Washington, D.C. – Former National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster has publicly stated that former President Donald Trump bears partial responsibility for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which concluded in August 2021. McMaster, who served under Trump from 2017 to 2018, made these remarks during an interview on August 26, 2024, shedding new light on the controversial exit that has been widely criticized both in the United States and internationally.
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According to CNN, McMaster emphasized that while the Biden administration executed the final stages of the withdrawal, the groundwork for the eventual collapse of the Afghan government and the chaotic evacuation was laid during the Trump administration. He pointed to the 2020 Doha Agreement, negotiated by Trump’s team with the Taliban, as a critical factor that undermined the Afghan government and emboldened the Taliban.
McMaster’s Critique of the Doha Agreement
The Doha Agreement, signed in February 2020, set the terms for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, including a timeline for the departure of U.S. troops and the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners. In exchange, the Taliban agreed to not allow terrorist groups like al-Qaeda to operate in areas under their control and to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government.
McMaster criticized the agreement, calling it a “surrender” to the Taliban that effectively handed over the country to the militant group. “The Doha Agreement was a disaster waiting to happen,” McMaster said. “It gave the Taliban everything they wanted without securing any meaningful concessions in return. It weakened the Afghan government and military, setting the stage for the rapid collapse we saw in 2021.”
McMaster argued that the agreement, which was intended to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict, instead led to a precipitous decline in the morale and effectiveness of Afghan forces, who felt abandoned by their American allies. The former national security adviser also noted that the Trump administration’s decision to bypass the Afghan government in negotiations with the Taliban further delegitimized the Kabul government, contributing to its downfall.
Shared Responsibility with the Biden Administration
While McMaster was critical of Trump’s role in the events leading up to the withdrawal, he also placed significant blame on the Biden administration for the way the withdrawal was conducted. “The execution of the withdrawal was a catastrophe,” McMaster stated. “The rapid and uncoordinated nature of the pullout created a vacuum that the Taliban quickly filled, leading to chaos and suffering.”
The withdrawal, which saw the Taliban rapidly retake control of Afghanistan, culminated in a desperate and chaotic evacuation from Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. The images of thousands of Afghans crowding the airport, attempting to flee the country, and the tragic bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghan civilians, have become defining moments of the withdrawal.
McMaster acknowledged that while the Biden administration made the final decision to withdraw, the conditions that led to the hasty exit were years in the making. “This was not just a failure of one administration but a failure of policy and strategy over successive administrations,” he said.
Reactions to McMaster’s Statements
McMaster’s remarks have reignited the debate over who is to blame for the chaotic end to America’s longest war. Supporters of Trump argue that the former president inherited a deteriorating situation and sought to end an unpopular and costly conflict, while critics contend that his approach to the Taliban negotiations and the terms of the Doha Agreement set the stage for disaster.
On the other hand, the Biden administration has faced intense scrutiny for its handling of the withdrawal, with many arguing that it was rushed and poorly planned, leaving Afghan allies and U.S. citizens in danger.
Political analysts have noted that McMaster’s comments add a significant voice to the ongoing debate, given his experience and his role in shaping U.S. policy in Afghanistan during his tenure as National Security Adviser. His critique of both administrations suggests that the failures in Afghanistan were systemic and not limited to a single administration’s actions.
The Legacy of the Afghanistan Withdrawal
As the United States continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Afghanistan withdrawal, the legacy of the conflict remains a deeply divisive issue. The swift collapse of the Afghan government and the return of the Taliban to power have raised questions about the effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy and military strategy over the past two decades.
McMaster’s assessment highlights the complexities of the situation and the difficulties of assigning blame in such a multifaceted and prolonged conflict. His remarks serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by successive U.S. administrations in trying to achieve a stable and lasting peace in Afghanistan.
The debate over the withdrawal and its consequences is likely to continue, with McMaster’s statements adding further nuance to the discussion. As the U.S. reflects on its involvement in Afghanistan, the lessons learned from the war and its end will be critical in shaping future foreign policy decisions.
