Washington: Former U.S. Army officer and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, delivered harsh criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal during a special session of the Senate today, calling it a “complete failure.”
Responding to questions from senators, Hegseth stated: “It’s a shame that they label this event as the most successful airlift in U.S. history, while what we all witnessed was clear: a complete failure, the destruction of military equipment, abandonment of allies, the deaths of American service members, and damage to the nation’s international reputation.”
Hegseth added that there was no comprehensive plan in place during the withdrawal, and the security of U.S. troops was handed over to the same group that the U.S. had fought for 20 years.
He emphasized that no one was held accountable for the debacle, except for a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who had the courage to demand accountability. According to him, that lone officer was unjustly punished, while everyone else involved escaped scrutiny.
Hegseth argued that the Biden administration’s weakness signaled to the world a diminished U.S. strength, resulting in events such as the October 7 attacks and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He stressed that resolving these issues requires genuine leadership and the restoration of a strong military culture. Hegseth voiced his support for Donald Trump, stating that Trump would rebuild the U.S. military, bring wars to proper conclusions, and, if necessary, ensure decisive victories.
