Staff Reports
President Joe Biden has found himself in quite the pickle when it comes to dealing with the aftermath of his predecessor’s plan to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. Former President Donald Trump’s itch to end the 20-year long war was shared by Biden, creating quite the conundrum for the new administration.
Trump’s last-minute efforts to have all troops withdrawn before his exit from the White House were met with resistance from his own defense secretary and the Pentagon. Ultimately, only 2,500 troops were allowed to remain, providing a sense of relief to many.
Upon taking office, Biden had to grapple with the decision to stick to Trump’s plan or change course. Despite receiving overwhelming advice to leave a small number of troops, Biden was determined to follow through with the withdrawal, even if it meant prolonging the war.
The chaotic withdrawal process and the subsequent fall of Kabul were evidence of the flawed decision-making. The administration’s faulty intelligence assessments and lack of contingency plans added to the mayhem, resulting in a dangerous and chaotic evacuation mission.
The dire situation was worsened by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s abrupt departure, which led to the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces. The rapid unraveling of events left many unanswered questions about what could have been if different decisions had been made.
In the end, the Biden administration’s mishandling of the Afghanistan withdrawal has led to a devastating and avoidable outcome, leaving the country and its people in turmoil.
