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United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review of the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it a "catastrophic event" in U.S. military history, according to a memo released Tuesday.
“Over the last three months, the Department has been engaged in a review of this catastrophic event in our military's history,” Hegseth wrote in the memo dated May 2. “I have concluded that we need to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure that accountability for this event is met and that the complete picture is provided to the American people.”
Hegseth has tasked his senior adviser, Sean Parnell, with convening a Special Review Panel (SRP) to conduct the review. The panel will examine previous investigations, findings of fact, witness testimony and the decision-making process that led to the withdrawal.
“This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation,” Hegseth added..
The U.S. withdrawal, which marked the end of a two-decade military presence that began in October 2001, was widely criticized after the sudden collapse of the internationally recognized Afghan government. Taliban forces swiftly took control of the country as U.S. and international troops departed.
The chaos culminated in a suicide bombing at Kabul’s international airport on Aug. 26, 2021, that killed 13 American service members and 170 Afghan civilians. The attack was claimed by the Daesh terror group.
Republican lawmakers have long blamed the Biden administration for the disorderly exit and loss of life during the final days of the withdrawal. The Pentagon’s new review is expected to revisit the circumstances surrounding the exit and potentially address gaps left by previous reports.
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