Pentagon review of US withdrawal from Afghanistan likely before midterm elections
A Pentagon review of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan is likely to be released before the US midterm elections on Nov. 3, 2024, according to a Washington Post report, citing several current and former US military officials. However, the exact date of publication has not yet been determined.
The report, being compiled based on interviews with senior military officers, may include recommendations for disciplinary action against generals involved in the withdrawal process. Some informed sources say the timing of the report’s release is likely influenced by political motives.
Donald Trump, the former US president, repeatedly sharply criticised the disorganised withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan during his 2024 campaign and promised to hold accountable those involved in decision-making under Joe Biden’s administration.
Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of war, ordered the review of the event and stressed that those involved must be held accountable. He had predicted that the full report would be ready by the end of this year. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson overseeing the review, said the aim is to produce a comprehensive and transparent report on the events of August 2021 and identify failures to prevent such incidents from happening again.
One of the most tragic events of that period was a suicide attack by Islamic State near Kabul airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed about 1,170 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members.
The relevant authorities have yet to decide how to hold the generals involved accountable, and options under discussion include recalling retired officers to active duty for disciplinary proceedings or issuing formal reprimands. Some of these generals are still serving in important military posts.
At the same time, there are differing views on responsibility for the collapse of Afghanistan’s former government and the withdrawal of forces. Some generals had warned that the Afghan government was on the verge of collapse and consider the Doha agreement between the Trump administration and the Taliban a key factor in the fall of the former government.
Biden administration officials say their options for continuing a presence in Afghanistan were limited after the Doha deal with the Taliban, and they have supported President Biden’s decision to end the military presence.
The Washington Post report also said senior Biden administration officials, including Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, did not take part in recent Pentagon interviews.
