Staff Reports
In a bold move, Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida has introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Representative Mills accuses Austin of intentionally abandoning Americans in Afghanistan, citing his alleged dereliction of duty during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country earlier this year.
Mills argues that despite having almost 8 months as Secretary of Defense to plan for a smooth and orderly departure, Austin failed to adequately prepare for the withdrawal. Mills specifically points to Austin’s decisions during the catastrophic events of July and August 2021, which he claims led to the abandonment of around 9,000 American citizens in Afghanistan.
Taking to the platform formerly known as Twitter (let’s just call it X from now on), Mills criticized Biden administration officials for blatantly ignoring intelligence reports that warned of Americans and allied partners being left behind in Kabul. He asserted that the withdrawal needed to be retooled in order to prevent this outcome.
Republican lawmakers have been highly critical of the Biden administration’s haphazard and abrupt withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of involvement. They have repeatedly called for accountability of high-level officials, including Defence Secretary Austin, for the fallout resulting from the move.
Mills emphasized the need for action, saying that it is not enough for Congress to just hold committee hearings. He believes that the complete failure of the administration demands immediate and substantial response.
However, Austin has maintained that he has “no regrets” over the withdrawal, as he previously told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee. This statement has only further fueled the Republicans’ dissatisfaction with his handling of the situation.
House GOP lawmaker launches bid to impeach Pentagon chief Austin for Afghanistan withdrawal https://t.co/TVOuvHk4cL
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 25, 2023
Coinciding with the two-year anniversary of the deaths of 13 service members who lost their lives in the suicide bombing at Kabul airport, Mills introduced the impeachment resolution. He argued that Austin’s actions directly contributed to the deaths of these servicemembers, as well as 200 civilians who were killed in the same attack. Mills insists that it is unfathomable that no member of the administration has been held accountable for the past two years, and he aims to change that with this resolution.
Support for the articles of impeachment has also come from Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado. Boebert, who has previously introduced her own impeachment resolution against President Biden for his handling of the U.S./Mexico border, believes that there must be accountability for the embarrassing withdrawal in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals, including thirteen American soldiers.
The introduction of the impeachment articles adds to the ongoing tensions and divisions within the Republican party over the Biden administration’s policies and actions. It also showcases the growing dissatisfaction among conservatives who feel that accountability is necessary to rectify the failures in Afghanistan.
