Staff Reports
A speech by President Biden at the United Nations granted him an opportunity to put a shiny gloss on what is widely regarded as the most catastrophic military withdrawal in American history. The president claimed to have been the brave soldier charging forth to fix a problem that had plagued four of his predecessors. Unfortunately for him—and for the thousands of service members and their families affected—this mission proved less about heroism and more about a runaway train of incompetence.
Biden opened his defense by reminiscing about Afghanistan taking the dubious title of America’s longest war, as if recalling an embarrassing family photo at a wedding. He boasted about making the tough call to end the conflict quickly, glossing over the tragic details of the evacuation. Thirteen service members lost their lives during this botch job, a fact that he tossed into his speech like an “oops” moment. While he pondered the loss of life, one can’t help but wonder if he considered the devastating aftermath that still weighs heavily on military families.
Here is Joe Biden, speaking to the UN General Assembly, talks about pulling out of Afghanistan and says "it was a hard decision. But the right decision. Four American presidents had to face that decision. But I was determined not to leave it to a fifth."
pic.twitter.com/CDhm1uff7K— Lucas Sanders 💙🗳️🌊💪🌈🚺🟧 (@LucasSa56947288) September 24, 2024
This speech served not only as a defense of his presidency but also as a last-ditch effort to solidify his legacy amid growing tumult across the globe. The president’s curtain call hinted at his political exit, as he claimed it was high time for “a new generation of leadership,” a friendly way of saying the party may want to take the wheel from a driver suffering from a severe case of ideological myopia.
Contrary to his protestations that America must re-engage on the world stage post-Trump, the international community is left scratching its collective head. Biden’s ambitions seem to revolve around a greater global collaboration that conveniently overlooks the chaos that often follows when a team composed of players without scruples decides to come together. His prior decisions regarding Ukraine and other geopolitical hotbeds have been nothing short of a comedy of errors, and yet here he was, rallying the troops about supposed rebirths of alliances.
A not-so-subtle jab at Trump came when Biden spoke against protectionism while simultaneously calling for a two-state solution in Israel, which feels tantamount to trying to put out a fire with gasoline. With a world rife with turmoil and aggression, Biden failed to acknowledge that his administration’s approach has done little to smooth over tensions. The felt absence of coherent strategy comes off more like a carnival sideshow than meaningful foreign relations. Instead of working toward stability, Biden seemingly favors a haphazard patchwork of treaties that leave allies suspect and adversaries emboldened.
Finally, his words about a ceasefire and easing suffering were met with skepticism from those who remember the world chaos following his abrupt decisions. While he may parade out an empty campaign for peace, the reality is that without genuine resolve and coherent policies, the international stage will continue to spiral into disarray. The legacy he seeks to shape stands in sharp contrast to the reality on the ground, and as his address echoed through the chamber, it became clear that instead of a rousing finale, America may just be getting the last act of a tragedy.
