Blinken faces criticism in US Senate over Afghanistan

Senators express anger and demand answers over handling of US military withdrawal from Afghanistan and refugee crisis.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken faced bipartisan anger and criticism on Tuesday from senators unhappy with the Biden administration’s handling of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The execution of the US withdrawal was clearly and fatally flawed,” Senator Bob Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Blinken during a committee hearing.

Menendez said the committee would pursue a “full explanation” of the administration’s decisions on Afghanistan since US President Joe Biden came into office in January.