According to a review conducted by the Biden administration, the State Department failed to adequately plan for the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan during the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies. The review places blame on both the Trump and Biden administrations for their actions leading up to and after the U.S. forces’ departure in August 2021. The evacuation managed to bring approximately 124,000 Afghans out of the country.
Critics, particularly Republicans, have accused President Biden of not taking responsibility for intelligence failures that allowed the Taliban to take control of Afghanistan. They also point to the scenes of chaos at Kabul’s airport, where a suicide bombing resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. troops and approximately 170 Afghans. However, President Biden remains defiant, asserting that he was right in his predictions regarding Afghanistan.
In response to the withdrawal, the U.S. conducted a drone strike in July 2022 that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri, showcasing the Biden administration’s “over the horizon” capability to target terrorist groups after the military withdrawal. However, a United Nations monitoring team reported earlier that al-Qaida still considers Afghanistan a safe haven, and the Taliban has not fulfilled its counterterrorism commitments.
The State Department review reveals that while a task force successfully brought nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens out of the country before the withdrawal deadline, there was a failure to establish a broader task force as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated. Additionally, the report states that it was unclear who in the Department had the lead during the military’s evacuation planning.
Both President Trump and President Biden’s decisions to end the military mission in Afghanistan are cited as having serious consequences for the Afghan government and its security. The report finds that there was insufficient consideration of worst-case scenarios and the speed at which they could materialize.
As the Taliban made rapid advances, State Department personnel received an overwhelming number of calls and messages from various entities requesting assistance in saving individuals trapped in the country. However, according to the report, the guidance provided to staff was confusing and did not adequately address the real-world conditions at the time.
The State Department has taken the lessons learned from Afghanistan into account during evacuations in Ukraine and Sudan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of the review, stating that it is crucial for building a stronger Department that can respond effectively to future challenges.
The Biden administration released parts of the State report, completed in March 2022, just before the July 4 holiday weekend. However, most of the report remains confidential, similar to internal assessments from the Pentagon and State Department. Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, called for the full report to be released, accusing the administration of attempting to conceal their responsibility in the chaotic evacuation.
In response to these calls, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the report but highlighted that the administration has provided extensive information in response to inquiries. She emphasized their commitment to transparency and accountability.
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