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Blinken defends Afghanistan withdrawal at contentious House hearing

^{Published on 2024-12-11 18:01:02 - CBS News}
 

• The secretary of state's testimony comes months after Republicans issued a scathing report on the Biden administration's handling of the exit from Afghanistan.

In a recent hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal in August 2021. Blinken acknowledged the chaotic scenes at Kabul airport but emphasized that the evacuation was an "extraordinary feat" under the circumstances, with over 120,000 people airlifted out. He faced tough questioning from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the lack of planning for worst-case scenarios, the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, and the tragic loss of 13 American service members in a suicide bombing. Blinken admitted there were lessons to be learned but maintained that the ultimate decision to withdraw was correct, pointing out that the Trump administration had left them with a withdrawal agreement and a significantly reduced military presence. He also highlighted the administration's efforts to relocate and resettle Afghan allies, although he acknowledged that not all who wanted to leave could be evacuated.

Read the Full CBS News Article at:
[ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blinken-testifies-afghanistan-withdrawal-house-foreign-affairs-committee/ ]

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