Biden defends Afghanistan policy, blames Afghan army and leaders for giving up

Asia-Pacific, News, US August 17, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

Biden blames Afghan leaders for giving up as the Taliban took control

President Joe Biden said on Monday he stood “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan despite the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country and images of chaos in Kabul.

Breaking his silence on the U.S. pullout, Biden admitted that the Taliban’s rapid advance “did unfold more quickly than we anticipated”.

Biden blamed the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan on Afghan political leaders who fled the country and the unwillingness of the U.S.-trained Afghan army to fight the militant group.

“Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country. The Afghan military collapsed, sometimes without trying to fight” the U.S. president said.

The United States spent over $83 billion over the last two decades to build and train Afghan security forces that collapsed quickly and completely in some cases without a shot fired. Multiple videos on social media showed the Taliban using weapons they had confiscated from U.S. air bases.

Graveyard of empires

“The events we’re seeing now are sadly proof that no amount of military force would ever deliver a stable, united, and secure Afghanistan — as known in history as the “graveyard of empires” Biden noted.

He also clarified that the United States mission “was never supposed to be about nation-building” or to create a unified, centralized democracy. “Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been: preventing a terrorist attack on American homeland,” he said.

Biden insisted in his speech he would not repeat “mistakes” made by past presidents. “I’m now the fourth American President to preside over war in Afghanistan — two Democrats and two Republicans. I will not pass this responsibly on — responsibility on to a fifth President.”

Focus on safe withdrawal

Biden was forced to send U.S. troop reinforcements to Kabul to ensure a safe withdrawal of American diplomatic personnel and civilians.

He warned Taliban leaders they would face “devastating force” should they interfere with the U.S. pullout.

“As we carry out this departure, we have made it clear to the Taliban: If they attack our personnel or disrupt our operation, the U.S. presence will be swift and the response will be swift and forceful. We will defend our people with devastating force if necessary.”

He said the current military mission will be short in time, limited in scope, and focused on getting the people and allies to safety as quickly as possible.

“And once we have completed this mission, we will conclude our military withdrawal. We will end America’s longest war after 20 long years of bloodshed.”