President Joe Biden's administration is facing its most major foreign policy debacle yet, after the long-awaited withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan allowed the Taliban to retake control of the country, with Taliban fighters overtaking the presidential palace just this weekend.
Afghans who assisted western forces, as well as families and anyone who resists Taliban rule, will be major targets of the group's violence. This urgency has resulted in chaos at the airport in Kabul, where thousands are desperately trying to find a way out of the country.
While Biden is facing the brunt of the criticism as the one currently occupying the White House, every President in the past two decades, from both parties, has policy decisions to answer for in prolonging a war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, nearly a trillion dollars, and 20 years of war with no lasting progress to show for it.
One such President is Donald Trump, whose term was marked by unprecedented goodwill toward the Taliban, advocating for the release of 5000 Taliban members from prison and even inviting the group to Camp David on the week of September 11.
Currently, Trump is railing against the Biden administration, whom he claims is completely responsible for the collapse. Trump said Biden should "resign in disgrace" over the botched withdrawal.
But less than two months ago, during a speech in Ohio, Trump credited himself with beginning the withdrawal process, and even claimed the Biden administration tried to stop it.
\u201cI started the process, all the troops are coming home, they (Biden) couldn\u2019t stop the process. 21 years is enough. They (Biden) couldn\u2019t stop the process, they (Biden) wanted to but couldn\u2019t stop the process.\u201d\n\n- Trump, 1 month agopic.twitter.com/9UPPbseyiI— david nussbaum (@david nussbaum) 1629070455
Trump told the crowd:
"[B]y the way, I started the process. All the troops are coming back home. They couldn't stop the process. 21 years is enough. Don't we think? 21 years. They couldn't stop the process. They wanted to, but it was very tough to stop the process ... It's a shame. 21 years, by a government that wouldn't last. The only way they last is if we're there. What are we going to say? We'll stay for another 21 years, then we'll stay for another 50. The whole thing is ridiculous. So we're bringing our troops back home from Iraq. We're bringing troops come from Afghanistan."
Though Trump fully endorsed a speedy withdrawal of troops from the region, he now claims the withdrawal he took credit for in late June would've been executed completely differently had he been in the White House.
People are calling out Republicans currently laying the blame solely on Biden.
Short memories in the GOP. This is a good time to work together to protect Afghan allies & prevent renewed terrorist organization & assess foreign policy failures (no surprise to students of the history of the region), for which there's plenty of blame to go around, afterwards.https://twitter.com/theNuzzy/status/1427051039404957697\u00a0\u2026— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1629122658
A timely reminder to all the Magas criticising Biden, this is who should be the main focus of blame #Afghanistanhttps://twitter.com/thenuzzy/status/1427051039404957697\u00a0\u2026— Diane (@Diane) 1629128432
No matter what Biden would have done, the mango mussolini would have criticized him. It's so convenient to pretend that you're not completely contradicting yourself and saying the complete opposite of what you said. Hypocrisy is the glue that binds the GOP. \n\n#DemVoice1https://twitter.com/theNuzzy/status/1427051039404957697\u00a0\u2026— Doug Hammond (@Doug Hammond) 1629126877
How quick Republicans will blame this on Biden. He has alot to be blamed for as do all past Presidents including this dumbo!!! #TrumpIsALaughingStock He let 5000 Taliban out of jail for 3 month ceasefire. #TrumpsTaliban Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield all have blood on their hands too!https://twitter.com/theNuzzy/status/1427051039404957697\u00a0\u2026— Jeff Canfield (@Jeff Canfield) 1629131069
To those partisan point-scoring about Afghanistan: The occupation began with W Bush & spanned 3 more admins from both parties. \n\nThe withdrawal was agreed to by Trump & executed by Biden. \n\nThis is the result of decades of failed US foreign policy, not any one party or President.https://twitter.com/thenuzzy/status/1427051039404957697\u00a0\u2026— Ahmed Baba (@Ahmed Baba) 1629124831
There's growing concern on whether the U.S. will do enough to safely evacuate refugees endangered as a result of working with the United States.
We have a moral obligation to the Afghan people. The U.S. role in this crisis is indisputable. We must waste no time or expense in helping refugees safely & swiftly leave Afghanistan. We must immediately welcome them to the U.S. & provide real support as they rebuild their lives.— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1629134990
The United States has a moral obligation. Admit as many Afghan refugees as possible.— Khaled Hosseini (@Khaled Hosseini) 1629131386
Following the Vietnam War, our country welcomed 120,000 refugees in a single year.\n\nYet the United States has only taken in ~2,000 Afghan refugees thus far.\n\nWe have a duty to save lives \u2014 and to do so, we must welcome many, many more refugees as quickly as possible.— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@Congresswoman Cori Bush) 1629135695
Trump is currently accused of deleting from his site previous statements expressing support for a swift withdrawal.
