Staff Reports
Outgoing President Joe Biden has stumbled into yet another controversy, this time revealing just how incapable he is of handling critical decisions when it matters most. Reports have emerged indicating that in the lead-up to the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden was allegedly too “mentally fatigued” to take a crucial phone call from House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Adam Smith. If this isn’t a strong endorsement for term limits among our leaders, it’s hard to know what is.
According to the Wall Street Journal, while chaos reigned and lives hung in the balance, Biden was so exhausted that he simply skipped an important phone call with Rep. Smith back in 2021. This absence of communication led to a withdrawal that not only left 13 American service members dead but also abandoned $7 billion worth of military equipment to the Taliban. The situation was so bad that Biden was reportedly difficult to reach, with aides unable to rouse their boss for a vital conversation about national security. One can almost hear the crickets in the White House as the calls went unanswered.
Smith had hoped to share some sober insights with Biden, fearing that the overly optimistic narrative coming from the White House failed to capture the reality of the impending chaos. His alarm bells ringing, he requested that expectations be managed more realistically, but those pleas fell on deaf ears. Biden’s eventual phone call to apologize seemed to land with all the impact of a wet sponge—one call during four years? Impressive. It’s a wonder how he managed to keep his phone charged long enough to make that happen.
Rep. Smith didn’t hold back in voicing his frustrations, noting that the Biden White House was “more insulated than most.” It seems that Biden’s ability to engage with lawmakers, including those from his own party, fell short compared to his predecessor. While he seemed to be unreachable by anyone looking for accountability, Biden still manages to rouse himself for photo-ops with various social causes.
Biden Was Too 'Mentally Fatigued' to Take Call From Top Committee Chair Before Afghanistan Withdrawal
https://t.co/6fgjUD4lMR— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 21, 2024
In a classic example of the blame game, Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the brunt of the fallout, calling Smith to chastise him for expressing concern. This was a wonderful spectacle, further illustrating that while Biden may be incapable of making tough decisions, his administration has no problem finding someone to throw under the bus when things go awry.
As history has already shown, the withdrawal from Afghanistan has left a significant stain on Biden’s presidency. It didn’t just demonstrate a lack of planning and foresight—it handed the Taliban de facto control over the region while simultaneously sending a strong message to global adversaries like China and Russia that America is not the formidable force it once was. Those who thought the Biden administration would focus on uniting the country and improving leadership must be feeling some serious cognitive dissonance by now. Biden’s capability to steer the nation through turbulent waters appears as uncertain as ever, leaving many to wonder if anyone at the helm is awake.
