Hegseth Launches Investigation into Afghanistan Withdrawal Accountability

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced a full investigation into the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which occurred in July 2021 and resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and hundreds of Americans left behind. Hegseth expressed the need for accountability and transparency regarding the decisions made during the withdrawal process, emphasizing that he has already selected investigators for the task. He noted that the administration's portrayal of the withdrawal as a success contrasts sharply with the reality of the situation, including the mishandling of military equipment and a botched drone strike that killed an innocent family. Despite the significant fallout from the operation, no high-level officials have been held accountable, a situation that Hegseth aims to rectify. The investigation seeks to establish a clear chain of events and decisions to ensure such a situation does not occur again. Hegseth's comments come after years of scrutiny over the withdrawal, which has been widely criticized across the political spectrum.