The report, some 2,000 pages in length, comprises of dozens of witness interviews, findings of fact, together with official government records.The Post describes is as 'the most extensive, unvarnished account to date of the United States' 17-day race to end its longest war' with the documents revealing the military's frustration with the White House and diplomats over the evacuation.
But on Friday, the very existence of this encyclopedic report was denied by White House press secretary Jen Psaki, eager to downplay any remarks made by U.S. commanders.
'I think it's important for people to understand that there was no after-action report,' Psaki told reporters in the White House briefing room.
A National Security Council official speaking anonymously said that Psaki was in fact referring to an even more comprehensive review which is said to be forthcoming and will shed even more detail on the American's pullout.
'Many people have wrongly conflated the Abbey Gate report and documents released to The Washington Post with the Pentagon's after-action review of Afghanistan — a broad report that will examine the final months of America's longest war, beginning in February 2020,' the official said.
Yes, it appears that Psaki wasn’t saying that report didn’t exist but it does, she was referring to another report that doesn’t exist...but it does. Silly of us to make that mistake.