Foreign Affairs leaders review Afghan dissent cable; McCaul wants all committee members to view it.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), a ranking member of the committee, recently viewed a dissent cable from the time of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan at the State Department.

The Dissenters Were Right

Although the classified information in the cable cannot be discussed, McCaul stated that “the dissenters were right–and the administration should have listened.”

The committee had subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken in March for the cable, which warned about the Taliban quickly gaining ground and the Afghan forces falling apart. The cable also gave suggestions on how to expedite an evacuation and alleviate the situation.

State Department Urged to Release Cable

The cable, dated July 13, 2021, also called for the State Department to use tougher language in describing the atrocities being committed by the Taliban. The withdrawal from Afghanistan was completed on Aug. 30, 2021.

McCaul is calling on the State Department to allow other committee members to view the cable and will decide on the next course of action if the department continues to block access.

Takeaways

• The dissent cable warned about the Taliban’s rapid gains and the Afghan forces falling apart during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• The cable gave suggestions on how to expedite an evacuation and alleviate the situation.
• The cable also called for the State Department to use tougher language in describing the atrocities being committed by the Taliban.
• House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Rep. Gregory Meeks viewed the cable and stated that “the dissenters were right–and the administration should have listened.”
• McCaul is calling on the State Department to allow other committee members to view the cable and will decide on the next course of action if the department continues to block access.

It is important for the State Department to release the dissent cable to the public and allow for transparency in the decision-making process during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.