Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle Wednesday were perplexed by the lack of a Biden administration plan to continue fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, buttress the Kabul government, and protect interpreters after U.S. troops depart by Sept. 11.
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz nonetheless praised President Joe Biden’s decision to end the war but mirrored colleagues’ concerns that the Taliban would soon topple the Kabul government while others worried that some 18,000 interpreters who had helped the U.S. government over the years would be hunted down.
“When it comes to President Biden’s approach to Afghanistan, I want to offer my sincere, uncouched praise,” said Gaetz at the House Armed Services Committee hearing.
“My concern is that the Afghanistan government might be the Taliban at some period of time subsequent to our withdraw because I don’t have confidence that the Afghan government will prevail over the Taliban following our withdraw,” he added. “That is not a reason to stay. It is just a reality.”
Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Matthew Trollinger, a Joint Staff official, assessed the Afghan fighting force of over 300,000 as well trained and prepared, and “absolutely a capable fighting force.”
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs David Helvey told lawmakers that 2,500 American soldiers played a backup role to the Afghan military over the past 14 months since the Trump administration signed a peace deal with the Taliban.
In that deal, the group that hosted al Qaeda when it plotted the Sept. 11 attacks held a ceasefire with U.S. and coalition forces but relentlessly attacked the Afghan Armed Forces. American commanders have not said how they would continue to protect the Afghan military once the withdrawal is complete. U.S. Central Command reported Tuesday that the withdrawal is approximately 12% complete.
Asked if the Taliban had definitively broken with al Qaeda, Helvey paused several seconds before saying he could not respond to the question in open session.
Committee members repeatedly asked for an explanation for how oft-cited “over the horizon” support would be provided, given that 11 neighboring countries had yet to grant the United States basing rights. U.S. air support and intelligence overflights must depart from bases in Gulf countries, some four hours away, if a new agreement is not signed.
“We are doing those detailed plans. We have more work to do,” Helvey admitted. “That’s what the Department of Defense does. That’s what we do extremely well.”
The Pentagon official declined to speak publicly about recent reports that European allies had asked the U.S. to delay its exit from the country in order to provide a longer period of protection. Helvey also refused to confirm reports that NATO ally Turkey planned to withdraw its forces currently protecting Kabul airport.
Helvey said planning for the withdrawal and continued counterterrorism operations did not start on April 14 when Biden ended the war but began under the Trump administration when an agreement to withdraw fully was first signed in February 2020.
Of concern to many lawmakers was the fate of some 18,000 interpreters and other Afghans who have worked for the U.S. and coalition forces and might be killed by the Taliban or other anti-government forces for their cooperation with the Americans.
“There’s considerable concern about partners in Afghanistan, particularly interpreters, people who have worked directly with us, who want to get out,” said HASC Chairman Adam Smith, a Washington state Democrat.
Smith reminded lawmakers that before the U.S. entered Afghanistan, the Taliban were killing people indiscriminately across the country.
“It’s really important, surely the Department of Defense, the State Department, the whole of government needs to really sort of move that up on the priority list,” he said.
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Alabama Republican and ranking member Rep. Mike Rogers agreed and further underscored the lack of clear answers from Pentagon officials during the open session.
“What we’ve heard today when it comes to basing, when it comes to the visas for these people who have helped us, when it comes to training the Afghan forces going forward, we’re hearing, ‘We are working on it,’” he said. “I am of the opinion this should have been resolved before you announced you were leaving.”
