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Biden Blames Generals For Bagram Withdrawal: ‘Their Best Military Judgment’

Daily Caller

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President Joe Biden blamed “major military personnel” for the decision to withdraw from Bagram Air Force Base during the question-and-answer portion of his Thursday address.

The comments contradicted Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who told reporters on Aug. 18 that military officials had to choose between securing Bagram and Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) due to lack of manpower.

“As for tactical questions of how to conduct an evacuation or war, I gather up all the major military personnel that are in Afghanistan, the commanders, as well as at the Pentagon, and I ask for their best military judgment, what would be the most efficient way to accomplish the mission,” Biden said, in response to a question about who decided to turn over Bagram Air Force Base to the Afghan government.

The U.S. military withdrew from Bagram Air Force Base on July 2, with Afghan National Security and Defense Force (ANDSF) taking over. The ANDSF commander in charge of administering the base did not learn of the withdrawal until two hours after it happened.

The Taliban declared the withdrawal a “dignified tale of Jihad, extraordinary sacrifice, valor, epics, and remarkable resistance of our faithful people.” The group took charge of the airbase on Aug. 15, releasing 5,000 of its fighters who were held in the prison located on the grounds.

Republicans have criticized the decision to release control of Bagram.

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