RASC News Agency: A report from the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee reveals that President Joe Biden misled the American public during the “deadly” withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. As reported by NPR on Monday, September 9, the committee asserts that Biden failed to prioritize the safety of Americans during the “catastrophic” evacuation. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stressed that had the U.S. State Department fulfilled its legal responsibilities, the deaths of 13 U.S. Marines during the evacuation could have been avoided. He stated: “If the State Department had performed its duties in accordance with the law and executed a proper evacuation plan, the [ISIS attack at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate] could have been prevented.”
Republicans on the committee further claim that Washington’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has severely undermined U.S. national security. However, Democrats on the committee pointed out that they had no involvement in drafting the Republican-led report and disagreed with its conclusions. The report highlights that the Biden administration had made the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan even without securing the Doha Agreement. It also states that the “U.S.-Taliban agreement” effectively shattered the morale of Afghanistan military forces.
The timing of the report’s release, just a day before the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, has raised questions. Addressing why the report was published now, McCaul stated: “Because our foreign policy is at risk. What transpired after the Afghanistan withdrawal has had global repercussions.” Nevertheless, the White House reiterated its position, asserting that Biden “inherited an untenable situation” and made the correct decision to end the war in Afghanistan rather than escalating U.S. troop involvement.
Previously, the committee had accused Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan peace, of conducting secret negotiations with the Taliban.
