Moore sponsors bill to uncover intelligence related to U.S. military withdrawal in Afghanistan

U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) on Aug. 20 offered legislation that would require an assessment of the production, planning and communication of intelligence related to America’s military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Rep. Moore sponsored the Afghanistan Accountability Act, H.R. 5066, with cosponsors including U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Troy Balderson (R-OH), and Tom Emmer (R-MN). If enacted, H.R. 5066 also would impose sanctions on the Taliban and require a report on human rights violations against Afghan individuals who supported the United States, according to the text of the bill. 

“The president’s decision to pursue a Sept. 11 deadline regardless of the safety of U.S. citizens and Afghan individuals who supported U.S. efforts was theatrical and disturbing. Without a responsible exit plan, the Taliban eroded decades of progress in just four months,” Rep. Moore said. “I am introducing the Afghanistan Accountability Act to get answers for my constituents and ensure that an absence of presidential leadership on this scale will never happen again.”

Specifically, the bill would require a report on the effectiveness and analytic integrity of the intelligence and information provided to the president from January to August 2021 regarding the withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan. The report also would assess myriad other issues, including intelligence collection and dissemination related to the capabilities of the Afghan Security Forces and Taliban and the effects of a withdrawal on the safety of U.S. troops and civilians, Afghans, and the citizens of other countries who aided or supported the U.S. government, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Moore’s office.

The legislation also would require the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a detailed report on whether the Taliban satisfies the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization, and would require regular reporting on human rights violations by the Taliban, the summary says.

“I am heartbroken by the stories coming from Afghanistan as my staff and I scramble to help as many U.S. citizens and eligible Afghan families as possible,” said Rep. Moore. “When President Biden first announced his Afghanistan withdrawal in April, I voiced grave concern over the lack of a conditions-based strategy.”