Generals’ Testimony Contradict Biden’s Claim About Whether He Was Advised to Keep Troops in Afghanistan

Gen. Frank McKenzie says he recommended against withdrawing all troops from 🇦🇫Afghanistan, apparently contracting President Joe Biden’s claim that “no one” advised against a full withdrawal.

During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, McKenzie, who was the overall commander of U.S. forces in 🇦🇫Afghanistan, said, “I will give you my honest opinion, and my honest opinion and view shaped my recommendation. I recommended we maintain 2,500 troops in 🇦🇫Afghanistan. And I also recommended earlier in the fall of 2020 that we maintain 4,500 at that time. Those were my personal views.”

He continued, “I also have a view that the withdrawal of those forces would lead inevitably to the collapse of the Afghan 🪖Military forces and eventually the Afghan government.”

When asked if Biden heard the recommendation, McKenzie said, “I was present when that discussion occurred. And I’m confident that the president heard all the recommendations and listened to them very thoughtfully.”