U.S. Lawmakers Set To Grill Top U.S. Military Leaders On Afghanistan For The First Time

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

CNN: Lawmakers set to grill top military leaders on Afghanistan for first time since troop withdrawal

(CNN)Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley are set to testify publicly before Senate lawmakers Tuesday, marking the first time that top military officials will appear before Congress since the full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

Austin and Milley will be joined by the leader of US Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie, who played an integral role in facilitating the evacuation from Kabul -- an effort that has been the focus of immense bipartisan criticism since the last American military aircraft departed the Afghan capital.

All three officials will undoubtedly face questions about the chaotic nature of the withdrawal, be pressed to explain the Biden administration's plan for conducting counter-terrorism missions in the country going forward and be called upon to answer for the failures that led to a drone strike killing 10 civilians, including seven children, in Kabul during the final days of the evacuation.

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Update: Gen. Milley faces his toughest day yet on Capitol Hill (The Hill)

WNU Editor: U.S. lawmakers and the media are all going to be focused on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, and the leader of US Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie.

And there is going to be a lot of tough questions and answers that I am sure will be upsetting to a lot of people.... A U.S. general warned the Taliban to stay out of Kabul or be bombed. The Taliban rolled into Kabul anyway (NBC).

But in reality, all roads lead to President Biden, and he is going to say nothing.

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