Blinken Dismisses Subpoena from US House Regarding Afghanistan
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a subpoena for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide testimony regarding the withdrawal from Afghanistan that took place in 2021. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will not be able to attend the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing regarding the tumultuous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, according to a statement from his office on Tuesday. Earlier that day, lawmakers had issued a subpoena for his testimony.
Chairman Michael McCaul has been seeking Blinken's account of the events since May, stating that Blinken should testify by September 19, 2024, to avoid a contempt charge, as communicated by the committee in a release.
In his correspondence to Blinken, McCaul described him as "the final decisionmaker" in his department during the August 2021 troop and civilian evacuations from Afghanistan. He emphasized that Blinken's insights would be valuable for the committee as it deliberates "potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal."
In retort, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller indicated that Blinken had participated in several Congressional hearings, including a session with the Foreign Affairs Committee focused solely on Afghanistan. However, he confirmed that Blinken would be unavailable on the specified date, citing his prior testimonies.
Miller also criticized McCaul for dismissing "reasonable alternatives" to a public hearing and expressed disappointment over the committee’s decision to issue "yet another unnecessary subpoena."
The retreat from Afghanistan started under President Donald Trump’s leadership, following a prolonged and costly counterinsurgency battle against the Taliban. The conclusion of the withdrawal, however, occurred during President Joe Biden's tenure, drawing significant criticism from Republicans over its execution.
This event resulted in the tragic loss of 13 US servicemen in a Kabul bomb attack orchestrated by the Islamic State. Following that incident, a mistaken drone strike by US forces resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, including seven children.
An after-action report released last year by the State Department highlighted deficiencies such as inadequate crisis preparedness and poor communication with the US-backed government in Kabul, contributing to the flawed withdrawal. The report, however, largely exonerated the department and commended its personnel for their "great agility, determination, and dedication" in difficult circumstances.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Chairman Michael McCaul has been seeking Blinken's account of the events since May, stating that Blinken should testify by September 19, 2024, to avoid a contempt charge, as communicated by the committee in a release.
In his correspondence to Blinken, McCaul described him as "the final decisionmaker" in his department during the August 2021 troop and civilian evacuations from Afghanistan. He emphasized that Blinken's insights would be valuable for the committee as it deliberates "potential legislation aimed at helping prevent the catastrophic mistakes of the withdrawal."
In retort, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller indicated that Blinken had participated in several Congressional hearings, including a session with the Foreign Affairs Committee focused solely on Afghanistan. However, he confirmed that Blinken would be unavailable on the specified date, citing his prior testimonies.
Miller also criticized McCaul for dismissing "reasonable alternatives" to a public hearing and expressed disappointment over the committee’s decision to issue "yet another unnecessary subpoena."
The retreat from Afghanistan started under President Donald Trump’s leadership, following a prolonged and costly counterinsurgency battle against the Taliban. The conclusion of the withdrawal, however, occurred during President Joe Biden's tenure, drawing significant criticism from Republicans over its execution.
This event resulted in the tragic loss of 13 US servicemen in a Kabul bomb attack orchestrated by the Islamic State. Following that incident, a mistaken drone strike by US forces resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, including seven children.
An after-action report released last year by the State Department highlighted deficiencies such as inadequate crisis preparedness and poor communication with the US-backed government in Kabul, contributing to the flawed withdrawal. The report, however, largely exonerated the department and commended its personnel for their "great agility, determination, and dedication" in difficult circumstances.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
