"State Department Report Exposes Critical Failures in Afghanistan Withdrawal"
A State Department review has criticized both the Biden and Trump administrations for failing to adequately plan for "worst-case scenarios" ahead of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The report highlighted the lack of clear leadership within the State Department during the crisis and called for improved crisis planning and decision-making processes. The chaotic withdrawal resulted in the rapid fall of Kabul to the Taliban, the collapse of the Afghan government, and the deaths of over 150 Afghan citizens and 13 U.S. service members. The report also noted that the State Department did not adequately prepare for worst-case scenarios due to concerns about signaling a loss of confidence in the Afghan government. The Biden administration has defended its decision to end the war in Afghanistan, but the release of the report on a Friday before a holiday weekend suggests an attempt to avoid media attention.