President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized retired General Mark Milley, the previous Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over the choice to leave U.S.
military equipment during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan –-- calling it a “& ldquo; historic embarrassment” & rdquo; and describing Milley as “& ldquo; an idiot & rdquo; for supporting the move.Speaking during a Cabinet conference, Trump recounted an argument with Milley, who had argued it was more economical to desert military properties instead of recover or damage them during the withdrawal.
Trump, who has consistently condemned the exit strategy from Afghanistan, said the decision showed poor management and broken American trustworthiness.“& ldquo; That & rsquo; s when I knew he was a moron, & rdquo; Trump said.
& ldquo; They left all that equipment.
They left their self-respect behind.
It was the most awkward moment, in my opinion, in the history of our nation.
Not that we went out –-- we shouldn’& rsquo; t have – existed-- but the method we got out, with great embarrassment and death.”& rdquo; According to a 2022 report by the Department of Defense, the Islamic Emirate took a considerable part of the more than $7 billion in military devices left behind.While U.S.
forces removed or disabled some high-value products, a variety of vehicles, airplane, and weapon systems stayed in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon kept in mind that much of the devices would likely become unusable without regular upkeep from U.S.
contractors.The withdrawal, completed under President Joe Biden, followed through on a 2020 contract worked out during Trump’& rsquo; s administration with the Islamic Emirate to end the decades-long conflict.However, the quick collapse of Afghan government forces at the time, and the Islamic Emirate’& rsquo; s speedy go back to power, triggered widespread criticism –-- especially after a suicide battle at Kabul’& rsquo; s Hamid Karzai International Airport eliminated 13 U.S.
service members and over 150 Afghans throughout evacuation operations.Earlier this year, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a thorough evaluation of the withdrawal, citing the requirement for accountability and lessons learned.Milley, who retired in 2023, has not responded publicly to Trump’& rsquo; s most current comments.
Nevertheless, during statement before your home Foreign Affairs Committee in 2024, Milley defended the choices made throughout the withdrawal.He mentioned that he and then-U.S.
Central Command leader Gen.
Kenneth McKenzie had both encouraged the Biden administration to maintain a small U.S.
military existence in Afghanistan.“ & ldquo; The outcome in Afghanistan was the outcome of many choices from several years of war,” & rdquo; Milley told lawmakers.
“& ldquo; Like any complicated phenomenon, there was no single causal factor that figured out the result.”& rdquo; Trump and Milley have had a strained relationship over the last few years.
Milley was selected by Trump in 2019, stress escalated following Milley’& rsquo; s public apology for appearing alongside Trump during a questionable photo-op outside the White House in the middle of the 2020 George Floyd protests.
Milley later said his presence “& ldquo; developed an understanding of the military involved in domestic politics.”& rdquo; In the final weeks of Biden’& rsquo; s very first term, the White House issued a preemptive pardon for Milley, a relocation aimed at protecting the retired general from prospective legal action needs to Trump go back to workplace.
Milley’& rsquo; s security clearance was consequently withdrawed by Secretary Hegseth in January.The post Trump calls Gen.
Milley an ‘& lsquo; idiot & rsquo; for leaving United States military devices behind in Afghanistan first appeared on TINS News|Afghanistan News.