Testifying Before Congress, Blinken Faces Bipartisan Criticism For Afghanistan Withdrawal

Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced a second day of tough congressional questioning from lawmakers Tuesday about the Biden administration’s divisive withdrawal from Afghanistan. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, New Jersey Democrat and committee chair Bob Menendez called the administration's withdrawal strategy "clearly and fatally flawed." He warned that he will "use of committee subpoena power to compel" Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other Biden officials who dismiss the opportunity to appear before the committee. Menendez also told Blinken that the multiple administrations who "lied" about the stability of the Afghan government must face "accountability," requesting a full explanation that outlines their decision-making process. Idaho Republican Senator James Risch blamed the Biden administration of “ineptitude” that has tainted the country's international credibility, while Sen. Rand Paul called leaving the Bagram Airfield without notifying the base’s new Afghan commander "one of the worst military decisions in our history." Blinken has continually defended the Biden administration's withdrawal strategy, shifting the blame onto the Trump administration. He argued that the world still holds a "significant leverage" against the Taliban thanks to an international "collective strategy" with NATO, the E.U. and the U.N.

Coverage was consistent across the spectrum, with some outlets noting that Blinken is facing "bipartisan criticism." Some right-rated outlets accentuated how Blinken was unsure if the man targeted by a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan was an aid worker or an ISIS-K operative. Left-rated outlets dismissed the "Democratic conspiracy" that suggests Biden is being "censored" after he was cut off mid-sentence during a press conference Monday.