Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who gained recognition as the last American soldier to leave Kabul during the chaotic evacuation in 2021, has been confirmed by the Senate to lead U.S. Army operations in Europe and Africa. His confirmation came quietly this past Monday, amidst a flurry of military promotions approved by the Senate prior to the Thanksgiving recess.
President Biden nominated Donahue for this significant role, but his confirmation was delayed due to a procedural hold by Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma. Mullin has been outspoken about what he describes as a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which included the tragic loss of 13 U.S. service members and many Afghan civilians during a suicide bombing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Three years after the harrowing events of that day, Mullin has called out military leadership, including Donahue, for a lack of accountability. He emphasized that no one has been brought to justice for the failure that led to those fatalities, reflecting a growing frustration among many concerned about the administration’s handling of the withdrawal.
Despite the criticism, some former officials have defended Donahue’s performance during a complicated mission. Mark Esper, who served as President Trump’s Defense Secretary, recognized Donahue’s capabilities and urged the lifting of the procedural hold, advocating that the responsibility for the withdrawal ultimately lies not with the military leadership but with the decisions made by the White House.
After the hold was lifted, the Senate moved swiftly to confirm Donahue unanimously. Before this appointment, he had been serving as the leader of the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, after previously heading Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan.
As Lt. Gen. Donahue takes on his new role, he carries a significant historical legacy while navigating the challenges that come with his leadership position in the current global landscape.
