Texas Rep. Mike McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released a detailed report criticizing the military’s mishandling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. The report highlighted areas of mismanagement and pointed out that President Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan demonstrated a “pattern of callous foreign policy positions.” It disputed Biden’s claim that he was bound by the Doha agreement made by former President Trump and the Taliban, which set a deadline for U.S. withdrawal.
The report also uncovered that Biden and Vice President Harris were advised that the Taliban were already in violation of the Doha agreement, suggesting that there was no obligation for the U.S. to leave Afghanistan. NATO allies had opposed the U.S. decision to withdraw, warning that it would be seen as a strategic victory for the Taliban. The report revealed that the State Department failed to develop a plan to evacuate Americans and allies, despite warnings of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
As the Taliban advanced, warning signs were ignored by the State Department, which refused to reduce its embassy presence. An evacuation plan was not formed until it was too late, leaving Americans and allies stranded. The report criticized former Ambassador Ross Wilson for expanding the embassy as the security situation worsened and for failing to prioritize the evacuation of personnel. The evacuation operation was not ordered until the Taliban had already taken over Kabul.
The report found that few Special Immigrant Visas were processed in the months leading up to the Taliban takeover, resulting in the majority of Americans and Afghan allies being left behind. The State Department failed to provide clear guidelines on who was eligible for evacuation, leading to the evacuation of unvetted individuals. Volunteer groups played a significant role in helping hundreds of American citizens and residents escape Afghanistan.
As the Taliban took over Kabul, warnings of a terror threat were ignored, resulting in the tragic bombing at Abbey Gate that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 150 Afghans. U.S. troops were ordered not to intervene as the Taliban carried out atrocities. Despite intelligence reports warning of an imminent attack, security measures were not adequate to prevent the bombing. The U.S. failed to strike an ISIS-K cell responsible for the attack before the bombing occurred.
The long-term consequences of the botched withdrawal include the Taliban gaining access to billions of dollars in U.S. weapons and funds, using biometric devices to target U.S. Afghan allies, and committing human rights abuses. Women and girls in Afghanistan have faced severe restrictions under Taliban rule, with reports of child brides and disappearances. Additionally, individuals with ties to ISIS-K have crossed the U.S. southern border, leading to arrests and concerns about security threats.
