Here's what the Generals said: Kinda long but....
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At our peak in 2011, we had 97,000 US troops alongside 41,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan. 10 years later, when Ambassador [inaudible 00:25:30] signed the Doha agreement with Mullah Baradar on 29, February, 2020, the United States had 12,600 troops with 8,000 NATO and 10,500 contractors in Afghanistan. This has been a 10 year multi administration draw down, not a 19 month retrograde or 17 day non-combatant evacuation operation. Under the Doha agreement, the United States would begin to withdraw its forces contingent upon the Taliban meeting certain conditions, which would lead to a political agreement between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan.
There were seven conditions applicable to the Taliban and eight to the United States. While the Taliban did not attack the United States forces, which was one of the conditions, it failed to fully honor any other condition under the Doha agreement. And perhaps most importantly, for the United States national security, the Taliban has never renounced their linkages with Al Qaeda or broke their affiliation with them.
General Milley: (
26:33)
We, the United States adhered to every condition. In the fall of 2020, my analysis then was that an accelerated withdrawal without meeting specific and necessary conditions risks losing the substantial gains made in Afghanistan, would potentially damage US worldwide credibility and could precipitate a general collapse of the Afghan security forces and the Afghan government, resulting in a complete Taliban takeover or a general civil war. That analysis was a year ago. Based on my advice and the advice of the commanders at the time, then Secretary of Defense Esper submitted a memorandum on nine November recommending that we maintain the US forces, which were then at about 4,500 in Afghanistan until conditions were met for further reductions.
Two days later on 11 November, I received an unclassified signed order directing the United States military to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan by 15 January, 2021. After further discussion regarding the risks associated with such a withdrawal, all the order was rescinded.
On 17 November, we received a new order to reduce troop levels to 2,500 plus enabling forces no later than 15 January.
General Milley: (
27:54)
When President Biden was inaugurated, there were approximately 3,500 US troops, 5,400 NATO and 6,300 contractors in Afghanistan, tasked to train, advise and assist a small contingent of counter terrorism forces. And the strategic situation was stalemate. The Biden administration through the national security council process conducted a rigorous interagency review of the situation in Afghanistan and February, March, and April. During this process, the views of all of the joint chief of staff, all of us, the CENTCOM commander, General McKenzie, US48 Commander General Miller and myself were all given serious consideration by the administration. We provided a broad range of options and our assessment of their potential outcomes. We couched that in cost, benefit, risk to force, risk to mission, all of that was evaluated against the national security objectives of the United States.
General Milley: (
28:52)
On 14 April, the President of the United States, President Biden announced his decision
Chairman Smith: ... via the television slash internet feeds. Members participating remotely must seek recognition verbally, and they are asked to mute the...
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