In a heated House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on December 11, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, framing it as a necessary conclusion to America's longest war, as reported by Reuters.
"Our adversaries, including Russia, would have been delighted if we had doubled down and remained stuck in Afghanistan for another 20 years," Blinken argued. He emphasized that the withdrawal allowed the U.S. to redirect resources to address emerging global challenges.
The hearing, marked by sharp partisan exchanges, saw Republican lawmakers, led by Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, fiercely criticize the administration's handling of the withdrawal. McCaul specifically condemned the chaotic evacuation that resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members during a suicide bombing at Kabul airport and left thousands of Afghan allies behind.
"You ignored warnings of collapse from your own personnel," McCaul asserted, highlighting what he described as failures in foresight and planning.
Blinken countered by pointing to efforts to evacuate and resettle both Americans and Afghan allies.
"Every American who wanted to leave Afghanistan has been given the opportunity to do so," he said, noting the ongoing U.S. commitment to assist those still seeking to leave.
The hearing also stressed the broader political fallout from the withdrawal, which has remained a contentious issue. Republicans have sought to lay the blame squarely on President Joe Biden's administration, while Democrats have argued that former President Donald Trump's 2020 agreement with the Taliban initiated the process.
McCaul further revealed that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan would brief the committee on December 17, adding another layer to the ongoing scrutiny.
The withdrawal continues to be a focal point in U.S. politics, with former President Trump—set to return to the White House in January—vowing accountability for those involved in the withdrawal's execution.
"I will ask for the resignation of every senior official who touched the Afghanistan calamity," Trump pledged during his campaign.
The hearing followed months of wrangling between the State Department and the Republican-led committee. In September, Republicans voted to recommend holding Blinken in contempt of Congress for not complying with a subpoena related to the withdrawal.
As the debate over accountability continues, both parties have issued conflicting reports on the withdrawal. While McCaul's September report criticized the administration's evacuation efforts, Democrats have released their own investigation, highlighting the challenges inherited from the previous administration.
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