As Commander-in-Chief, President Biden owns the images coming out of Afghanistan. It is happening under his watch so he cannot blame anybody but himself and his staff of generals and colonels
On the other hand, I commend former president Trump for negotiating a withdrawal from this twenty-year war, and I commend President Biden for honoring that commitment and making it happen, as ugly as it is. According to all reports I have read, no Americans have been killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban since Trump announced the withdrawal of troops. Both presidents made a decision that the two presidents prior to them were not willing to make.
I understand completely why, President George W. Bush, invaded Afghanistan in the first place following September 11, 2001. He wanted to cripple and eliminate Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Since we have not had any foreign attacks on our soil since 9/11 the initial goal was a success. Unfortunately, we couldn’t figure out how to leave once we were there, which is similar to what happened in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Ironically, in the 1980’s we supported the Afghanistan forces in their conflict against the Russians. The Russians got out of Afghanistan after nine years of futility.
My frustration with Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and countless other efforts is that we do not learn from our mistakes. We know how to attack, but we do not know how to nation build. It seems only George H.W. Bush understood this. He did the “shock and awe” of Desert Storm against Iraq in the early 90’s to remove Iraqi troops from Kuwait. Once the initial operation was a success, he removed the troops from Iraq. George H.W. Bush was highly criticized for not going all the way to Baghdad and capturing Saddam Hussein. However, George H.W. Bush was not saddled with an ongoing war that could not be won. He got in and got out. His prior experience with foreign affairs was probably a major factor in his decision to get in and out.
I commend Trump and Biden for ending a war we could not win. As shown by the recent activity of the Afghanistan politicians and the military, they had no desire to defend Afghanistan from the Taliban. For the last 20 years, the Afghanistan leadership have been enjoying all resources that the U.S spent in Afghanistan to keep the Taliban at bay. However, once the Afghanistan politicians and military were left on their own, they ran like the wind, which should not be a surprise.
President Biden owns the images coming out of Afghanistan, but there is no doubt in my mind Presidents Trump and Biden made the right decision by getting us out of Afghanistan. It is probably, 18 years later than it should have been[TB1] .
Stay safe. Social distance. Wear your mask. Wash your hands regularly. Get your vaccine.
Orchid of the Day: To my daughter Katy and her husband Brad, who are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary today.
Onion of the Day: The plan to evacuate Afghanistan. It is not working and it is all too familiar to those of us who remember Vietnam.
Quote of the Day: “I stand squarely behind my decision.” President Biden