Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
In its statement, the Army warns against engaging with unofficial statements circulating on social media platforms.
The Iranian Army confirms in a statement that it has no social media platform.
Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: We moved important equipment out of the Fordow nuclear plant before the attack
"Israel's" Ichilov Hospital confirms recieving 52 wounded from Iranian missile strikes
Iranian TV: Iranian drones penetrated occupied Palestinian airspace and successfully struck several targets
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Tehran: Iranian Arash drones launched toward Israeli targets in occupied Palestine
Israeli media: There were attempts to intercept drones in the northern areas.
Israeli Media: Sirens were activated across wide areas of "Israel," including occupied Ghajar, Kfar Giladi, Kiryat Shmona, and Tel Hai.
Sirens are now sounding in Lotan, Ardanel Ranch, and Yahel
Sirens are sounding in Kibbutz Lotan, north of Eilat, on the border with Jordan, due to suspected drone infiltration

GOP unveils fiery report blaming Biden for Afghanistan withdrawal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Sep 2024 08:55
5 Min Read

The report, stemming from a 3-year investigation led by Representative Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, highlights significant issues with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Listen
  • x
  • Hundreds of people gather near a US air force c-17 transport plane at the perimeter of the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 16, 2021. (AP)
    Hundreds of people gather near a US Air Force C-17 transport plane at the perimeter of the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 16, 2021. (AP)

House Republicans are set to release a long-anticipated report criticizing President Joe Biden's administration for its handling of the chaotic and deadly US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

The report argues that the administration delayed the decision to evacuate noncombatants until August 16, suffered from poor communication both within the US government and with officials in Afghanistan, and mishandled the paperwork for Afghan civilians eligible to leave the country.

The report, stemming from a three-year investigation led by Representative Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, highlights significant issues with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It asserts that "America’s credibility on the world stage was severely damaged after we abandoned Afghan allies to Taliban reprisal killings — the people of Afghanistan we had promised to protect."

Additionally, it notes that "the moral injury to America’s veterans and those still serving remains a stain on this administration’s legacy."

Why it matters

The withdrawal has become highly politicized as the November 5 US presidential election approaches. Last month, Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump filmed a campaign video at Arlington National Cemetery, where he participated in a ceremony honoring troops who died during the evacuation.

Trump has also criticized President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during his campaign appearances, holding them personally responsible for the deaths at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate.

On August 26, 2021, as US forces were allegedly aiding Americans and Afghans fleeing the country amid the hasty US withdrawal, an ISIS bombing at the Abbey Gate killed 13 Americans, adding to the sense of defeat following two decades of war.

Dive deeper

Related News

US Judge allows Trump admin. to keep Mahmoud Khalil in custody

New York protest condemns Israeli aggression on Iran, US war funding

Harris is the Democratic presidential nominee. Democrats argue that some responsibility for the chaotic withdrawal—occurring less than seven months into Biden’s presidency—should also fall on Trump, who initiated the withdrawal process by signing a deal with the Taliban in 2020.

"When former President Trump took office, there were approximately 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan. Days before leaving office, the former President ordered a further reduction to 2,500," said Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to committee Democrats regarding the investigation. 

Republican committee aides have dismissed this argument as partisan, suggesting that Biden had the option to either ignore or enforce Trump’s agreement. They accuse officials from Biden’s administration of allowing the Taliban to ignore its obligations.

Approximately 800,000 US servicemembers served in Afghanistan during a 20-year-long occupation. Throughout the conflict, 2,238 US service members were killed and nearly 21,000 were wounded, while independent estimates report that over 100,000 Afghan security forces and civilians lost their lives. Representative Michael McCaul has subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken three times regarding the Afghanistan investigation, with the latest subpoena issued last week, demanding his in-person testimony.

'US State Department was central to Afghanistan withdrawal'

Issued Tuesday, the subpoena orders Blinken to appear before the committee on September 19 or face contempt charges.

"The Committee is holding this hearing because the Department of State was central to the Afghanistan withdrawal and served as the senior authority during the August non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO)," McCaul explained in a letter to Blinken.

"As Secretary of State throughout the withdrawal and NEO, you were entrusted to lead these efforts and to secure the safe evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies...You are therefore in a position to inform the Committee’s consideration of potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal, including potential reforms to the Department’s legislative authorization."

According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken testified regarding the matter over 14 times and is unavailable on the committee's recommended dates.

Miller expressed that "it is disappointing that instead of continuing to engage with the Department in good faith, the Committee instead has issued yet another unnecessary subpoena."

Read more: Smotrich slams US 'hypocrisy'; reminds ally of Iraq, Afghanistan war

McCaul's decision comes after a protracted dispute between the committee and the State Department over access to papers relating to the US departure from Afghanistan, which Republicans have characterized as chaotic and botched.

The State Department issued its Afghanistan report on June 30, blaming both the Trump and Biden administrations for the catastrophic pullout in August 2021.

According to the unclassified Afghanistan After Action Review (AAR), "The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security." The team found that during both administrations, "there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow."

Read more: UNICEF: Almost 16 million children sleep hungry in Afghanistan

  • United States
  • Afghanistan
  • US elections 2024
  • Antony Blinken
  • US withdrawal From Afghanistan

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • Today
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Global condemnations mount against Israeli aggression on Iran
Politics

Global condemnations pour in against Israeli aggression on Iran

President Donald Trump attends the UFC 316 mixed martial arts event Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey (AP)
MENA

US denies role in attacks on Iran, yet vows to defend 'Israel'

Vehicles drive past an anti-Israeli banner showing missiles being launched, in a square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Political, military Iranian figures vow revenge, slam US complicity

AEOI condemns IAEA silence after Israeli aggression on nuclear site
Politics

AEOI slams IAEA's silence despite Israeli aggression on nuclear site

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS