![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEx-US generals who oversaw Afghan exit describe chaos and challenges of withdrawalPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Afghanistan evacuation a ‘strategic failure’, says former generalBy Max MatzaBBC NewsTwo ex-American generals who led the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 have testified to Congress. Mark Milley, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and Kenneth McKenzie, who led US Central Command, testified for the first time since retiring.Republican lawmakers held President Joe Biden responsible for the disastrous exit, while Democrats blamed the Trump administration’s deal with the Taliban. But the two generals seemed unwilling to back either party’s argument. Instead, they said that both the Biden and Trump administrations had a role in the disastrous withdrawal, as did the administrations that preceded them.The Doha agreement – a deal former President Donald Trump negotiated with the Taliban that set the terms for the US departure – “pulled the rug out, morale wise” of both the Afghan security forces and government, Mr Milley said. But he added later that the “fundamental flaw” of the US exit was the timing of the Biden administration’s decision to order a civilian evacuation in Afghanistan. He said it had come “too slow and too late”.He also emphasised that he had advised top American officials that the US “needed to maintain a minimum force of 2,500 troops on the ground” in order to prevent the Taliban from seizing control.”Without this support, it was my view at the time, that it was a matter of ‘when, not if’ the Afghan government would collapse and the Taliban would take control,” said Mr Milley.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to flee the country as the Taliban marched toward Kabul was then “the straw that broke the camel’s back”, he said. Still, both men maintained that no single factor alone led to the US failure in Afghanistan, and they seemed to support the idea that the US should review the entire 20-year history of the conflict, not just its conclusion – a point supported by Democrats.”We helped build an army, a state but we could not build a nation,” Mr Milley said, calling the outcome a “strategic failure”.They also acknowledged that remaining in Afghanistan would probably have put American troops in harm’s way, as the Taliban would have restarted its fight with the US for staying on beyond an agreed 31 August departure deadline, Mr McKenzie said, citing intelligence reports he had reviewed. Both men said the Taliban, which they characterised as a terrorist organisation, harbours militants who wish to target the US. “They themselves [the Taliban] don’t have a desire to attack us and our homeland, but they do harbour entities and organisations that do have a desire to do that,” Mr McKenzie said.Image source, Getty ImagesFamily members of American soldiers who died in the suicide blast at the Kabul airport and others who served in Afghanistan attended the hearing. They watched as the former military leaders gave their sober assessments about the US withdrawal. As it was the two retired generals’ first time testifying since leaving the service, both were able to be more candid in their criticisms of US civilian officials and policymakers. Much of their criticism was directed at the US Department of State for not issuing the order to evacuate American civilians months earlier. Mr McKenzie and Mr Milley both testified that the US still does not know how many Americans were in Afghanistan, and it remains unclear how many were able to safely get out.While much of the hearing rehashed old arguments made by Democrats and Republicans, there was some bipartisan news welcomed by lawmakers in the room.Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that the White House and Congressional leaders had agreed to grant 12,000 more special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals who assisted the US. He said it would be included in a budget deal that is expected to pass this week. Veterans of the war in Afghanistan and lawmakers have been fighting to expand the number of visas for Afghanistan immigrants, as only about 7,000 remained. The US has issued about 1,000 per month recently, raising fears that they could run out. US troops pulled out of Afghanistan after 20 years – the country’s longest ever war – and it left many Afghans who supported American forces in danger, particularly as viable exits from the country closed. The violent withdrawal dented perceptions of Mr Biden’s international competence. Republicans have since seized on the failed exit as key line of attack ahead of the November presidential election.The Biden administration and Democrats have regularly blamed Donald Trump for negotiating the agreement with the Taliban that led to the withdrawal, arguing that his decisions “severely constrained” Mr Biden’s options.A government watchdog found that both administrations were to blame for the disastrous withdrawal that saw Afghan forces overwhelmed.Related TopicsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)AfghanistanTalibanDonald TrumpUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhite House blames chaotic Afghan pull-out on TrumpPublished6 April 2023Taliban are back – what next for Afghanistan?Published30 August 2021Ten days that shook AfghanistanPublished16 August 2021Top StoriesEntire Gaza population facing acute hunger – USPublished5 hours agoFirst convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new lawPublished5 hours agoHong Kong passes tough security law fought by protesters for yearsPublished7 hours agoFeaturesWhat is Hong Kong’s tough new security law?Trump needs a $464m bond in six days. What if he can’t get it?Gillian Anderson: Why I changed my mind on playing Emily MaitlisIs TikTok really a danger to the West?The English heiress who joined the IRA’Untreated trauma led to our soldier son’s suicide’Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan: Why I hate on-screen vanityThe highs and lows of Welsh First Minister Mark DrakefordWould you recognise Wales’ next first minister? VideoWould you recognise Wales’ next first minister?Elsewhere on the BBCA fun and judgement-free guide to RamadanBig Zuu joins Mehreen to debunk some of the popular myths around the holy monthAttributionSoundsFrom slaps to snubs…Thirteen iconic moments from Oscar historyAttributioniPlayer’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bomb, J Robert OppenheimerAttributioniPlayerThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1How Kate body-double conspiracy theory spread on social media2Deliveroo rider bites off customer’s thumb3First convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new law4Tesco forced to change Clubcard logo after Lidl row5Trump needs a $464m bond. What if he can’t get it?6Chancellor hints at October general election7Hong Kong passes tough security law fought by protesters for years8The English heiress who joined the IRA9’Impossible trade-offs’ if no UK growth – Reeves10Speculation mounts over who will be next James Bond](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/790A/production/_132968903_gettyimages-2089846849.jpg)
newsinsightplus.com
- 20012021AfghanistanTalibanDonald
- 20012021This
- March 19, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEx-US generals who oversaw Afghan exit describe chaos and challenges of withdrawalPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Afghanistan evacuation a ‘strategic failure’, says former generalBy Max MatzaBBC NewsTwo ex-American generals who led the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 have testified to Congress. Mark Milley, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and Kenneth McKenzie, who led US Central Command, testified for the first time since retiring.Republican lawmakers held President Joe Biden responsible for the disastrous exit, while Democrats blamed the Trump administration’s deal with the Taliban. But the two generals seemed unwilling to back either party’s argument. Instead, they said that both the Biden and Trump administrations had a role in the disastrous withdrawal, as did the administrations that preceded them.The Doha agreement – a deal former President Donald Trump negotiated with the Taliban that set the terms for the US departure – “pulled the rug out, morale wise” of both the Afghan security forces and government, Mr Milley said. But he added later that the “fundamental flaw” of the US exit was the timing of the Biden administration’s decision to order a civilian evacuation in Afghanistan. He said it had come “too slow and too late”.He also emphasised that he had advised top American officials that the US “needed to maintain a minimum force of 2,500 troops on the ground” in order to prevent the Taliban from seizing control.”Without this support, it was my view at the time, that it was a matter of ‘when, not if’ the Afghan government would collapse and the Taliban would take control,” said Mr Milley.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to flee the country as the Taliban marched toward Kabul was then “the straw that broke the camel’s back”, he said. Still, both men maintained that no single factor alone led to the US failure in Afghanistan, and they seemed to support the idea that the US should review the entire 20-year history of the conflict, not just its conclusion – a point supported by Democrats.”We helped build an army, a state but we could not build a nation,” Mr Milley said, calling the outcome a “strategic failure”.They also acknowledged that remaining in Afghanistan would probably have put American troops in harm’s way, as the Taliban would have restarted its fight with the US for staying on beyond an agreed 31 August departure deadline, Mr McKenzie said, citing intelligence reports he had reviewed. Both men said the Taliban, which they characterised as a terrorist organisation, harbours militants who wish to target the US. “They themselves [the Taliban] don’t have a desire to attack us and our homeland, but they do harbour entities and organisations that do have a desire to do that,” Mr McKenzie said.Image source, Getty ImagesFamily members of American soldiers who died in the suicide blast at the Kabul airport and others who served in Afghanistan attended the hearing. They watched as the former military leaders gave their sober assessments about the US withdrawal. As it was the two retired generals’ first time testifying since leaving the service, both were able to be more candid in their criticisms of US civilian officials and policymakers. Much of their criticism was directed at the US Department of State for not issuing the order to evacuate American civilians months earlier. Mr McKenzie and Mr Milley both testified that the US still does not know how many Americans were in Afghanistan, and it remains unclear how many were able to safely get out.While much of the hearing rehashed old arguments made by Democrats and Republicans, there was some bipartisan news welcomed by lawmakers in the room.Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that the White House and Congressional leaders had agreed to grant 12,000 more special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals who assisted the US. He said it would be included in a budget deal that is expected to pass this week. Veterans of the war in Afghanistan and lawmakers have been fighting to expand the number of visas for Afghanistan immigrants, as only about 7,000 remained. The US has issued about 1,000 per month recently, raising fears that they could run out. US troops pulled out of Afghanistan after 20 years – the country’s longest ever war – and it left many Afghans who supported American forces in danger, particularly as viable exits from the country closed. The violent withdrawal dented perceptions of Mr Biden’s international competence. Republicans have since seized on the failed exit as key line of attack ahead of the November presidential election.The Biden administration and Democrats have regularly blamed Donald Trump for negotiating the agreement with the Taliban that led to the withdrawal, arguing that his decisions “severely constrained” Mr Biden’s options.A government watchdog found that both administrations were to blame for the disastrous withdrawal that saw Afghan forces overwhelmed.Related TopicsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)AfghanistanTalibanDonald TrumpUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhite House blames chaotic Afghan pull-out on TrumpPublished6 April 2023Taliban are back – what next for Afghanistan?Published30 August 2021Ten days that shook AfghanistanPublished16 August 2021Top StoriesEntire Gaza population facing acute hunger – USPublished5 hours agoFirst convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new lawPublished5 hours agoHong Kong passes tough security law fought by protesters for yearsPublished7 hours agoFeaturesWhat is Hong Kong’s tough new security law?Trump needs a $464m bond in six days. What if he can’t get it?Gillian Anderson: Why I changed my mind on playing Emily MaitlisIs TikTok really a danger to the West?The English heiress who joined the IRA’Untreated trauma led to our soldier son’s suicide’Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan: Why I hate on-screen vanityThe highs and lows of Welsh First Minister Mark DrakefordWould you recognise Wales’ next first minister? VideoWould you recognise Wales’ next first minister?Elsewhere on the BBCA fun and judgement-free guide to RamadanBig Zuu joins Mehreen to debunk some of the popular myths around the holy monthAttributionSoundsFrom slaps to snubs…Thirteen iconic moments from Oscar historyAttributioniPlayer’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bomb, J Robert OppenheimerAttributioniPlayerThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1How Kate body-double conspiracy theory spread on social media2Deliveroo rider bites off customer’s thumb3First convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new law4Tesco forced to change Clubcard logo after Lidl row5Trump needs a $464m bond. What if he can’t get it?6Chancellor hints at October general election7Hong Kong passes tough security law fought by protesters for years8The English heiress who joined the IRA9’Impossible trade-offs’ if no UK growth – Reeves10Speculation mounts over who will be next James Bond
[ad_1] Two former top generals testified to Congress about the “strategic failure” to prevent a Taliban takeover.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaThe blind Ukrainian amputee whose wife’s voice kept him alivePublished15 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineBy Keiligh BakerBBC NewsAs Serhiy slowly began to regain consciousness in his hospital bed in Kyiv, he realised he couldn’t see, speak, or feel his legs – but he could hear his wife Valeria’s voice. Comforted, he lost consciousness again.It was a pattern that lasted weeks. The severely injured Ukrainian soldier would wake up to darkness and panic, unable to communicate because of the tube down his throat – but every time he heard Valeria, he settled down.”That’s what kept me fighting,” he tells the BBC’s Ukrainecast podcast. “Until then, I only had nightmares. Terrible dreams in which I was being demolished, destroyed, chewed over – and then the light in regaining consciousness was her voice… Because I wanted to come back to her. To fight through this, to be with her.”Serhiy, 27, suffered catastrophic injuries when his vehicle hit a Russian anti-tank mine on Ukraine’s frontline near Mariinka, nine months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of his country. As a soldier already serving before the war, he had been thrown straight into the thick of the fighting from its first day, in February 2022. He often went weeks without speaking to Valeria, who remained in their home city of Kyiv.Image caption, Serhiy pictured before his injuriesHe was travelling with seven other soldiers on November 2022 when the vehicle was hit. The force of the blast broke his spine, pelvis, nose, eye sockets, gave him an open-skull brain injury, severe burns to his face and body, fractured his thigh and blew off both his lower legs. The flames from the blast cauterised his wounds, inadvertently saving his life.Two years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upIs Russia turning the tide in Ukraine?Inside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHe can’t remember anything from that day – but Valeria will never forget it.”I didn’t expect he would come back from the war with both his legs,” Valeria says. “But even I wasn’t prepared for the extent of his wounds when I saw him.””My first thought was just relief that he was alive because, by the description of what happened to him, it was not clear that he would ever regain consciousness. So I went to the hospital and I saw my beloved, full of different tubes, totally unresponsive. And that was scariest part.”Serhiy regained consciousness after 20 days in a coma. He then spent another week in intensive care, another two weeks in the traumatic injuries unit and then months in rehabilitation. He has a stoic approach to his injuries, and says that, for him, losing two legs is better than losing one arm. Valeria takes a similarly pragmatic approach: “A blind, legless husband – it’s not so bad,” she laughs, adding that as a former dentist she’s just relieved he didn’t lose his teeth.Last week, after travelling to the US in the hope of saving a fraction of the sight in his remaining eye, he was told the devastating news that it couldn’t be saved – that he had fully lost his eyesight. Although the couple were disappointed, they remain hopeful for the future and Serhiy now wants to spend his life advocating for and helping his fellow injured soldiers.”I have so many plans that one lifetime isn’t enough for all of it,” he says. “I definitely will go back to Ukraine. That’s my country. I fought for it. I sustained [my] wounds for it.”Image caption, Serhiy has vowed to launch organisations that help injured veteransHe plans to launch two organisations, he says, both aimed at helping wounded veterans, including one to build infrastructure for their life after the war.Both Ukraine and Russia refuse to release figures of their wounded and dead soldiers, but US officials, quoted by the New York Times, put the number at 70,000 dead and as many as 120,000 injured, as of August 2023. While Serhiy maintains that his injuries haven’t changed him, Valeria disagrees.”He has become more responsible. He was responsible before, but it was his family, his military unit,” she explains. “But now he feels responsible for the whole country, for all of Ukraine.”Additional reporting by Arsenii SokolovRelated TopicsWar in UkraineDisabilityUkraineVeteransMore on this storyTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished18 hours agoRosenberg: How two years of war have changed RussiaPublished2 days agoIs Russia turning the tide in Ukraine?Published17 FebruaryInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightPublished12 FebruaryTop StoriesLive. Trump defeats Haley in South Carolina primary – US mediaTories suspend MP over ‘Islamists’ commentsPublished4 hours agoNavalny’s body returned to mother, spokeswoman saysPublished7 hours agoFeaturesHow a gay TV drama changed people’s livesThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upOprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ adsFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Four women and a girl killed in Vienna in 24 hours2RMT leader backs Corbyn for general election3Tories suspend MP over ‘Islamists’ comments4Wendy Williams thanks fans after dementia diagnosis5US and UK carry out new strikes on Yemen’s Houthis6Navalny’s body returned to mother, spokeswoman says7’I refuse to die’: Couple saved from Valencia fire hail dramatic rescue8Kuenssberg: Commons chaos was grisly reminder of threats MPs face9King says Ukraine faces ‘indescribable aggression’10Former England and QPR forward Bowles dies aged 75AttributionSport](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/5143/production/_132730802_serhiyvaleriia4.jpg)
