growing threats from isis-k. staying longer than we did would have made it more dangerous for our people and would not have significantly changed the number of evacuees we could get out. as we consider these tactical issues today, we must also ask ourselves some equally tough questions about the wider war itself and pause to think about the lessons that we have learned over the past 20 years. did we have the right strategy? did we have too many strategies? did we put too much faith in our ability to build effective afghan institutions, an army, an air force, a police force, and government ministries? we helped build a state, mr. chairman, but we could not forge a nation. the fact that the afghan army that we and our partners trained simply melted away in many cases without firing a shot took us all by surprise, and it would be dishonest to say otherwise. we need to consider some
exchange to that. that is contradiction. did tell him and he did listen to us. there is consekwens to the decision of not leaving people in. we have not gotten 4000 americans and sid s out of the country, accelerated threat with isis-k. they had argued could be contained or managed to greater extent if we left 2500 troops on the ground. the consekwens are ever changing. general milley said i was taught and raised to believe as military man for 42 plus years, you never set a date certain. president biden owns those decisions and can stand up for them. we learned today in more
the first of september. and as you know, we face grave and growing threats from isis-k. staying longer than we did would have made it more dangerous for our people and would not have significantly changed a number of evacuees we could get out. as we consider these tactical issues today we must also ask ourselves some equally tough questions about the wider war itself. pause to think about the lessons that we have learned over the past 20 years. did we have the right strategy? did we have too many strategies? did we put too much faith in our ability to build effective afghan institutions, an army, air force, police force, and government ministries? we helped build a state but we could not forge a nation. the fact that the afghan army that we and our partners trained simply melted away in many cases without firing a shot took us a by surprise and it would be dishonest to claim
and as you know, we face grave and growing threats from isis-k. staying longer that we did would have made it even more dangerous for our people. it would not have significantly changed the number of evacuees we could get out. as we consider these tactical issues today, we must also ask ourselves some equally tough questions about the wider war itself. and pause to think about the lessons that we have learned over the past 20 years. did we have the right strategy? did we have too many strategies. did we put too much faith in our ability to build effective afghan institutions, an army, an air force, a police force, and government ministries? we helped build a stage, mr. chairman, but we could not forge a nation. the fact that the afghan army that we and our partners train simply melted away in many cases without firing a shot took us all by surprise. and it would be dishonest to claim otherwise. we feed to consider some
health capability there to help the soldiers that were on this noncombatant evacuation and they will get immediate assessment and those that need counseling, it is there. the key we have to do, nonstigmatizing mental health issues a sailor or marine have, they feel free to seek counsel we have available. thank you. i d like to follow-up on the line of questioning that senator ernst started. can you describe the al qaeda threat, where it is located, where it will be going, what it is strength is compared to the strength of the last 20 years and please answer for isis, isis-k and other variations of isis across the world? you re asking me, senator? yes, general milley first and then secretary austin. so first i think it would be good to handle in some detail in the classified session issue but