The Trump transition team is reportedly compiling a list of senior current and former U.S. military officers who were involved in the withdrawal from Afghanistan, considering potential court-martial charges. They are exploring the possibility of creating a commission to investigate the military leaders’ decision-making process and the withdrawal itself. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the withdrawal as a humiliation, and his administration is looking into the legal justifications for potential treason charges against the officers.
The chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021 has been blamed on both the Trump and Biden administrations. Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, criticized the withdrawal and called for major changes within the Pentagon leadership to better defend the nation and defeat enemies.
The transition team is considering recalling several commanders to active duty for possible charges, though it is unclear if treason charges will be pursued. Instead, they may focus on lesser charges to highlight the officers’ involvement. The goal appears to be setting an example and holding military leaders accountable for their role in the withdrawal.
Trump’s advisors have suggested that his first administration hired Democratic generals, and they aim to avoid making the same mistake. Former officials from Trump’s first administration have stated that they advised against policies that might weaken national security or violate the Constitution, indicating disagreements within the administration over key decisions such as troop withdrawals and domestic deployments.
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