WASHINGTON — Underneath fireplace from congressional Republicans about one of many darkest moments of Joe Biden’s presidency, Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the administration’s dealing with of the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying Democrats struggled to make the most effective of a foul pullout deal struck by Donald Trump.
Blinken testified Wednesday earlier than the Republican-led Home International Affairs Committee, dealing with questions and indignant criticism from lawmakers for the ultimate time in workplace. The highest U.S. diplomat was anticipated to go away for the Center East within the afternoon, however the back-and-forth with members, particularly Republicans who admonished the chaotic withdrawal as his defining legacy, delayed his departure.
Blinken stated a lot of the blame for the sudden collapse of Afghanistan’s U.S.-allied authorities and the chaotic August 2021 evacuation of Individuals that adopted rested with a withdrawal deal President Trump had reached with the Taliban in 2020 earlier than leaving workplace.
“To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it,” Blinken instructed lawmakers. “Had he not followed through on his predecessor’s commitment, attacks on our forces and allies would have resumed and the Taliban’s assault on the country’s major cities would have commenced.”
However Rep. Michael McCaul and different Republican lawmakers portrayed Blinken and the Biden administration as ill-prepared and disengaged because the catastrophe grew, and intent on minimizing mounting proof that the Taliban would full a takeover of the nation earlier than the final U.S. troops departed.
“This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire,” McCaul, a Texas Republican, stated. He urged Blinken to take “accountability for the disastrous withdrawal.”
It was clear “it was going to be a disaster,” stated Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast, who will take over as chairman of the committee within the subsequent Congress.
The listening to got here on the finish of Blinken’s diplomatic service beneath Biden, with six weeks left earlier than Trump takes workplace, and on the finish of McCaul’s time main the International Affairs committee. It served as a capstone to almost 4 years of animosity between the 2 over the top of America’s longest conflict.