Legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) would establish a Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan to conduct a full investigation and compile a joint report on the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in establishing this bipartisan committee to investigate this colossal failure,” said Sen. Tillis, who on Jan. 31 signed on as one of seven Republican original cosponsors of S. 170, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).
“When the Biden administration disastrously withdrew out of Afghanistan, they left thousands of our Afghan allies behind and severely damaged the United States’ credibility on the world stage,” said Sen. Tillis. “Nearly a year and a half later, the American people, especially our brave veterans of the War in Afghanistan, are still owed answers.”
Following enactment of S. 170, the Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan would be required to conduct its investigation and then report its findings to Congress. The report would be required to include an analysis of any actions taken by the U.S. government to proactively prepare for a successful withdrawal; efforts to protect the safety of U.S. forces; and attempts to neutralize threats in withdrawal scenarios, including all timelines and advice provided by military leaders to President Joe Biden and his national security team beginning in January 2021, according to the text of the bill.
The report also should include a summary of any intelligence reports that indicated an imminent threat at the Hamid Karzai International Airport preceding the deadly attack on Aug. 26, 2021, and the risks to U.S. and allied country civilians, as well as Afghan partners, the text says.
Lawmakers also want a full and unredacted transcript of the phone call between President Biden and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan on July 23, 2021 to be included in the report, among other requirements.
Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Tillis as an original cosponsor of S. 170 are U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).