The Pentagon’s Central Command has decided to conduct interviews with approximately two dozen service members who were present at Kabul airport during the suicide bombings that occurred during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. These service members were not part of the initial military investigation.

This decision, officials clarify, does not reopen the investigation into the deadly bombing and the withdrawal that took place two years ago. Instead, the purpose of these interviews is to determine if any of the service members possess new or different information related to the incident. The decision to conduct these interviews was initiated by Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, partly in response to claims made by at least one injured service member who asserted that he was never interviewed and might have been able to prevent the attackers.

The additional interviews may become a focal point for congressional critics, particularly among Republicans, who have raised concerns about the administration’s handling of the probe into the attack and the overall withdrawal. It may also reopen emotional wounds for the families of those killed and injured in the attack, many of whom have voiced dissatisfaction with the Pentagon’s transparency regarding the incident, which resulted in the deaths of 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members.

Previously, U.S. Central Command’s investigation, concluded in October 2021, had stated that the deteriorating security situation at the airport’s Abbey Gate, coupled with the desperate attempts by Afghans to evacuate, made it impossible to prevent the attack without compromising the mission’s goal of maximizing evacuations. The Pentagon also noted that the review of the suicide attack had not identified any advance knowledge of a potential attacker or requests for changes to the rules of engagement governing the use of force by U.S. troops.

The interviews are expected to primarily involve service members who suffered severe injuries during the bombing at the Abbey Gate and who were swiftly evacuated from Afghanistan for medical treatment. A few others who were not wounded will also be interviewed, with the possibility of additional interviews emerging from these initial discussions.

Central Command spokesperson Michael Lawhorn emphasized the purpose of these interviews, stating, “The purpose of these interviews is to ensure we do our due diligence with the new information that has come to light, that the relevant voices are fully heard, and that we take those accounts and examine them seriously and thoroughly so the facts are laid bare.” These interviews aim to assess whether individuals previously not interviewed due to their immediate evacuation possess any new information that could impact the investigation’s findings and to document their personal accounts for historical records.

Family members of those killed in the bombing and members of Congress were informed of the new plan, with Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, head of Army Central Command, overseeing the interview process led by Army Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis. Gen. Kurilla has requested an update on the progress of these interviews within 90 days.

In March, during a congressional hearing, former Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews emotionally testified about his thwarted attempt to prevent the suicide bombing. He revealed that descriptions of men believed to be plotting an attack had been provided to Marines and others involved in the evacuation, but they received no response regarding whether to take action. Vargas-Andrews expressed his frustration, stating that no one was held accountable for the incident.

This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal, marked by the rapid fall of Kabul to Taliban forces and the subsequent frantic air evacuation from the airport. In April, the administration attributed blame to the previous administration, stating that President Joe Biden was significantly constrained by decisions made during President Donald Trump’s tenure. Classified reviews conducted by the State Department and the Pentagon have not been publicly released.

A review by U.S. Inspector-General for Afghanistan John Sopko suggested that actions by both the Trump and Biden administrations were pivotal in the sudden collapse of the Afghan government and military, including Trump’s unilateral withdrawal deal with the Taliban and Biden’s abrupt pullout of U.S. contractors and troops, leaving the Afghan air force unsupported.

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SOURCE

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-afghanistan-al-qaida-ayman-zawahri-f00d745cb7cf00e3ada60017401f6784