Military Leaders Defend Afghanistan Withdrawal, Contradict Biden in Senate Hearing
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Top U.S. military leaders defended the withdrawal from Afghanistan in a Congressional hearing Tuesday morning. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, the nation's top military officer, is appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday and the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday, along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie. All three recommended that 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, which contradicts previous statements from President Joe Biden. During Tuesday's hearing, Milley also defended two calls he made to China's top general during the Trump administration amid recent reports that he acted to limit Trump's nuclear powers and wanted to quell Chinese concerns about a potential U.S. attack.
The testimonies made headlines across the spectrum Tuesday morning. Coverage across the spectrum, especially from right-rated sources, framed the withdrawal as botched and harsh questioning of military leaders as necessary. Some right-rated outlets highlighted the possible disconnect between the Pentagon and top Biden administration leaders, and how miscommunication and hastiness on the part of Biden may have made the Afghanistan pullout worse. Some left-rated sources highlighted how Milley will face questions on Trump; a headline from CNN (Left bias) said Milley's testimony may "put Trump's political storms on full display." Updated 5:54 p.m. on 9/28/21
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Gen. Milley defends calls to Chinese: ‘I was certain’ Trump wouldn’t order attack
America’s top general on Tuesday vehemently defended his Jan. 8 phone call with Chinese military leaders, telling lawmakers that he was “certain” then-President Donald Trump wouldn’t order an attack on Beijing and wanted to convey that reassuring message to his Chinese counterparts.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, pushed back on the narrative that he went around Mr. Trump out of fear the president might order an attack on China during his final days in office.
Some...
From the Center
Top generals contradict Biden, say they advised leaving 2,500 troops in Afghanistan
Top military officials told lawmakers on Tuesday that they had recommended 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, contradicting comments made by President Biden earlier this year.
Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, each acknowledged during public congressional testimony that they agreed with the recommendation of Army Gen. Austin Miller that 2,500 troops be left in the country, though they denied to detail what they advised Biden directly.
Biden announced his decision to end U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan back...
From the Left
Live updates: Milley, Austin and McKenzie to testify before Congress on Afghanistan, China
The nation's top military leaders will face lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday in a hearing expected to touch on some of the most contentious national security challenges facing the country.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday and House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
The trio is expected to be grilled on their handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, competition with rivals like China, and, in Milley's case, reports that he may have circumvented his...
AllSides Picks
May 4th, 2024
May 3rd, 2024
More News about Defense and Security from the Left, Center and Right
From the Left
From the Center
From the Right
