President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is compiling a list of U.S. military officers involved in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, exploring potential courts-martial for their roles in the chaotic exit. The effort, led by former Pentagon official Matt Flynn, seeks to investigate decision-making during the withdrawal and could include charges as severe as treason, though the legal basis remains unclear.
Trump and his allies have called the withdrawal a national humiliation and blame Pentagon leaders for failures such as the Abbey Gate bombing and a botched airstrike in Kabul.
Critics note the Trump administration’s 2020 agreement with the Taliban also contributed to the turmoil. Legal experts warn the move risks politicizing the military, as the team signals it may recall commanders to active duty to “set an example.”
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].