Milley accuses State Department of dragging feet on Afghanistan evacuation order
According to the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the decision to evacuate Afghanistan was delayed, which he believed contributed to the chaotic withdrawal in 2021.
Gen. Mark Milley mentioned that the State Department did not issue the evacuation plan until mid-August, a month after warning of the potential collapse of the country into civil war.
During his testimony to the House Armed Services Committee on March 19, Mr. Milley expressed that the decision was made too late.
While the focus has been on the military’s role in the withdrawal, the responsibility of ordering and overseeing the operation lies with the State Department.
Chair Rep. Michael McCaul noted that the State Department even avoided using the term “emergency evacuation” to protect the Biden administration’s image.
Gen. Milley emphasized that he had urged action a month before the evacuation order but could not proceed without the State Department’s directive.
He warned of the dire consequences of an accelerated withdrawal, believing it would lead to the collapse of Afghan security forces and government.
Despite previous agreements, he suggested maintaining a troop presence in Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s violations.
Gen. Milley labeled the U.S. withdrawal as a “strategic failure” and expressed disappointment in failing to establish a free Afghan nation after two decades of effort.
Gen. Kenneth McKenzie also expressed concerns about the lack of a formal evacuation order by mid-July and cited policy decisions that led to the August 2021 crisis.
He remarked that coordination and execution of plans were lacking, ultimately resulting in a challenging environment for the joint force.
Mr. McKenzie concluded that the decisions made were inadequate and delayed, leading to the situation experienced during the withdrawal.
