Congress Report: Biden-Harris Afghanistan Withdrawal a Disastrous Failure

The House Foreign Affairs Committee released a 300-page report on the Biden-Harris administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan, criticizing the decisions that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members during a suicide bombing at Kabul airport on August 26, 2021. The report highlights the administration's failure to adhere to the Doha Agreement and its neglect of input from NATO allies and the Afghan government. It argues that the administration prioritized public perception over the safety of U.S. personnel, leading to a series of poor decisions. Key figures such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Afghanistan ambassador Ross Wilson are portrayed as significant contributors to the administration's misguided approach. The report suggests that the administration was overly optimistic about maintaining diplomatic operations while withdrawing military forces, resulting in a lack of preparedness for the rapid collapse of the Afghan military and the ensuing chaos at the airport. The investigation reveals that threat warnings regarding an imminent ISIS-K attack were disregarded due to concerns about the optics of the situation. This negligence culminated in the Abbey Gate bombing, which was exacerbated by the administration's failure to provide adequate resources for American personnel in Kabul. The report condemns the Defense Department for destroying relevant records and criticizes the administration for obstructing congressional oversight. Ultimately, the report underscores the disastrous consequences of the withdrawal, emphasizing that the decisions made during this period had far-reaching implications for both U.S. foreign policy and the stability of Afghanistan.