From WSJopinion: Biden is determined in retreat, defiant in surrender, and confident in the rightness of consigning Afghanistan to jihadist rule. We doubt the world will see it the same way in the months ahead, writes The Editorial Board.
The President made glancing reference to the horrible scenes unfolding in Kabul and especially at the airport, though again without addressing the mistakes that led to them. Had the U.S. not given up the air base at Bagram, now controlled by the Taliban, the U.S. would not now have to fight to control Kabul’s commercial airfield.
Instead of taking responsibility, Mr. Biden played to the sentiment of Americans who are tired of foreign military missions. It’s a powerful point to speak of sending a child to risk his life in a foreign country, and no doubt it will resonate with many Americans. It is a question that every President should ask.
Mr. Biden said he would maintain a “counterterrorism over-the-horizon capability” to strike camps in Afghanistan, but that will be much harder from the distance of the Persian Gulf. This is a far bigger risk than he lets on, as U.S. intelligence agencies know. He also knows the U.S. hasn’t had a single casualty in more than a year in Afghanistan. Even if Mr. Biden was set on withdrawal, he could have done it based on conditions that would have given the Taliban more incentive to negotiate with the government.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion: The quick collapse in Afghanistan proves Biden was right to leaveOPINION: Trying to build a centralized nation-state in Afghanistan was always a fool’s errand, a truth the American people figured out long ago, Charles A. Kupchan writes.
Read more »
Trump and Biden blame each other for Afghanistan turmoilThe Taliban continued to take over cities and provinces across Afghanistan on Saturday as Trump and Biden blamed each other for a disorderly withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Read more »
Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal, rejects nation buildingPresident Biden rushed back from Camp David on Monday to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Kabul, and defend his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Read more »
Afghanistan updates: Taliban nears Kabul as Biden sends more US troopsNEW: Taliban forces have reportedly entered the outskirts of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, after overrunning the nation's army and gaining quick surrenders across the country.
Read more »
Afghanistan updates: Taliban cuts off Kabul from east as Biden sends more US troopsPres. Biden authorizes deployment of 5,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to assist with the 'drawdown' of U.S. and allied personnel and the 'evacuation' of certain Afghans.
Read more »
House GOP resurfaces July clip of Biden denying Taliban takeover of Afghanistan 'inevitable''I trust the capacity of the Afghan military, who is better trained, better equipped,' the president insisted 38 days ago.
Read more »