In a recent government meeting, sharp criticisms were directed at the Biden administration regarding its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has been labeled a \"catastrophic failure.\" Over three years post-withdrawal, calls for accountability remain unaddressed, with national security adviser John Kirby's assertion that \"we've all held ourselves accountable\" met with skepticism.

The discussions highlighted the administration's decision to proceed with the withdrawal despite warnings from military and intelligence experts, as well as objections from NATO allies. Critics pointed out that the Biden administration disregarded the Taliban's violations of the Doha agreement, which they later deemed \"immaterial\" to their withdrawal strategy. This led to a rapid Taliban takeover, with U.S. troop numbers dwindling to fewer than 1,000 by the time Kabul fell on August 15, 2021.

The meeting underscored the administration's failure to plan for an emergency evacuation, which resulted in significant losses for Afghan allies and American citizens. The administration's reliance on the Taliban as security partners during the evacuation was particularly condemned, as it allowed an ISIS-K terrorist to breach a Taliban checkpoint, culminating in a deadly attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians.

Critics argued that the administration's prioritization of political optics over security led to this tragic outcome, tarnishing U.S. credibility on the global stage and inflicting moral injury on veterans and service members. The meeting concluded with a call for the administration to acknowledge its missteps rather than framing the evacuation as a success, emphasizing the need for accountability in the wake of such significant failures.