Watchdog report dissects US withdrawal from Afghanistan

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in May of 2021 is still being vetted by government watchdogs. Biden’s handling of the withdrawal gained bipartisan criticism. Some of that criticism is outlined in the latest watchdog report examining what went wrong.

Lack of planning and accountability

The congressionally mandated report pointed to poor accountability on weapons provided to Afghanistan. It also highlighted a lack of systemic planning and the dependency Afghan defense forces had on U.S. troops on the ground which led to the military collapse in Kabul. 

Abrupt exit was unexpected

According to John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the report said U.S. forces abruptly quit the country and cut off assistance to Afghan allies.

“The character of the withdrawal left many Afghans with the impression that the U.S. was simply handing Afghanistan over to a Taliban government-in-waiting,” Sopko wrote in the report.

The report also said that President Biden made an even more abrupt exit than anticipated by Afghan allies.

Department of Defense lacked cooperation

The watchdog also called out the Department of Defense for a lack of cooperation in the investigation. The report indicated the DOD delayed answering official inquiries, missed deadlines and provided incomplete answers to questions. The DOD disputed those claims.

The report also indicated the U.S. left behind $7 billion worth of military equipment that has ended up in the hands of the Taliban. This watchdog is warning U.S. officials to avoid the same mistakes while aiding the war in Ukraine.

$78 billion in equipment left behind

The inspector general included in this Afghanistan report a need for more oversight of the U.S. equipment and aid being sent to Ukraine. From January of 2022 to January of 2023, the U.S. has earmarked $77 billion in spending for Ukraine.

Inspector general calls for oversight on Ukraine aid

Government watchdogs responsible for aid to Ukraine recently said they would like auditors on the ground.

“There is an understandable desire amid a crisis to focus on getting money out the door and to worry about oversight later. Given the unprecedented volume of weapons being transferred to Ukraine, the risk that some equipment ends up on the black market is likely unavoidable,” reported Inspector General Sopko.