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Home Front: Politix

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Stunning Testimony Regarding Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal

2023-03-31

[REDSTATE] Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

...retired Army four-star general under the Biden administration, 28th United States Secretary of Defense. He is the first African American to serve in the position. As is usually the case with the first black anything appointed for his melanin content,he is a political general to the core. He was appointed as the first Black commander of CENTCOM by President Barack Obama where he went along to get along. He retired from the armed services in 2016 and joined the boards of Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, and Auburn University. On December 7, 2020, he was nominated for defense secretary by then-President-elect Joe Biden. He was confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 93–2 and has no regrets on the utterly botched withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan....
and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday morning. The hearing was to address the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Budget Request.

During the testimony, Austin was questioned by Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in late August of 2021. When asked by Banks whether he had any regrets about the withdrawal, Austin gave a stunning response:

"I don’t have any regrets," said Austin. When further pressed as to accountability, Austin at first demurred then stated he was not aware of anyone being held to account regarding the withdrawal.

Banks: Secretary Austin, last week, General McKenzie repeated that he has many regrets about the botched, deadly, and embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan, and that he supports investigations into that withdrawal. A moment ago, you didn’t — you said you executed the President’s order, you didn’t tell us what you advised the President to do, but do you have regrets about the withdrawal from Afghanistan?

Austin: I support the President’s decision.

Banks: Do you have regrets about the withdrawal, or how the withdrawal occurred from Afghanistan that cost the lives of 13 of our servicemembers?

Austin: I don’t have any regrets —

Banks: You don’t have any regrets. Secretary Austin — that’s very telling — Secretary Austin, has there ever been any accountability for anyone within the Department of Defense for the deadly, botched, and embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan? Any accountability?

Austin: Hey, listen, our troops evacuated 124,000 people off that airfield, and —

Banks: Has anyone been held accountable? If a Navy captain grounded a ship, what happens immediately?

Austin: Typically, that captain is removed.

Banks: That captain is removed. Has anyone been held accountable for what happened in Afghanistan?

Austin: To my knowledge, no.

Banks: You don’t regret it, no one’s ever been held accountable. Mr. Chairman, this is why this Republican majority must provide the accountability that this administration wants to sweep under the rug with what happened in Afghanistan.

Posted by:Fred

#4 @#2. Biden’s and Austin’s responses can be reconciled if you realize that they view patriotic Americans as the enemy; not the Taliban.

Posted by: Airandee 2023-03-31 20:14

#3 Austin’s statements are akin to Tex Cobb calling his bout with Larry Holmes a victory. It’s delusional or dishonest

At least Tex donated his own blood

Posted by: Frank G 2023-03-31 13:51

#2 I think extraterrestrial reptilians in humanoid form have secretly invaded our planet and Lloyd Austin is one of them....Kidding, of course, but normal human beings don't respond to tragedy the way Austin and his boss Joe Biden do. Something is fundamentally wrong with these people.

Posted by: Abu Uluque 2023-03-31 12:30

#1 Historically, there are often political inquires against generals after American battles. There was a Congressional inquiry after Antietam in which McClellan famously threw Burnside under the bus. All of Hooker’s buddies testified against Meade in an inquiry after Gettysburg. Those were nominal and strategic wins. Politics are politics. The Great Kabul Bugout was not a win. There ought to be accountability. Austin and Miley ought to be gone. Austin’s statements are akin to Tex Cobb calling his bout with Larry Holmes a victory. It’s delusional or dishonest.

Posted by: Super Hose 2023-03-31 10:33

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