Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was pressed by Rep. Jim Bank (R-IN) about the botched 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan during a House hearing on Wednesday and said he has no regrets with how the evacuation was handled.
"Do you have regrets about the withdrawal from Afghanistan?" Banks asked.
"I support the President's decision," Austin replied.
"Do you have regrets about the withdrawal or how the withdrawal occurred from Afghanistan that cost the lives of 13 of our service members?" Banks followed-up.
"I don't have any regrets," said Austin.
Noting Austin's answer was very "telling," Banks then asked if anyone has been held accountable within the Department of Defense for how the evacuation was conducted. Austin said no one had been fired or disciplined to his knowledge.
"Mr. Chairman, this Republican majority must provide the accountability that this administration wants to sweep under the rug, with what happened in Afghanistan," Banks said.
In where @SecDef admits he has no regrets about the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, and that no one has been held accountable: pic.twitter.com/iUZHOy9zB3
— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) March 29, 2023
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