Last stand: Top diplomat faces tough questions about Afghan exit
Secretary Blinken wraps up his term with final House committee hearing about US military exit from Afghanistan. His testimony marks end of long-running debates with committee chair McCaul
In a high-stakes House hearing Secretary Antony Blinken gave his final testimony about the US departure from Afghanistan: a topic that defined much of his time as Americas top diplomat. The Dec-11 meeting showed the still-raw feelings about events from three-and-a-half years ago
The timing is extra meaningful as Blinken wraps up his role — with president-elect Donald Trump set to pick new cabinet members next month. Its also the last chance for Representative Michael McCaul to lead such a hearing (since he wont keep his committee chair spot in 2025)
The hearing put a spot-light on the often-tense relationship between McCaul and Blinken‚ who spent years disagreeing about how America ended its twenty-year involvement in Afghanistan. Their back-and-forth debates included many heated moments: discussions about evacuation planning‚ military equipment left behind; and the impact on US global standing
The questioning focused on several key points:
- The fast fall of the Afghan government
- Problems with getting US citizens out
- Left-behind military gear
- Effects on Americas world-wide relationships
This wrap-up session closed a chapter in US foreign policy — marking the end of both Blinkens diplomatic service and McCauls oversight of it
