Weathering withering criticism for his handling of the exit strategy from Kabul, Afghaniistan, 78-year-old President Joe Biden, 56-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris and 58-year-old Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to the nation from the Oval office, trying to reassure the public that the situation was under control. Press reports about a “pause” in evacuation flights out of Kabul caused concern, as some 25,000 U.S. citizens and thousands more Afghans appeared stranded, surrounded by the Taliban at the airport and in Kabul. “This is one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history,” Biden told a national audience, insisting the State Department is working with partners in Europe and Middle East to process refugees under the Secure Immigrant Vis [SIV] program. “Any America who wants to come home, we will get you home,” Biden said, trying to reassure the public.
Biden’s faced growing criticism for his exit strategy, waiting too long to evacuate U.S. and foreign personnel looking to leave the country. When 72-year-old U.S.-backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country Aug. 16 it marked the total collapse of the Afghan government, surrendering Kabul to the Taliban. Biden told NPR’s Scott Simon Aug. 14 that it was highly unlikely the Afghan government would collapse. Two days later, Ghani fled the country to Doha, Qatar with oodles of cash. So, where’s the disconnect between Biden’s public statements Aug. 14 and the intel briefings from the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] and elsewhere telling Biden that the Talibian was close to overthrowing the U.S.-backed Ghani government? Biden acks like he was never briefed by the intel community about the state of security in Afghanistan, leading to the panic-stricken evacuation.
Biden’s been criticized for the lack of adequate planning for the exit strategy out of Kabul for U.S., Afghan and foreign personnel needing to evacuate the country. Biden announced April 13 that the U.S. would leave Afghanistan by Sept. 1. What was the U.S. military doing for the last four months? Why didn’t Biden order the military to methodically evacuate U.S. citizens, Afghans and anyone else looking to exit the country back in April? “We’re doing everything, everything that we can to provide safe evacuation for our Afghan allies, partners and Afghans who might be targeted because of their association with the United States,” Biden said. “The United States stands by the commitment it made to these people,” offering no assurance that the Taliban would not round up Afghans regarded as traitors for working in some capacity for the U.S.-backed Afghan government.
Biden’s in full-on damage control mode, knowing that he was blindsided by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan including Kabul. When the president tells NPR there’s virtually no chance of a Taliban takeover Aug. 14, then Ghani flees the country Aug. 16, there’s a big disconnect. What happened to Biden’s CIA and DIA briefings that told him a collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government was imminent. Even without any intel briefing, press reports over the last few months signaled a Taliban takeover around the country. “I cannot promise what the final outcome will be or that it will be without risk of loss. But as commander-in-chief I can assure you that I will mobilize every resource necessary,” Biden said. Only a day before Biden said there’s been no loss of life, Biden told ABC’s George Stephaopoulos Aug. 18 that “no one’s been killed,” something not supported by the facts.
Reports of Taliban militants rounding up Afghan citizens trying to get to the airport don’t bold well that no one’s been harmed or will be harmed by the bloodthirsty terrorist group. Biden was give plenty of advance warning about potential problems evacuating Kabul back in April when he announced that the timetable for withdrawal was extended for three months. Yet there was no effort in April, May, June or July to methodically move out thousands of U.S. citizens. Biden waited until the Taliban took over the country and Kabul before ordering the military to begin airlifting By that time, Biden had closed Bagram Airbase, and took the military down to a skeleton crew. When chaos erupted Aug. 17, Biden ordered some 3,000 troop back to the Hamid Karzai airport to supervise the evacuation. With four months to start the evacuation, why did Biden wait until utter mayhem broke out?
Biden claims there were conflicting messages from the intel community about the longevity of the Afghan government. Yet even the most unclassified press reports said the Taliban had overrun the country and was closing in on Kabul over the last four months. “I made the decision. The buck stops with me,” repeating old clichés but not answering why he didn’t start the evacuation four months ago. “The idea that somehow there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing I don’t know how that happens,” Biden told Stephanopoulos Aug. 18. If Biden really believes what he’s saying, he’s not fit for duty because he’s endangered thousands of U.S. citizens, Afghan nationals and foreign workers. Waiting until Ghani fled the country and panic set in was abysmal planning by anyone’s definition. If the buck really stops with Joe, he should tender his resignation for a reckless exit strategy.
