Blinken Defends 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal

During a contentious House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced sharp criticism from Republican members over the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has been labeled a disastrous episode by many. Representative Michael McCaul accused the administration of failing to heed warnings about a potential collapse and criticized the loss of American lives during the withdrawal. In his defense, Blinken stated that the withdrawal ended a prolonged conflict and allowed resources to be redirected to other global challenges, asserting that every American who wished to leave Afghanistan had the opportunity to do so. The hearing was marked by interruptions from protesters, underscoring the charged atmosphere surrounding the topic. Blinken's testimony, likely his last before leaving office next month, followed months of disputes over his appearance before the committee. The fallout from the withdrawal remains a significant point of contention in U.S. politics, particularly as it continues to be leveraged by political opponents ahead of the upcoming presidential election.