ANSWERS ARE COMING As Senate Calls On Milley And Others To Testify

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and head of U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, are scheduled to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday morning where they are expected to be thoroughly interrogated by lawmakers on both sides concerning the Biden administration’s mismanaged military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The hearing comes nearly a month after the Biden administration’s Aug. 31 withdrawal of all U.S. military assets from Afghanistan after having a military presence there for 20 years since following the horrific attacks that took place on September 11, 2001.

They are expected to be questioned on a number of actions leading up to the withdrawal, including their involvement in the plans for evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from the country as well as the Aug. 26 suicide bombing outside of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport that took the lives of 13 U.S. service members, injured 18 service members and killed more than 150 Afghans.

As the Biden administration began the withdrawal of military assets, the capital city of Kabul was taken over by the Taliban, and the country was under siege, by mid-August, the Taliban controlled two-thirds of Afghanistan contradicting U.S. intelligence speculation that the country might fall under Taliban control in 90 days, The country had fallen under Taliban control by the time the U.S. withdrawal was completed on Aug.31.

Austin, Milley, and McKenzie will most likely be questioned about the disastrous U.S. drone strike on Aug.29 which was meant to target members of ISIS-K but instead resulted in the deaths of an aid worker and his family, seven of which were children. U.S. officials initially reported the strike had successfully targeted ISIS-k but later admitted the mistake.

Since the withdrawal, Austin and other top military officials have conceded that without troops on the ground in Afghanistan it will “no question” be “more difficult” to identify and counter-terror threats from Afghanistan.

Austin said officials are “committed to making sure that threats are not allowed to develop … that could create significant challenges for us in the homeland.”

Col. Dave Butler, Milley’s spokesperson, defended Milley saying that the calls are “vital” for “reducing tensions” and “avoiding unintended consequences or conflict,” insisting the calls had been coordinated with high-level defense officials.

Butler added: “General Milley continues to act and advise within his authority in the lawful tradition of civilian control of the military and his oath to the Constitution.”

Milley has been called by some to resign however, President Biden said that he has full confidence in Milley.