General McKenzie and General Milley and Defense Src. Lloyd Austin confirmed Biden received a recommendation to leave 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan.
McKenzie: “I recommended we maintain 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. I also recommended earlier in the fall of 2020 we maintain 4,500 at that time. Those are my personal views. I also have a view that the withdrawal of those forces would lead inevitably to the collapse of Afghan military forces and eventually the Afghan government.”
Inhofe asks about presenting the recommendation to Biden.
McKenzie: “I was present at the time the discussion occurred and I’m confident the president heard all the recommendations and listened to them very thoughtfully.”
Sec. Austin told Sen. Cotton:
COTTON: “It’s a simple question, Secretary Austin. He said no senior military leader advised him to leave a small troop presence behind. Is that true or not? Did these officers and General Miller’s recommendations get to the President personally?”AUSTIN: “Their input was received by the President and considered by the President for sure. In terms of what they specifically recommended, senator, as they just said, they’re not going to provide what they recommended in confidence.”
In August, Biden said no military leader advised leaving troops in Afghanistan.
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