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- US diplomats had warned the Afghan government could collapse soon after August 31.
- The Taliban takeover of Kabul came even faster, prompting scenes of chaos at the international airport.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Around two dozen State Department officials warned last month that the US-backed Afghan government could collapse soon after the August 31 withdrawal of American forces, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The July 13 cable was sent via the department's dissent channel, where diplomats are invited to share constructive criticism of US policy, The Journal reported.
Although US intelligence had determined the Afghan government's grip on power was tenuous, few – dissenters included – expected it would fall even before US soldiers left the country. The sudden collapse, which saw the Taliban take over the capital, Kabul, this week, left thousands of US citizens and many more vulnerable Afghans stranded.
According to The Journal, the dissent cable had "offered recommendations on ways to mitigate the crisis and speed up an evacuation."
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the department, told Insider that each cable sent through the dissent channel is read by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"We value constructive internal dissent. It's patriotic. It's protected. And it makes us more effective," Price said. He did not comment on the contents of the dispatch itself.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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