House Foreign Affairs Committee leaders can view Afghan dissent cable, says State Department.

Jackson RichmanMay 18, 2023

Breaking News: State Department Agrees to Allow House Committee to View Dissent Cable

After months of tension and back-and-forth, the State Department has finally agreed to allow House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Democratic Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) to view a dissent cable from the time of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

During a briefing at the State Department, principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel announced that the department sent a letter to the committee on May 17 with an offer to view the dissent cable at the State Department in camera, with appropriate personal information redacted.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Refused to Hand Over the Cable

This announcement comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeatedly refused to hand over the cable in accordance with a committee subpoena. The committee subpoenaed Blinken in March for the cable, which shows the U.S. Embassy in Kabul warning Foggy Bottom about the Taliban quickly gaining ground and the Afghan forces falling apart. They gave suggestions on how to expedite an evacuation and alleviate the situation.

The cable, dated July 13, also called for the State Department to use tougher language in describing the atrocities being committed by the Taliban, according to The Wall Street Journal.

What Does This Mean?

This is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The dissent cable could shed light on the decision-making process and provide insight into why the evacuation was so chaotic and deadly.