Thread by @CraigCaplan

House Armed Services Chair Adam Smith (D-WA) on US mission in Afghanistan: "For all the problems, and troubles, and difficulties that we had, that mission has been successful in one sense, we have not had a transnational terrorist attack on the US."

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1329794705673031681

HASC Chair Smith (D-WA) on US military in Afghanistan: "The common sense thing to do at this point is to have absolute minimum presence that we require to meet our goal of stopping that transnational terrorist threat."

Smith (D-WA): "I happen to believe that we need to draw down there because of the cost, because of the impact, and because of the fact that it has become clear that we are not going to be able impose peace upon Afghanistan."

Retiring House Armed Svcs Ranking Mbr Mac Thornberry (R-TX) to Char Smith: "Because this may well be the last hearing of this session of Congress, I want to..express appreciation to you & to the staff for the way you have dealt w/incredibly challenging circumstances under COVID."

HASC Ranking Member Thornberry (R-TX): "A hearing on Afghanistan has been on our agenda for months, but it turns out that this is a very timely hearing today."

Thornberry (R-TX) on US mission in Afghanistan: "The goal all of us have is for the Afghans to be able to handle their security issues on their ow, so that no transnational threat emerges from that territory. But I do not believe that they are there yet."

Retiring 13th term #TX13 Rep. Mac Thornberry, House Armed Services Cmte Ranking Member, at US-Afghanistan hearing: "I have tremendous respect for each of our witnesses today and look forward to hearing from them...and any advice they have for the incoming Biden Administration."