President Biden’s decision to remove all US troops from Afghanistan went against the recommendations of his top military commanders, who feared it could undermine security in the country.
General Frank McKenzie, the commander of the United States Armed Forces in the Middle East, General Austin “Scott” Miller, who leads NATO forces in Afghanistan, and General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all recommended that the maintain current force of 2,500 troops while intensifying diplomacy to try to negotiate a peace deal, US officials say.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, himself a retired military commander for the region, shared the senior officers’ concerns and warned that withdrawing all US forces would suspend an insurance policy to maintain some degree of stability in the country, said the officials.
Mr. Biden carefully weighed military input, officials say, but was determined to end involvement in America’s longest-running by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks that led to US military intervention in Afghanistan. war.
Mr. Austin and General Milley first learned that the president had made a decision on the withdrawal on April 6, when they attended the president’s daily intelligence briefing. As Mr. Biden presented his thoughts on Afghanistan, they asked if he had come to his decision.