The Biden administration was a failed one. But this one incident may have been the worst thing any recent administration has ever done.
And Pete Hegseth has launched an investigation into the former Biden admin for this heinous act.
Pentagon to Launch In-Depth Investigation into 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal Tragedy
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Pete Hegseth announced a sweeping investigation into the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, with a sharp focus on the devastating su*cide bombing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport that claimed the lives of 13 American service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. The move signals a renewed commitment to transparency and justice for those affected by the turbulent end to America’s 20-year presence in the country.
Hegseth revealed that the Department of Defense had already completed a preliminary review of the decisions made by the Biden administration, which opted to extend the Afghan War past the May 1, 2021, deadline established under President Donald Trump’s first term. However, Hegseth emphasized the need for a more exhaustive examination to deliver accountability and clarity to the American public.
“Biden’s administration led a chaotic withdrawal of U.S. military and embassy officials from Afghanistan that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. Service members and 170 civilians in a su*cide bombing at Kabul International Airport’s Abbey Gate,” Hegseth stated in a letter released Tuesday. “President Trump and I have formally pledged full transparency for what transpired during our military withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
The investigation will be spearheaded by Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, who brings personal experience to the task. According to Hegseth’s statement, Parnell, who served 485 days in Afghanistan, was wounded in action alongside 85% of his platoon and lost numerous comrades during the War on Terror.
Hegseth tasked Parnell with forming a panel to scrutinize prior investigations, including their findings, sources, and witnesses, while dissecting the decision-making processes that culminated in what Hegseth described as “one of America’s darkest and deadliest international moments.” He stressed, “This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation.”
The events leading to the August 26, 2021, bombing at Abbey Gate were marked by turmoil. In April 2021, President Joe Biden announced he would not honor a Trump-era agreement with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops, instead planning to keep forces in Afghanistan through the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
This decision, which Biden framed as a “withdrawal,” triggered a fierce Taliban offensive, with over 22,000 attacks in the following four months. The Afghan military collapsed, with hundreds of soldiers fleeing to Tajikistan, and then-President Ashraf Ghani abandoned the country. By August 15, the Taliban had seized Kabul without resistance.
During the ensuing chaos, as thousands of Afghans flooded Kabul’s airport in a desperate bid to escape, an Islamic State terrorist detonated a suicide bomb near Abbey Gate, marking the deadliest single-day loss of American soldiers in Afghanistan in a decade.
Days earlier, the U.S. Embassy had issued warnings about “security threats” at the airport, hinting at intelligence that could have prevented the tragedy.
Yet, no clear explanation for the security lapse has emerged from either the Biden administration or the Taliban, and no American officials have faced consequences.
Hegseth condemned Biden’s “disastrous and embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan” in a separate statement, reaffirming the Trump administration’s dedication to justice. “We have an obligation to the American people and to the warfighters who fought in Afghanistan to get the truth — and we will,” he stated.
Progress has already been made, with the March capture of a terrorist known as “Jafar,” identified as the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate attack. Dr. Sebastian Gorka, the Senior Director for Counterterrorism under Trump, told Breitbart News that Jafar confessed to the bombing and over 20 other attacks, potentially responsible for over a thousand deaths.
The Trump administration has long prioritized justice for the Abbey Gate victims. During the 2024 Republican National Convention, Trump met with families of the fallen, offering them a platform to honor their loved ones.
Christy Shamblin, a relative of Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, shared, “While Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours at Bedminster with us. He allowed us to grieve. He allowed us to remember our heroes. Donald Trump knew all of our children’s names, he knew their stories, and he spoke to us in a way that made us feel understood — like he knew our kids.”
Hegseth brought light to the issue during his January confirmation hearing, stating, “There has been no accountability for the disaster of the withdrawal in Afghanistan, and that’s precisely why we’re here today. Leadership has been unwilling to take accountability and it’s time to restore that to our most senior ranks.”
The new investigation aims to deliver on that promise, ensuring a full accounting of the decisions that led to one of the darkest chapters in recent American military history.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
