House Committee subpoenas Blinken on Afghanistan withdrawal details

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, scheduled for September 19. This action follows Blinken's refusal to comply with previous requests to appear before the committee. Republican Chairman Michael McCaul has been vocal about the need for accountability, particularly concerning the Abbey Gate bombing that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic evacuation process. McCaul plans to release a report on September 9, detailing findings from a three-year investigation into the withdrawal, which he claims will highlight the administration's failure to adequately prepare for the evacuation and its impact on U.S. personnel safety. The committee's investigation has included over a dozen interviews, with notable testimonies from former White House press secretary Jen Psaki and several high-ranking State Department officials. The testimonies aim to shed light on the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the final days of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The State Department's Afghanistan After Action Review report, released last year, indicated that decisions made by both the Trump and Biden administrations to withdraw troops had severe repercussions for the Afghan government and its security. The report criticized the lack of senior-level consideration for worst-case scenarios during the withdrawal process. As the committee prepares to present its findings, it underscores the urgency of addressing the consequences of the withdrawal and the administration's handling of the situation. The upcoming hearing with Blinken is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing scrutiny of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Overall, the committee's actions reflect a broader demand for transparency and accountability regarding the decisions made during the withdrawal, as well as the tragic outcomes that ensued.