In a recent CNN interview, White House official John Kirby defended Vice President Kamala Harris's deep involvement in the Afghanistan withdrawal strategy, combating criticisms from a House Republican report.
Breitbart reported that during the CNN "News Central" program on Tuesday, John Kirby, the White House National Security Communications Adviser, was interviewed about Vice President Kamala Harris’s engagement in the planning of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
This appearance was strategically scheduled before a major presidential debate, highlighting its significance.
Kirby responded to queries concerning a House Republican report that raised questions about Harris's alignment with President Biden regarding Afghanistan.
He emphasized that Harris was not only involved but central to the discussions and decision-making process about this crucial policy.
The adviser openly criticized the timing and motive behind the House Republican report. Released just a day before the presidential debate, Kirby suggested that the timing was intentionally chosen to influence political perceptions. He remarked on the partisan nature of this report, which he believed targeted Harris unjustly.
"Vice President Harris was at the center of the policy discussions and the planning that went into the withdrawal," Kirby stated.
He reinforced that Harris's position as Vice President naturally involves her in such critical national security decisions.
Kirby continued to highlight that Harris had been transparent about her role and support for the decision to end the U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan.
"She’s spoken herself about her support for the decision to end the war and her contribution to the policy discussions and the planning that went into the withdrawal," he explained, driving home the point of her pivotal participation.
The Defense by Kirby was part of a broader effort to counteract what he viewed as a politically motivated attack on the Vice President. He spoke extensively about the complexities of the withdrawal decision, which included considerations for the safety and rights of Afghan women and girls.
Kirby refuted the notion presented in the Republican report that Harris and Biden had been reckless or dismissive of the consequences of their decision. "This idea that either the Vice President or the President were just recklessly moving to this withdrawal without concern for Afghan women and girls just flies in the face of the facts. That is not true," he passionately declared.
This bold statement was an attempt to clarify the misinformation circulating about the Vice President's role and the nature of the decisions made about Afghanistan. Kirby's defense points out the absence of substantial evidence in the allegations posed by the Republican report.
By setting the record straight, Kirby hoped to reshape the narrative around Vice President Harris’s involvement in foreign policy, particularly that concerning Afghanistan.
His interview was a clear move to mitigate the political fallout that might affect not only Harris but the current administration’s standing in international matters.
The White House continues to stand firm on its account of decisions made concerning Afghanistan, highlighting the strategic and considered approach taken by all involved, including Vice President Harris. Kirby’s interview was a critical element in communicating this narrative to the public, emphasizing the administration's unified stance and Harris’s competent involvement in national security issues.