Nearly 90 retired generals and admirals signed a letter Monday demanding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley resign over the grossly mishandled U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Daily Mail reports.
“The hasty retreat has left initial estimates at ~15,000 Americans stranded in dangerous areas controlled by a brutal enemy along with ~25,000 Afghan citizens who supported American forces,” the open letter read.
“As principal military advisors to the CINC/President, the SECDEF and CJCS should have recommended against this dangerous withdrawal in the strongest possible terms,” the officers wrote.
“If they did not do everything within their authority to stop the hasty withdrawal, they should resign. Conversely, if they did do everything within their ability to persuade the CINC/President to not hastily exit the country without ensuring the safety of our citizens and Afghans loyal to America, then they should have resigned in protest as a matter of conscience and public statement,” they continued.
A failed departure
Following the pullout of U.S. troops, the Taliban quickly took control of Afghanistan. Thousands of Americans were still in the country, which resulted in 6,000 U.S. troops deployed to Kabul to assist with evacuations at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
A suicide bombing, thought to have been carried out by ISIS-K terrorists, killed more than 100 people last week, including 13 U.S. military service members. After the remaining U.S. troops departed the country on Aug. 31, a small number of Americans remain stranded and unable to leave at this time.
In addition to people lost and left behind, the U.S. military also left behind an enormous amount of equipment which is now under the control of the Taliban.
Joe Biden has failed as President.
The world is less safe because of him. pic.twitter.com/xca560xuy3
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) August 30, 2021
Whose fault is it?
A growing number of voices have called for resignations from President Joe Biden or other top leaders over the botched exit. So far, no major firings or resignations have taken place.
Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN) joined the nearly 90 officers in calling for various top leaders to be removed from office on Monday, tweeting, “Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and General Milley should all resign or face impeachment and removal from office.”
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and General Milley should all resign or face impeachment and removal from office.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) August 26, 2021
The president is expected to address the nation on Tuesday afternoon. However, it is unlikely any leaders will be asked to resign, as Biden and his top commanders will likely instead continue to celebrate and brag about the monumental airlift evacuation efforts that took place over the past several weeks.
The post Nearly 90 former US military flag officers call on Biden’s top generals to resign first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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