WASHINGTON: The transition team of US President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a list of senior military officers involved in the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, exploring the possibility of court martials for those deemed responsible for the operation’s execution.
According to an NBC News report on Sunday, the team is considering forming a commission to investigate the events surrounding the withdrawal, focusing on whether military leaders should face charges, including treason, for their roles.
The US military’s exit from Afghanistan, which concluded a two-decade-long presence in the country, became one of the most controversial moments of the Biden administration.
The chaotic scenes at Kabul’s airport, where thousands of Afghans and foreign nationals desperately attempted to flee, raised significant questions about the planning and execution of the withdrawal.
In particular, Republican lawmakers have accused the Biden administration of botching the exit, which they argue led to the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and military.
Trump’s team, which is reportedly spearheaded by Matt Flynn, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense, is examining the actions of key military figures involved in the decision-making process.
The team’s inquiry will focus on how the withdrawal was managed and whether those in charge failed to act with sufficient planning and foresight.
Some officials are even considering the possibility of court martial charges for senior officers if their actions are deemed to have compromised the safety of American personnel or endangered US national security.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which took place in August 2021, followed the Doha Agreement—a deal negotiated by the Trump administration with the Taliban in 2020.
Meanwhile, Republican US Senator Markwayne Mullin called on the House of Representatives on Sunday to share an unreleased ethics report into alleged sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl by Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general.
Gaetz, 42, resigned his seat in the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday, hours after Trump unveiled his choice of the lawmaker and two days before the House Ethics Committee was expected to release its report, which also looked into allegations of illegal drug use.
Gaetz denies any wrongdoing. Mullin told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the Senate, which holds the authority to confirm or deny Trump’s nominations to high-level positions, needs to see the report.
“The Senate should have access to that,” Mullin said. “Should it be released to the public or not? That I guess will be part of the negotiations.” Gaetz is one of a series of Cabinet nominees tapped by Trump last week who lack the resumes normally seen in candidates for high-level administration jobs.
