Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a thorough investigation into the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal executed under former President Joe Biden. This decision was discussed during a recent cabinet meeting, where President Donald Trump and Secretary Hegseth addressed concerns about the operation’s planning and execution.
When questioned about potential disciplinary actions for military leaders involved in the withdrawal, President Trump humorously suggested he would have dismissed them all, stating, “If I had his place, I’d fire every single one of them.” Secretary Hegseth elaborated on the administration’s approach, emphasizing a comprehensive review to ensure “full accountability” for the events surrounding the withdrawal.
Secretary Hegseth highlighted that one of his initial directives to the Defense Department was to scrutinize the withdrawal’s failures. He contrasted the previous administration’s approach with the current leadership, noting that General Razin’ Caine, who is now assuming a key role, was instrumental in effectively combating ISIS by “untying the hands of warfighters” and successfully concluding missions before withdrawing troops. Hegseth emphasized the administration’s commitment to a markedly different strategy, ensuring that such operational shortcomings are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
This initiative reflects the administration’s dedication to evaluating past military engagements critically, aiming to learn from previous missteps to enhance future operational planning and execution.
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Pete Hegseth: “We’re doing a complete review of every single aspect of what happened with the botched withdrawal of Afghanistan and plan to have full accountability.”
— Joey Salads (@JoeySalads) February 26, 2025