Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced that the Department of Defense will conduct a full investigation into the Biden-Harris administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
The withdrawal, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and left billions of dollars in military equipment in Taliban hands, has faced widespread criticism for its poor execution.
In an interview with Breitbart News, Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon has already designated officials to lead the investigation, aiming to hold those responsible accountable.
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Hegseth stated that the investigation will focus on establishing a factual timeline of decisions made before and during the withdrawal.
“We’ve already identified folks that’ll be in charge of that full investigation inside the Pentagon,” Hegseth said.
These 13 service members were killed during Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.
Pete Hegseth just announced an investigation into the withdrawal.
Remember their names:
Johanny Rosario Pichardo
Nicole L. Gee
Darin T. Hoover
Hunter Lopez
Daegan W. Page
Humberto A. Sanchez… pic.twitter.com/2fmU1WntXF— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 18, 2025
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While he did not specify a deadline for the probe, Hegseth acknowledged that nearly three years have passed since the withdrawal.
“I don’t have a timeframe on it. Sadly, we’ve already waited two-and-a-half years, three years since what occurred. I don’t want to wait longer, but I always want to get it right,” he explained.
He further emphasized the need to uncover the full scope of decision-making that led to the chaotic exit from Afghanistan.
“The way you establish real accountability is by establishing real fact chains—chains of events, information, what happened. Why did it happen? Who made the decision? What was the reason they made that decision? Why did they give advice or not give advice? Why did they execute an order a certain way?” Hegseth stated.
He added that the investigation would seek to determine whether officials spoke up when they were supposed to and whether military leadership adequately advised the administration.
“I don’t think there’s anybody that feels like there’s been an honest accounting of what happened in Afghanistan. That’s our job,” Hegseth said.
“So, we’re going to drive that full investigation and get a sense of what happened. And as I stated to the workforce on Friday, I guess less than a week ago, accountability will be coming for what happened in Afghanistan, and that’s important to reestablishing trust at the Defense Department.”
👀🚨BREAKING: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says accountability will be coming for botched Afghanistan withdrawal.
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) February 18, 2025
Hegseth’s announcement comes after a report from The Wall Street Journal last month revealed that then-President Joe Biden was allegedly too “mentally fatigued” to take a critical phone call from Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, ahead of the withdrawal operation.
The report stated that Smith had sought to warn Biden about the risks associated with the withdrawal and share the committee’s findings on the challenges the administration would face.
However, Biden was reportedly unavailable due to exhaustion, raising concerns about his leadership during a critical moment in U.S. foreign policy.
The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 led to widespread condemnation.
Civilians were seen clinging to departing U.S. aircraft in a desperate attempt to flee, and a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed 13 American service members.
In addition to the human cost, the withdrawal left behind billions of dollars in U.S. military equipment, much of which fell into the hands of the Taliban.
The chaotic retreat also strained relations with America’s allies, many of whom criticized the Biden administration for failing to coordinate an orderly exit.
The administration defended the withdrawal as necessary, but critics have pointed to poor planning and mismanagement as key factors in the disaster.
Hegseth’s pledge to conduct a full investigation signals a renewed effort to bring transparency to one of the most controversial foreign policy decisions of the Biden-Harris administration.
As the probe unfolds, the Pentagon will be tasked with reviewing military and civilian leadership decisions to determine accountability for the failures of the withdrawal.
The findings of this investigation are expected to shed light on the missteps that led to the Taliban’s swift takeover and the deadly consequences of the withdrawal.
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Hegseth will bury anything that implicates Biden, the generals, or any other deep-stater like himself.
Hegseth is a Fox-news, deep-state traitor. At best he is in over his head and is star-struck by being surrounded by generals with more stripes than he ever earned. He is not qualified to be Secretary of Defense.
At worst, he is a deep-state stooge and is there to sabatoge Trump’s efforts to clean out the DEI from the military. The evidence points to the later. Hegseth promised to root out the scum DEI generals from the military and named Gen Brown in particular (The black USAF general that openly made ‘making the military white-free- by eliminating whites where possible and promoting blacks) As Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon, Gen. Brown was there to meet him. Hegseth snapped to attention and saluted the general 1st like the lacky that he is. He should have waited for the general to salute him. Maybe an oversight. Maybe he is used to saluting superior stripes and he did so instinctively, thus showing he is in over his head. But then they went inside for a meeting and upon exiting Hegseth told the press that he has full confidence in General Brown and will keep him. Hegesth said as much again the other day when he said General Brown will remain in command.
Hegesth is either a deep-state traitor or a rank amatuer wholly unqualified to hold the position of Sec-Def.
In Trump’s 1st term, he surrounded himself with deep state treasonous scum who sabotaged him badly. He is making the same mistakes again with Hegseth (and with his own White House Chief of Staff). Trump should immediately fire Hegseth and replace him with someone who has command presence and loyalty to the country. May I suggest Lt. General Mike Flynn?
Brown was fired today.