"Analyzing the Strategic Failures of the Afghanistan Withdrawal"

Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and former Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr. testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reiterating concerns that political decisions outside the Defense Department led to the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. They emphasized that no single mistake can be blamed for the failures, and acknowledged that military leaders recommended keeping some military force in the country beyond the deadline but were overruled by administration officials. The hearing aimed to address unanswered questions from the families of fallen troops, but Democrats dismissed it as a political move ahead of elections, noting that the chaotic withdrawal was preceded by mistakes from multiple presidential administrations.