US Official’s Handling of Afghanistan Withdrawal Under Fire at Congressional Hearing
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Republican lawmakers are demanding information from the State Department regarding allegations that officials blocked American citizens from departing from an airfield in Afghanistan during the chaotic withdrawal of US troops last year.
During a hearing, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide details on why hundreds of people were forced to hide for three weeks without food or water before being evacuated by the Taliban.
“We spent three weeks hiding these nearly 400 people from the Taliban, keeping them alive and fed using funds from American donors,” Massie said. “I want to know what happened at the airfield in Mazar-i-Sharif.”
Massie’s comments came after a previous exchange with Blinken, where he was asked about reports that State Department officials blocked Americans from departing the airfield.
“I have the emails,” Rep. Chris Davidson (R-IL) told Blinken during the hearing. “I have the photographs of American, blue passport-holding American citizens who were on the airfield awaiting departure that got clearance for safe third countries to depart to, and the order came down from the United States government. Was it the State Department?”
Blinken maintained his earlier stance, stating that he was unaware of any American citizens being blocked from leaving the country.
“I’d be happy to look at any information you have on that,” Blinken said. “I’m not aware of any American citizens who were blocked.”
The demands for transparency come as Republicans continue to scrutinize the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which saw thousands of Americans and allies stranded in the war-torn country.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, accused Blinken of ignoring warnings from military officials about the impending collapse of the Afghan government and Taliban takeover.
“You ignored warnings of collapse from your own personnel,” McCaul told Blinken during the hearing.
The committee has launched an investigation into the matter, demanding access to all documents and records related to the withdrawal.
Source: www.foxnews.com
