The US government made mistakes in withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan, a US State Department investigative report shows. This refers to decisions by both US President Biden and his predecessor Trump.
The US government made mistakes in its crisis management before and during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. This emerges from an investigation report by the US State Department, parts of which the authority published.
The decisions of both US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw the military have “posed significant challenges” to the State Department. The reasons given include gaps in filling management positions on site or staff shortages due to the corona pandemic. Overall, worst-case scenarios had not been sufficiently considered at the highest level. Nor was it considered how quickly this could occur.
Chaotic troop withdrawal
With a view to future crises, it must also be ensured that the widest possible spectrum of opinions is heard, according to the report’s recommendations for action. Voices that question political decisions should also be heard.
Foreign troops, led by the US, invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001. At the time, the international operation led to the fall of the Taliban government, which had been harboring al-Qaeda terrorists . The military operation cost huge sums of money, tens of thousands of civilians and Afghan security forces lost their lives, as did several thousand international soldiers, including 2,461 Americans.
At the end of August 2021, the last US troops finally left Afghanistan. This ended the international military operation in the country after almost 20 years – after the Taliban had just taken power in Kabul again. The withdrawal of troops initiated by the Americans turned out to be chaotic and met with international criticism and incomprehension.