Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) defended the Biden administration following renewed scrutiny over the United States's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
A 12-page unclassified summary of the after-action report about the withdrawal released last week pinned much of the blame on the Trump administration and reignited debate over who bore the most responsibility for the Taliban takeover. Cardin argued that President Joe Biden's hands were largely tied up."It was a real challenge," Cardin told Fox News Sunday."Make no mistake about it: the Biden administration had very bad options.
Despite two decades of American involvement in Afghanistan, the U.S.-backed government quickly collapsed and fell to the Taliban as the United States took out its forces. Prior to the Taliban resurgence, Biden was resolute that the civilian government would stand. At one point last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stirred controversy by asserting that the withdrawal did not appear chaotic from his standpoint.Kirby's remarks drew backlash from Republicans. Some 13 American troops died during the withdrawal, and numerous Afghan allies were left behind.
"I hope we can learn from this experience," Cardin continued."Quite frankly, I think the major mistake was made in negotiating directly with the Taliban, not involving the Afghanistan government, unilaterally withdrawing our troops to a level that did not give us the ability to be able to protect U.S. interests moving forward."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Army veteran torches Biden admin for defending Afghanistan withdrawal: The 'gaslighting is ridiculous'Veterans On Duty chairman Jeremy Hunt responds to the Biden White House's defense of the Afghanistan withdrawal, slamming their 'gaslighting' and lack of leadership.
Read more »
CBS reporter rips Biden administration's Afghanistan report as a 'whitewash' of the botched withdrawalCBS Senior White House Correspondent Ed O'Keefe slammed the Biden administration for its report on the botched Afghanistan withdrawal that resulted in the death of twelve Americans.
Read more »
Veterans blast Biden admin for protecting ‘corrupt politicians’ by denying ‘chaos’ of Afghanistan withdrawlUS veterans are blasting the White House as liars for portraying the military withdrawal of Afghanistan as a success — insisting that Biden’s lackeys are abandoning veterans to protect …
Read more »
Dem Rep. Himes: 'Biden Is the Kind of Guy' to 'Own up' to Afghanistan Withdrawal ProblemsOn Friday's broadcast of MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) reacted to the Biden administration's Afghanistan report by stating that 'Joe Biden | Clips
Read more »
Biden disgracefully tries to memory-hole his Afghanistan debaclePresident Joe Biden's low approval ratings and reelection numbers have long been the subject of commentaries and even jokes. But things weren't always this way.
Read more »
Opinion | Joe Biden should stop spinning the Afghanistan withdrawalZeeshan Aleem: There’s no pretty way to end something as ugly as war — particularly if you’ve lost.
Read more »