Smith, Rogers, Reed, Inhofe name Afghanistan war commission members

The top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate Armed Services committees have named their picks to be on the congressionally mandated Afghanistan War Commission.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) selected Jeremy Bash, former chief of staff at the Defense Department from 2011-2013 and chief of staff at the CIA from 2009-2011.

Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL) tapped Michael Allen, a former staff director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) chose Michael Lumpkin, president of Amida Technology Solutions and a former assistant defense secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) tapped Colin Jackson, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College. From 2017-2019, Jackson served as deputy assistant defense secretary for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.

Established via the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the commission "will conduct a comprehensive review of key decisions related to U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan by focusing on the period from June 2001 to August 2021," according to a statement released by both committees.

Sixteen people will make up the commission, including one commissioner each appointed by the House and Senate Armed Services committee chairmen and ranking members plus the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Foreign Affairs/Relations committees, along with the top Democrat and Republican on the House and Senate intelligence committees as well as the House speaker, House minority leader, Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader, according to the statement.