House lawmakers have issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding he testify about the Biden administration's disastrous 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite repeated requests, Blinken has avoided appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, prompting the committee to compel his testimony on September 19 or face contempt charges.

The chaotic withdrawal, which marked the end of over 20 years of U.S. occupation, resulted in the tragic loss of 13 American soldiers. It has since been revealed that Blinken was the final decision-maker in the withdrawal and evacuation, raising questions about the competence and transparency of the operation.

This costly misadventure not only wasted taxpayer dollars but also sacrificed American lives in a conflict that ended with the Taliban retaking Afghanistan, effectively rendering two decades of military involvement futile. The investigation aims to prevent such catastrophic mistakes in the future, but the damage—both in lives and economic resources—has already been done. The U.S. occupation and withdrawal from Afghanistan serve as a stark reminder of the heavy price paid for misguided foreign interventions.