US Joint Chiefs Chairman: "No Predictive Report That Afghan Government Would Collapse in 11 Days"

"At least a few weeks expected after US troop withdrawal"
Complete rebuttal of CIA's prior collapse warning reports

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, denied reports that the Afghan government was predicted to collapse rapidly, dismissing claims of prior warnings from U.S. intelligence agencies. This was a direct rebuttal to criticisms from U.S. political circles and media accusing the administration of deliberately deciding on an early withdrawal despite foreseeing the Afghan crisis.

On the 18th (local time), during a Department of Defense press briefing, Chairman Milley stated, "Regarding reports of warnings about the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, neither I nor anyone else has seen any predictive report suggesting that the Afghan government and military would collapse within just 11 days." He added, "There were various scenarios about the collapse of the Afghan government, but all of them anticipated that the Afghan government forces would hold out for at least several weeks to several years after the U.S. military withdrawal."

Chairman Milley also placed responsibility on the Afghan government, saying, "The Afghan security forces had the capability. They were trained for national defense and had the size and capacity. This is a matter of will and leadership." His remarks are interpreted as a rebuttal to earlier reports, mainly from U.S. media, that U.S. intelligence agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had warned in advance about the rapid collapse of the Afghan government.

Earlier, President Joe Biden acknowledged the administration's misjudgment during a national address on the 16th, stating, "Things happened faster than expected." This was an admission that U.S. authorities had completely failed to predict the Taliban's rapid expansion and the ensuing severe chaos.

Despite the risk of raising doubts about the U.S.'s ability to manage international affairs, the Biden administration hastily admitted the misjudgment due to the president's approval rating plummeting at a frightening pace. According to a survey conducted the previous day by Ipsos and major foreign media targeting 1,000 American adults, President Biden's approval rating stood at only 46%.

Considering that a similar survey conducted on the 13th, before the fall of Kabul, showed a 53% approval rating, this represents a 7 percentage point drop in just four days. It is the lowest weekly approval rating since President Biden took office in January. CNN pointed out, "The public perceives that the Biden administration was aware of the possibility of the Afghan government's early collapse but failed to take appropriate measures and lied, leading to a significant drop in approval ratings."

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