Hegseth orders Pentagon to launch comprehensive review into 'catastrophic' 2021 Afghanistan withdraw

[mystery-ak]

YES!

Hegseth orders Pentagon to launch comprehensive review into 'catastrophic' 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal
'This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people,' Hegseth said
By Diana Stancy Fox News
Published May 20, 2025 2:31pm EDT | Updated May 20, 2025 2:37pm EDT

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is instructing the Pentagon to launch a comprehensive review into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Then-President Joe Biden removed U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, following up on existing plans from the first Trump administration in 2020 with Taliban leaders to end the war in the region.

Thirteen U.S. service members were killed during the withdrawal process due to a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the Taliban quickly seized control of Kabul.

"The Department of Defense has an obligation, both to the American people and to the warfighters who sacrificed their youth in Afghanistan, to get to the facts," Hegseth said in a Tuesday memo. "This remains an important step toward regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform and is prudent based on the number of casualties and equipment lost during the execution of this withdrawal operation."

Hegseth said the Pentagon has already completed a review into the "catastrophic" withdrawal, and concluded that a full investigation is necessary to provide a full picture of the event and to hold those responsible accountable.

As a result, Hegseth is directing Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell to spearhead a special review panel to evaluate previous investigations and to "analyze the decision making that led to one of America’s darkest and deadliest international moments."

"This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation," Hegseth said in the memo.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-orders-pentagon-launch-comprehensive-review-catastrophic-2021-afghanistan-withdrawal

[Smokin Joe]

Good. Those who do not learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them.

[Timber Rattler]

I still remember this guy, who tried to order the Brits from running rescue missions into Kabul to get their own people out because it was making the American "leadership" look bad.

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2024/11/18/last-american-soldier-to-leave-afghanistan-to-command-us-army-europe/

Abbey Gate was partially his fault but DoD has protected him.

https://taskandpurpose.com/history/afghanistan-abbey-gate-attack-security-problems/

Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, told investigators that he originally decided to keep Abbey Gate open until 9 a.m. on Aug. 27 after British Brig. Gen. James Martin told him that his troops needed more time.

“He told me that they were going to try to keep pulling people out, and he wanted to know if I thought that we could keep the gate open,” Donahue said. “I told him that we would conduct a site survey since we were going to take over that gate. And we were interested to know if we could keep Abbey open, since North Gate was obviously dangerous at that time.”

Investigators concluded that closing Abbey Gate before Aug. 26 would have isolated British forces and could have led to a conflict with the Taliban.

Moreover, the investigation found that the suicide bomb attack could not have been prevented without U.S. troops taking measures to limit the flow of evacuees into the airport “and potentially risk mission failure.”

Still, Pitt said that he and Donahue could see that Abbey Gate and the Baron Hotel were vulnerable to a possible attack.

“The day after MG Donahue and I visited, we said that we were going to shut that gate down,” Pitt said. “It was so chaotic. People knew that gate was their opportunity to leave and they exploited it. Unfortunately that was at the cost of the Marines.”

[berdie]

I have never forgotten or forgiven. Glad that there will be an investigation...but will be deeply surprised if there are ramifications on anybody.