Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the outgoing chair of the Home International Affairs Committee, stated Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated to testify earlier than the committee in regards to the Biden administration’s withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
“After months of good faith efforts that were too often met with stonewalling from the State Department, I’m proud to have secured Secretary Blinken’s appearance before my committee,” McCaul stated in a press release, posted by the committee on social platform X.
“I trust his testimony will provide some long-overdue accountability and transparency for the American people, our Afghan allies, and our Gold Star families,” he added.
Blinken’s upcoming look comes amid criticism from Republicans towards President Biden and the Pentagon over the removing of troops from Afghanistan in 2021, because the 17-day evacuation from the nation marked one of many decrease factors of the administration.
Simply days into the withdrawal, the Taliban overtook Kabul, rather more rapidly than the administration had anticipated. Crowds gathered round Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport, and dramatic pictures have been seen of individuals falling as they sought to hold on to planes exiting the area.
An estimated 100,000 companions of U.S. authorities efforts have been left behind, a quantity that swells when taking into consideration others weak underneath Taliban rule.
A blast close to the airport, which the Taliban later claimed duty for, additionally led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. They have been posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medals.
The announcement additionally comes following a long-awaited report was launched from GOP members of the Home International Affairs Committee, which paints Biden as decided to go away the nation however fumbling preparations that set the stage for a chaotic and lethal exit from America’s longest conflict.
The report criticizes Biden for a rushed effort no matter counsel from allies and advisers that led to pointless deaths and accuses the Biden administration of failing to see warning indicators of how rapidly Kabul would fall to the Taliban and delaying the planning for and calling of an evacuation — fearing each the optics of such an exit and additional destabilization within the nation.
The Hill has contacted the State Division for remark.
