‘Catastrophic' Afghanistan withdrawal review ordered by SECDEF Hegseth
In a Tuesday memorandum sent to senior Pentagon leaders, Hegseth said, 'On August 26, 2021, President Biden's administration led a chaotic withdrawal of US military and embassy officials from Afghanistan that led to the deaths of 13 US Service members and 170 civilians in a suicide bombing at the Kabul International Airport's Abbey Gate. President Trump and I have formally pledged full transparency for what transpired during our military withdrawal from Afghanistan.'
Hegseth explained that the Pentagon has an 'obligation' to the American public and to the U.S. military members who served in Afghanistan to 'get to the facts' behind the U.S. military's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden-Harris administration. The secretary of defense noted that reviewing the facts surrounding the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan is an 'important step' in the Trump administration's efforts to regain the faith and trust of the American people and those who serve in the military.
'Over the last three months, the Department has been engaged in a review of this catastrophic event in our military's history,' Hegseth said. 'I have concluded that we need to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure that accountability for this event is met and that the complete picture is provided to the American people.'
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As part of the comprehensive review of the Afghanistan withdrawal, Hegseth said he is directing Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Sean Parnell to organize a Special Review Panel for the Pentagon to 'thoroughly examine previous investigations,' including 'findings of fact, sources, witnesses,' and to 'analyze the decision making that led to one of America's darkest and deadliest international moments.'
Hegseth added, 'This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation.'
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced that the ISIS-K member identified as the 'top terrorist' behind the tragic Abbey Gate bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, had been arrested and was being transported to the United States to 'face the swift sword of American justice.'
In February, Trump told reporters that while he would not tell Hegseth what to do with regard to the Pentagon's actions against the military leaders responsible for the Afghanistan withdrawal, he 'would fire every single one of them' if he were in Hegseth's position.
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