US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed a new thorough examination of the US military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 a mission that was plagued by deadly violence and broad criticism. The retreat resulted in the deaths of 13 American troops and more than 150 Afghan civilians in a suicide bombing conducted by Islamic State extremists at Kabul’s international airport.
Even after several prior reviews by the Pentagon, State Department, and Republican-sponsored House inquiries, Hegseth stated an even wider review was now necessary to hold people accountable and regain faith in military command. The Biden administration, which was responsible for the last withdrawal, has blamed the botched exit on troop drawdowns and deals negotiated under the Trump administration, including a 2020 agreement with the Taliban that paved the way for US exit.
Trump, however, has all along accused President Biden of bungling the evacuation. Hegseth’s action is likely to face charges of politicizing the matter in an election year.
In a memo, Hegseth said that following three months of internal review, a formal and comprehensive review is needed with the lives lost and equipment left behind during the operation. “This is an important step towards earning back faith and trust with the American people and all who wear the uniform,” he said.
The review will be conducted by Pentagon senior adviser Sean Parnell and will feature the voices of those who served in Afghanistan, including former Marine Stuart Scheller, who openly criticized the withdrawal while in uniform.
Senior leaders such as then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley previously testified to Congress about the withdrawal. US Central Command also carried out an earlier probe into the bombing at the airport.
The new review seeks to paint a more comprehensive picture of what went wrong and how to prevent such failures in future military missions.
