of them wish the chaotic process wasn’t brushed under the carpet and ignored.

“What happened in Afghanistan was a systematic breakdown of the federal government at every level – and a stunning failure of leadership by the Biden administration… As a result, the world watched heartbreaking scenes unfold in and around Kabul airport. I want every gold and blue star family member, and every veteran out there who watch this hearing to know: I will not rest until we determine how this happened – and hold those accountable responsible,” McCaul, Chairman

Some of those present included former Specialist Aidan Gunderson, an Army medic, who saw the evacuation at Kabul’s airport. Also, the Executive Chairman of Allied Airlift 21 Francis Q. Hoang and founder of Operation Pineapple Express, Lt. Col. (Ret.) (Ret.)

Scott Mann, Gunderson and their Task Force Pineapple operation had succeeded in evacuating around 1000 Afghan allies. Michael McCaul stated that he would request to inspect the classified cable dissenting from the U.S. State Department. This was in order to get a warning regarding the declining security situation and to stress the urgent need to evacuate all U.S. allies.

McCaul issued a critical interim report in August 2022 highlighting his findings from the investigation into withdrawal. According to McCaul, the failure of U.S. military personnel from Afghanistan to be evacuated by the government could pose a serious national security risk.

Democrats issued a reply memo in response to Republicans’ criticism of the bill as being “against all reasonable measures”. “partisan report” This is it “riddled with inaccurate characterizations, cherry-picked information, and false claims.”

Adrienne Watson was the spokesperson for National Security Council. She wrote this memo.

“Bringing our troops home strengthened our national security by better positioning us to confront the challenges of the future and put the United States in a stronger place to lead the world,” Watson stated.

“Tactical and strategic failures” The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability will question these questions and determine the basis for their decision to intensify investigation into the withdrawal. They intend to demand answers from Biden’s highest officials.

Over the course of nearly twenty years, approximately 2,500 service personnel and 3,800 contractors from the United States died.