Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, is set to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, marking his first appearance since retiring. This hearing presents an opportunity for Milley to potentially provide new insights into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Accompanying Milley will be retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who served as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander during the 2021 withdrawal. Both generals have previously testified before Congress regarding the operation's shortcomings, with Republicans suggesting they may have been more reserved in their comments while still serving under President Biden.
In their previous testimonies, Milley and McKenzie revealed that they had advised Biden to maintain a small U.S. force in Afghanistan rather than executing a complete withdrawal. Milley has openly acknowledged the operation as a 'strategic failure,' expressing regret over its outcome.
Despite the tragic loss of 13 U.S. servicemembers and the abandonment of numerous Afghan allies to Taliban control, President Biden reportedly stands by his decisions during the withdrawal. An upcoming book suggests that Biden believes his team acted to the best of their abilities given the circumstances, with no resignations offered post-operation.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing follows months of Republican investigations into Biden's handling of the withdrawal. Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has persistently called for the State Department to release documents related to the operation, including interview notes from the Afghanistan after-action report.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has thus far declined to provide the requested documents, which highlighted senior officials' failure to adequately prepare for all potential outcomes of the operation. The book, 'The Internationalists: The Fight to Restore Foreign Policy After Trump,' sheds light on Biden's unwavering support for his team post-withdrawal.
As the nation awaits the testimonies of Gen. Milley and Gen. McKenzie, the hearing is anticipated to offer further clarity on the decision-making processes and challenges faced during the tumultuous Afghanistan withdrawal.
