A group of 87 retired generals are calling on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley to resign from their positions, citing many failures of military leadership.
In a letter from the group, “Flag Officers 4 America,” the retired generals argue Austin and Milley demonstrated “negligence in performing their duties” amid the bungled Afghanistan withdrawal, per Just the News.
The letter also states that Milley and Austin must be held accountable for their actions that left hundreds of Americans and Afghan allies as “de facto hostages of the Taliban."
“A fundamental principle in the military is holding those in charge responsible and accountable for their actions or inactions,” the letter reads. “There must be accountability at all levels for this tragic and avoidable debacle.”
“Conversely,” the letter continues, “if they did do everything within their ability to persuade the CINC/President to not hastily exit the country without ensuring the safety of our citizens and Afghans loyal to America, then they should have resigned in protest as a matter of conscience and public statement.”
The letter emphasized that the “consequences” of th exit will be “enormous” and will cause the “death and torture of Afghans” as well as damaging America’s global reputation.
