An excellent panel of experts are here as well. Reintegration in afghanistan. Id also like to we will all of you know joining us online. In the webcast and would note that you can also follow the conversation on twitter that u. S. Ip, hashtag cr. Sid ar. I would also like to encourage you to check out the podcast network. It will include this if it and many other compelling programs featuring leading voices on violent prevention and national security. Was founded five years ago by members of congress as an independent nonpartisan National Institute charged is vitally important litigating and resolving violent conflict. Since 2002 are Afghanistan Program has worked closely with the governments, Civil Society organizations of how others to prevent litigate violent conflict and more recently, to support the afghanistan Peace Process. It goes that went out staying, that there is considerable uncertainty during the last two weeks in terms of the Peace Process but while that remains true, wh
Gives that ability to change. [inaudible conversations] good morning everyone. Welcome to the council of Foreign Relations its a pleasure to have george here for the belated lunch i am sure most of you know the byline very well in his new yorker articles and his most recent books and the most important chronicle of the iraq war winning the National Book award in 2014. And now his new book our man Richard Holbrook. We were thrilled to have an excerpt to focus on two pieces in afghanistan which we will talk about in this conversation i recommend the piece not as a substitute but a teaser then you will go on to read the entire 500 pages of the hardcover edition. It really is an extraordinary and fascinating book both as a chronicle and a reflection on American Foreign policy and diplomacy over that halfcentury that Richard Holbrook was a central player but also with this individual it is a really complicated rich portrait of holbrook as many of you know. I want to start not with Foreign P
Beginning in afghanistan, the general advised President Biden against his disastrous Foreign Policy decision. I now recognize myself for an Opening Statement. On april 14th, 2021, President Biden announced the United States woulderally withdraw its military forces from afghanistan. For months before that announcement, the Intelligence Community and his senior military advisers, including both gentlemen testifying here today issued dire warnings about the withdrawal one, 23 state Department Employees in cable channel, secretary blinken, warning of their grave concerns for afghanistan s stability and for their safety. Yet, nothing was done. Instead, our investigation uncovered the white house refused to listen to warnings about the situation on the ground, and disturbingly, we have uncovered the state Department Leadership prohibite uttering the word neo shorthand for emergency evacuation until as late of august of 2021. Too little, too late. Eventually, this committee learned the state
Beginning in afghanistan, the general advised President Biden against his disastrous Foreign Policy decision. I now recognize myself for an Opening Statement. On april 14th, 2021, President Biden announced the United States would unilaterally withdraw its military forces from afghanistan. For months before that announcement, the Intelligence Community and his senior military advisers, including both gentlemen testifying here today issued dire warnings about the withdrawals consequences. After the announcement, i, along with other republican and Democrat Members of congress urged the president to prepare for the withdrawal and its inevitable fallouts. Unfortunately, the warnings were ignored. As the withdrawal date in there. , the situation in afghanistan deteriorated as the taliban gained significant ground across the country. Yet, the binding administrations failure to plan for their withdrawal threatened the safety and security of u. S. Personnel in the country. As a result, in july
Quotes a meeting of Foreign Affairs will come to order. Discuss how the biden administratiā i unconditionally handed over afghanistan to the taliban terrorist organization with his refusal to enforce the doha agreement. Todays hearing comes at a crucial moment in this committees investigation into the Biden Administration catastrophic withdrawal from afghanistan. Four months after President Biden announced a withdrawal the senior military advisors and its own Intelligence Community repeatedly issued dire warnings about the damage this would create. At the same time i a, along with other republica members of congress virgil President Biden shuffled the conditions of the doha agreement. Prepare for the eventual fallout of our withdrawal. He ignored us including his own state Department Personnel who issued a dissent cable in july warning of the dire situation on the ground. Instead the tr became imminent the white house and state Department Leadership stuck their heads in the center so