Two top generals have told the Senate they advised Joe Biden to keep 2,500 troops in Afghanistan – a claim that contradicts what the president has said about his botched withdrawal operation.
Commander of US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Miley both gave their testimony’s on the Afghanistan withdrawal on Tuesday, local time.
General McKenzie told senators he recommended Joe Biden keep 2,500 US troops in Afghanistan.
He said his view was that the “withdrawal of those forces would lead inevitably to the collapse of the Afghan military forces, and eventually the Afghan government".
The top general also said last year he told then president Donald Trump that 4,500 troops should remain in the country.
Senator Jim Inhofe pressed General McKenzie on whether General Austin ‘Scott’ Miller’s recommendation about leaving 2,500 troops in Afghanistan was delivered to the president.
“I was present when that discussion occurred and I am confident that the president heard all the recommendations and listened to them very thoughtfully,” Mr McKenzie said.
The testimony contradicts Joe Biden’s claim that he wasn’t recommended leaving troops in the war-torn country.
President Biden was interviewed by ABC journalist George Stephanopoulos in August where he denied the conversation.
“Your top military advisors warned against withdrawing on this timeline. They wanted you to keep about 2,500 troops," Mr Stephanopoulos said.
“No, they didn't,” Mr Biden replied.
"So no one told – your military advisors did not tell you, 'No, we should just keep 2,500 troops. It's been a stable situation for the last several years. We can do that. We can continue to do that?” Mr Stephanopoulos said.
"No. No one said that to me that I can recall,” Mr Biden replied.
