A US Marine who criticized his commanders' failures in Afghanistan has been pardoned
Lt. Col. Stuart Schiller.
Last Friday, the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) relieved the commander of the Marine Corps battalion, who had posted a video clip on social media, Thursday, demanding that senior US commanders be held accountable for their failures in Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Stuart Schiller had posted a video on social media saying, "I am making this video because I feel a growing indignation and contempt for our perceived incompetence in foreign policy, and I want to specifically ask some questions to some of my senior leaders."
It shows Schiller in his military uniform.
Schiller, who commands the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion and has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, says he was putting his 17-year military career on the line.
"I think what you believe in is the work you do and you're willing to take a risk for it."
Schiller drew attention to statements by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in which he indicated that Afghan forces can withstand the Taliban, and questioned the advice given by senior military leaders to US President Joe Biden.
“I am not saying that we should be in Afghanistan forever, but I am saying: Could any of you - addressing the top commanders - say that the idea of evacuating Bagram Air Base, a strategic air base, is a bad idea before we evacuate everyone?
Did any of you do that?
And when you didn't, did any of you raise your hand and say, 'We made a big mess?'
He said that there are a lot of questions about whether the American military personnel who died in the war fought in vain or what?
We make the same mistakes about all these people who died in vain, Schiller said, if we didn't have great leaders who would have the courage to raise their hands and say 'We didn't do it well in the end'.
"I am willing to say to my senior commanders: I demand accountability," Schiller said, aware of the risks to his military life in addressing senior commanders in this manner.
On Friday afternoon, Schiller posted another post on social media announcing that he had been excused for "lack of trust".
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