Rep. Tim Burchett, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticized the White House for blaming the chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 for 13 U.S. servicemembers and more than 100 Afghans killed by a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Burchett noted that no one in the Biden administration, such as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin or National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have been held accountable for what transpired during the withdrawal.
"The lack of accountability is astonishing," said Burchett. "The tragic loss of life and immense human suffering could have been avoided if proper planning had been executed."
He compared billions left behind on Afghan soil to funds requested during Trump's tenure: "It is ironic that we can leave billions worth of military equipment scattered across Afghanistan yet struggle to find adequate resources to secure our own southern border with Mexico."
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) echoed these sentiments by stating that President Joe Biden's administration won't take responsibility due to their inherent lack of accountability for any mishap within America's borders.
"It seems like this administration cannot accept responsibility when things go wrong under their watch," said Jackson.
Jackson further criticized how blame was shifted onto Donald Trump’s presidency even though Biden had eight months since inauguration day—ample time—to devise an exit strategy which ultimately failed miserably upon execution last month:
"They keep pointing fingers at previous administrations while ignoring their own failures," he added.
The hasty departure not only resulted in significant casualties but also concluded two decades marked by conflict—the longest war ever fought by United States forces overseas—and raised questions over long-term implications both domestically and internationally alike; especially considering recent events surrounding ISIS-K claiming responsibility over aforementioned attack inside Kabul airport premises.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, however, reportedly downplayed the notion that withdrawal was chaotic despite widespread criticism and urged focus on achieving diplomatic efforts with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan moving forward.