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Biden praises Afghanistan airlift; defends departure from 'forever war'

73 Comments
By AAMER MADHANI and KEVIN FREKING

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The Taliban, sporting the latest in weaponry that the US left behind, also think it was a "success".

14 ( +23 / -9 )

How could it be called successful when not everyone was airlifted by the deadline?

12 ( +23 / -11 )

It shouldn't even be called making/made the deadline because not everyone was out by the deadline.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Now compare that with the former guy, ‘ I don’t take responsibility for anything’.

The other guy didn’t lose the war.

7 ( +28 / -21 )

Arming and empowering the Taliban with $85 billion dollars of cutting edge military equipment: 22,000 Humvees, 64,000 machine guns, 350,000 assault rifles, 100 helicopters, 60 planes and so on to use and selling the equipment they don't know how to use to Iran and Pakistan. This is not just an evacuation.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Biden praises Afghanistan airlift;

The Afghanistan withdrawal was Trumps policy, which BIden horribly bungled. It boggles the mind that this incompetent puppet now wants praise for this disaster.

5 ( +16 / -11 )

“I was not going to extend this forever war,”

LOL

Can I fix this?

“I was not going to extend this forever war a second time”

Because he did extend it from Trumps May 1st deadline.

I am so glad it’s over, but you have to give all of the credit to “the other guy”. Sorry left wingers for ruining your feel good moment.

4 ( +14 / -10 )

Trump said it many times. Get the people out, get the military equipment and weaponry out, ensure our allies are out and FINALLY get American troops out.

Joe secretly withdraw the American Military troops in the middle of the night and left everyone else and everything behind.

Terrorist in American military attire are using American military grade weapons and equipment. Flying American Military Helo with a person hanging from a rope.

Trump salutes fallen troops while Joe constantly checks his watch as dead troops are returning home.

People are praising Joe for doing a great job? Really?

This is not hate speech nor is it violent. It is fact based on both Left and Right news agencies (with video)

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Biden means it was a success by not ticking off the taliban any further by not making the deadline. I’m sure Biden wiped his brow and exhaled just as the last soldier ran and jumped on the rear ramp of the departing plane.

I think Biden believes that Americans are dumb and have short term memories and people will just shove this disaster under the rug and that is just not going to happen. They think this is some easy winnable narrative that they can tweet and hope that Dorsey and Zuckerberg will help them push the narrative that this was a success as if none of us have a TV or an iPhone. The good things is that Biden just helped the GOP inch closer to not just retaking the House but add seats to their ranks. We have now 90 retired military vets that are demanding accountability that Miley and Austin should step down and these vets will push as hard as they can as well as as the GOP to push to get that done.

All Biden had to do was follow the outlined conditions to the tee and renege on any conditions broken, Biden didn’t do that. Sad what happened, but the good thing is, the time clock is ticking on this guy and his party so that does give the country a bit of solace.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-peace-deal-us-deaths-afghanistan-year

3 ( +12 / -9 )

A Q is there. ISIS is there. Who knows who else is there. The US will probably go back there from time to time to do some spring cleaning.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The buck stops with me! So as I was saying let me tell you why all of this is Donald Trump’s fault. except the good parts, that’s all me, Joe Biden!

rhere were 10-15,000 Americans in Afghan. We removed 6,000 so less than 200 remain, right?

checks watch, I’m outta here.

2 ( +16 / -14 )

The Forever War is a fantastic SciFi book! Won both the Nebula and Hugo awards in the 1970s.

Read that every American got out who showed up. Seems successful to me. There will always be 50,000 more people making claims to be included in relocation to the US. You do what you can do, then move on.

The Taliban, as long as they retain power, get to solve problems in Afghanistan now. Here's hoping nobody tries to kill their citizens or destroy public building or kill children because they disagree - you know - like the Taliban did for 20 yrs as the US attempted to make Afghanistan a safer, more educated, more prosperous, place for the people there.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

How could it be called successful when not everyone was airlifted by the deadline?

Because it's the biggest airlift in history and was conducted amid an extremely dangerous security situation. 117,000 people got out in a few days, the vast majority Afghans. None of the other NATO countries even came close: the UK, 15,000, and Japan, one national(!).

The Vietnam airlift, by comparison brought out 6,000. This was an extraordinary achievement, one for the history books.

A Q is there. ISIS is there.

Where are they now? Pakisan? Yemen? Yorkshire? The fact is they are somewhere. The drones will have much easier time finding them if and when they re-locate to Afghanistan.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Ulysses

You understate the case. This was a towering defence of an immaculately executed strategy and operation. Biden's ability to lead America to a new dawn is now unquestioned. His masterful exit from Afghanistan, his brilliant management of Covid, the booming economy, the deals done in Congress to loosen the pursestrings and spend money on essential goods and services that will boost the economy further and his overall presence when he speaks and interacts with the media and the people are all testament to his greatness as a man.

Go Joe !

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Biden just trying to survive until the next news cycle.

There is nothing here that is an "extraordinary success".

He might be successful in changing the media narrative in the short term, but all of this is going to come back into focus once its midterm election time.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

I admire Biden for sticking to his guns and taking responsibility for an act previous Presidents ran from. If Trump were in power he would be playing the victim card and blaming everyone else right down to the lunch lady at the Capitol Cafe.

Not Biden. He looks into the camera and stands by his position. This is one of the reasons why Americans voted for him by an overwhelming margin.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

You never said that when Trump was president but still made numerous posts about Obama.

Zichi, who is President that just presided over this pullout for the last 2 weeks, simple question

The VETS don't want Biden to attend the 9/11 memorial which killed civilians, not troops.

Not my opinion, they just signed a letter and sent it to the WH, that’s a fact.

Trump made more bombings

Trump is not the President and Trump didn’t leave Americans behind.

A gross misstatement and you know it.

Yes it most definitely is and so bad that even his most loyal media pundits are turning on him. When you lose msnbc, CNN and the NYT you are in trouble.

It was the Afghan forces, trained and armed by Trump who gave the country to the Taliban.

Based on the pre-conditions that were subjected to change should the terms be violated and Biden forgot to enforce them.

He gave the government $80 billion too. 5,000 of his released Taliban also joined the main forces. Why did he release 5,000 fighters without anything in return?

Again, all subject to change if the terms of the agreement were violated and why didn’t this President enforce that agreement. He can move mountains legislatively on everything else, but not this? Ok, you believe that, most Americans don’t and won’t. The guy is walking on political borrowed time.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Who was President in 2009-2016 that could have ended the war entirely?

Who was President 2017-2021 that could have ended the war entirely? That you said was great because he wasn't a warmonger except he used the most drone strikes in history and hired John Bolton who you said was great and you loved war hawks until Bolton was fired and then you said you hated him and always have?

Who was President then?

Perhaps, given the number of careers and opinions that contradict one another, who was the poster then?

I'm sure it is against the rules to share an account.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

yes, and once they issued that statement and Biden said it was "highly likely" there would be another deadly attack- I was relieved and posted such.

Because almost anything Biden says is wrong. in this case, thankfully so.

But when American military , with the help of drones, prevented that attack , many on the right wing were unhappy.

How can these people turn on the American military?

Is patriotism dead, does the military become a democrat military because the democrats are in power.

It is so very sad at all levels!!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Biden praising the airlift shows how out of touch with reality he is.On the plus side, Democratic voters have plenty of time to regret voting for this guy.For the sake and safety of Americans hopefully Biden will focus on the issues at hand going forward.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Has there ever been a president who failed so quickly? What did these Democratic voters think would happen when Biden got into office?

1 ( +7 / -6 )

They think this is some easy winnable narrative that they can tweet and hope that Dorsey and Zuckerberg will help them push the narrative that this was a success as if none of us have a TV or an iPhone.

At yet so many of your ilk now believe that Jan 6 was a hoax carried out by the left and that the police were hugging and ushering in the rioters. Is that a winnable narrative you support? Or does this slant on things only apply to those not in the cult?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

The Afghanistan withdrawal was Trumps policy, which BIden horribly bungled. It boggles the mind that this incompetent puppet now wants praise for this disaster.

Remember he wanted to extend the deadline to Sept. 11th to make it "symbolic" lol Then as Taliban approached, he went into hiding into his bunker. They post a picture of him at Camp David sitting alone as if he is making battle plans with World clocks on the wall with the wrong times proving the picture was taken before Daylight Savings on March 14th. Then he refuses to answer questions on the biggest story in the U.S. He is incompetent but unfortunately we have to pray for him to last 4 years because look who is next in line.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Oh. And the 13 vs 500000 equation is spot on. Clearly loss of life in war is much like the loss of life in a pandemic.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The Bush-Cheney NATION-BUILDING scheme in Afghanistan turned into a 20-year nightmare.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Like, Biden is a bad President who completely botched the end of the war. That's not in dispute. But the right-wing posters here are like "if our fascist God-King was in charge, the same thing would happen except I would like it".

Just say, "I love the Republican Party and supporting them is a key part of my identity". It'd be more honest and would make your posts easier to parse.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

then you dont say this and just leave anyway if its "impossible" to get all the people out.

Biden had told ABC News' George Stephanopolous in an exclusive interview on Aug. 18, "If there's American citizens left, we're gonna stay to get them all out."

0 ( +3 / -3 )

he didnt promise 90%, he said ALL. every single one.

then he says people who wanted to leave couldnt, then says if they want to come out to try to infer that maybe they didnt want to leave. what?

"The bottom line, 90% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave. And for those remaining Americans, there is no deadline. We remain committed to get them out if they want to come out," Biden said, without detailing out how that could happen.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

So Biden is responsible for the greatest airlift in American military history.

Hmmm, the majority of Americans, vets, the media on both sides, most of the world don’t think so.

But who was president 2016-2021 when the troops could have been already withdrawn.

Who was President in 2009-2016 that could have ended the war entirely?

So you are saying that the majority of VETS signed the letter?

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-veterans-decry-biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-humanitarian-crisis-2021-8

.

Oh, but he did. It was the Trump Taliban agreement that led to the current situation.

Which was contingent based on the terms that were laid down, and that’s where Biden screwed up and he still conveniently forgets that part that Trump and Pompeo insured that all bets were off if any of the conditions were violated in Biden overlooked that and just went ahead and pulled out anyway. Again, As a president of United States, it was his decision and he bears the brunt of responsibility for it. Try and keep the focus on the person in charge we are continually reminded of that on January 6 who was in charge, uphold that same standard now. Biden owns all of it.

Biden will be president until 2024.

No, no he won’t. If you think that people are going to forget this, that’s just not going to happen thousands and thousands of Americans dad revere the military in to see what this president has done to it and how he has left, the people are just going to buy their time and to get these few years over with, but he’s done, you can stick a fork in him and already pretty much the house is pretty much in the GOP hands. The Dems only have five seats, they can’t lose any more than that and they are being excoriated everywhere across the country, the Dems have less than a 20% chance of retaining the house and they are once again doing the same thing that they did back in 2010 they kept saying the same thing over and over again that they will keep the house and they didn’t and if they lose the house, they’ll probably lose the Senate as well. It’s déjà vu all over again. They had the chance they screwed the country up in under a year which is a remarkable feat by any stretch of the imagination.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

That’s a load of hot trash. The WH issued a statement saying “another terrorist attack likely”. Sheesh!

Sir, there's no need to be rude.

Even before the WH issued a warning the Right Wing was declaring that more American soldiers would die.

It pains me tremendously to see our own people, even though from the extremist side, turning against our military!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The Afghanistan withdrawal was Trumps policy, which BIden horribly bungled. It boggles the mind that this incompetent puppet now wants praise for this disaster

It really defies all logic that this guy could botch this so badly.

The deal is contingent on the Taliban holding up their end of the bargain, including an agreement not to attack foreign troops and to ban terrorist groups such as al Qaeda from using the country as training grounds to launch attacks, much like they did in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks.

There was also an apparent side deal agreed to verbally for the Taliban to reduce overall violence in Afghanistan, but that provision is not present in the text of the agreement signed last year.

The deal faces an uncertain future now that President Biden is in office, with a congressional panel releasing a report last week that said a peace deal should not be based on “an inflexible timeline but on all parties fulfilling their commitments,

And this is why we are in this mess. For Biden the “timeline” commitment was the sole purpose, driving force and goal, never the “conditions.” Now we are reaping the results of this disaster for years to come with definite repercussions.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Plenty of blame to go around for 4 administrations, BUT Biden is the one who made the final call, so he owns it in the end. A disastrous and botched effort by the administration, saved only by the heroic efforts of those involved on the ground in Kabul. This was as successful (if I can use that word) IN SPITE OF the administration, not because of it.

And for those who constantly call the GOP the party of warmongers, I would say this. In the course of American history, the Democrats have traditionally been the party of war. Let's check for evidence:

US Civil War: Started by Democrats

WW1: US entered under a Democrat

WW2: US entered under a Democrat

Korean War: US entered under a Democrat

Vietnam War: US entered under a Democrat

I may have missed a bushwar or two, but for major conflicts, it seems the Democrats are the party.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Trump said it many times. Get the people out, get the military equipment and weaponry out, ensure our allies are out and FINALLY get American troops out.

No he didn't.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Sad thing about all this is it has become apparent leaving people behind is totally acceptable now.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Afghanistan will go down in history as just another Trump massive foreign policy failure - just like North Korea, Hong Kong, and Syria...

His "total surrender" agreement with the Taliban in Feb 2020 is the direct cause of the current chaos...

Perhaps some of the Trump supporters here can enlighten us;

Why did Trump exclude the Afghan government; our partners for 20 years and who we spent both blood and treasure supporting?

Why did Trump agree to a formal withdrawal date, telling both our partners and the Taliban that we were leaving, so all the Taliban had to do was plan their take-over and wait?

Why did Trump agree to the Taliban demand to release 5K Taliban, ISIS, and Al Qaeda prisoners in return for nothing but "promises"?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

You are forgetting why "the greatest airlift in American military history" was necessary.

Under Trump "the greatest airlift in American military history" would have never been necessary.

Good to know that you like forever wars. I personally think it is a bad idea to sacrifice American lives and money to have troops stationed in a place they have no right to be stationed in, but you do you.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Hmmm, the majority of Americans, vets, the media on both sides, most of the world don’t think so.

Sir, I value the opinion of war veterans, especially the decorated ones like you.

But believe me all patriotic Americans are thankful this war is over.

There are the extremists on the fringe, the ones who believe in violence, they might not be happy.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

defends departure from 'forever war'

It would be nice to think the USA could move beyond its perpetual war era, and come up with revisions to its political/economic systems that do not require any more wars to boost the economy, especially wars that involve the country invading a sovereign state, or even the Arctic, to get resources. The same should go for America's partners, plus China, Russia, Iran and Turkey.

In properly functioning democracies, citizens at least have chances to vote out war and chicken- hawk politicians. But properly functioning democracies must first ensure all citizens have equal rights to vote.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Which was contingent based on the terms that were laid down,

One of the terms was to nominate Trump for the Nobel, and the taliban did not do that.

No, no he won’t.

I know the hurt of having a one term president in Trump is fresh, but believe me Joe Biden will win in 2024. Americans are thankful he brought the troops home.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

This Afghan war needed to end! Anyone who predicted a different outcome after the US planned departure is only kidding themselves. The taliban were always going to get in control because many in the Afghan Government and security forces were corrupt from the inside. People had amble time to depart from Afghanistan when President Biden announced of full withdrawal in March. Yet they were sitting and waited until it was just damn too late and started blaming President Biden and former President Trump for signing the deal with the Taliban in the first place. No one is to blame for this because no matter when and how the withdrawal took place, the outcome would have been the same! It’s just surprising that only 13 US soldiers lost their life as it could have been far worst as the clock winded down to the deadline. Over 20 years thousands of US soldiers died and if this full withdrawal didn’t happen then many thousands more would have died. I’m just glad that it’s all over now. Americans stuck in Afghanistan have only themselves to blame for waiting so long to leave. It’s a different story for the Afghan people who are stuck there though. Even if the plan was to evacuate them all then it would have took a year or more to get them vetted, organize visas and make arrangements with other countries to move them all. It doesn’t matter which administration was doing this full withdrawal of troops as the end result would have been the same or could have been far far worst!

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

Because he did extend it from Trumps May 1st deadline. 

I am so glad it’s over, but you have to give all of the credit to “the other guy”. Sorry left wingers for ruining your feel good moment.

So did President Biden end the war too early or too late, I think the right wing needs to make up their mind. And just to let you know soldiers dying is not a ‘ feel good moment’ for anyone.

It really defies all logic that this guy could botch this so badly.

Except that he didn’t, as I said earlier he brought back troops by taking measures to ensure there weren’t any more attacks and casualties. It is difficult for the families of the 13 soldiers who died, that is understandable.

However the rest of America is thankful this war is over.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

You understate the case

I don’t have the experience of war heroes who have the advantage of creating wonderful strategies from the comfort of their armchairs.

If only they could make up their minds whether the war ended too early or too late!

Oh. And the 13 vs 500000 equation is spot on. Clearly loss of life in war is much like the loss of life in a pandemic.

Spot on, there are many in America who believe one human life is more valuable than another, based on certain hereditary factors.

I am glad you’ve shown yourself to be one of them.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Every war has its symbolic, iconic picture....

For Afghanistan it will be Pompeo's selfie with the Taliban co-founder, after he and Trump gave the Taliban everything they asked for, and to top it off, agreed to force the Afghan government, which they excluded from the talks, to release 5K Taliban, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda prisoners....and got nothing in return except for "promises"....

https://twitter.com/secpompeo/status/1304766751251595264

That failed, "cut and run", surrender agreement is the reason for the chaos in the country today.

And as fellow Repub John Bolton has said, if Pompeo thinks he has any future higher-office plans, all Dems have to do is trot out that pic - of both of them standing there smiling...

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Perhaps some of the Trump supporters here can enlighten us;

I've read many of the posts of Trump supporters here, let me try to help by answering for them, given the approach they have taken to politics.

Why did Trump exclude the Afghan government; our partners for 20 years and who we spent both blood and treasure supporting?

Trump is my God and can do no wrong.

Why did Trump agree to a formal withdrawal date, telling both our partners and the Taliban that we were leaving, so all the Taliban had to do was plan their take-over and wait?

Trump is my God and can do no wrong.

Why did Trump agree to the Taliban demand to release 5K Taliban, ISIS, and Al Qaeda prisoners in return for nothing but "promises"?

Trump is my God and can do no wrong. Also, eat horse medicine and poop out your intestines. It's good for you.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Biden did it well,

Ok, that’s one person so far….

he knew that this is a lost war, the best thing was that US had never invaded Afghanistan, US did not learn from the history of the brave Afghan people nor did they learn from their pathetic defeat by the great Vietnamese people.

Being in Afghanistan was more of a safety deterrent for the US and abroad to ensure that another Caliphate would not be established, but this President now has made it that much easier to achieve and we might even have to go back at some point because we don’t have any intelligence on the ground. The ramifications of this will reverberate for years to come.

Now US is the mockery of the world and it is not because a democratic president

No, because of this Democrat President and how he bungled this.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

The world witnessed abysmal failures of two administrations. The US' and the UK's. The UK had its biggest forign policy disaster , as it proves its inability to operate independently of the US military. The UK's 20 years in Afghanistan has cone to nothing. BoJo, and Bozo.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Except that he didn’t,

It did, what about the other stranded Americans, you have to be out to lunch to think this WH will do whatever they can to get these people out. How? Which tribe will have them, how can these people move around without being caught.

as I said earlier he brought back troops by taking measures to ensure there weren’t any more attacks and casualties. It is difficult for the families of the 13 soldiers who died, that is understandable.

Well, pretty much none of them trust or want this guy anywhere near them.

However the rest of America is thankful this war is over.

They just don’t like how this guy screwed it up. And the polls are showing that

https://news.yahoo.com/biden-poll-numbers-plunging-democrats-103813459.html

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/celebs/52percent-say-unlikely-biden-admin-consulted-w-nato-before-deciding-to-withdraw-troops-from-afghanistan/vi-AANUB6s

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

it was Trump’s idea to withdraw from Afghanistan. If only Biden would have stuck to that plan.

I think I hear you. Biden's withdrawl was hasty and chaotic, but it should have been even hastier and even more chaotic.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

There is nothing here that is an "extraordinary success".

Actually the right wing was saying, after the first attack that killed 13 soldiers, that many more soldiers would die before the withdrawal.

Since they didn’t , I say it was.

Though the right wing seems to be more on the ISIS side!

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

zichiToday  11:42 am JST

bass4funk

You never said that when Trump was president but still made numerous posts about Obama.

Zichi, who is President that just presided over this pullout for the last 2 weeks, simple question

So Biden is responsible for the greatest airlift in American military history. More than 120,000 evacuated in ten days. I have already stated Bagram Airfield should have been held and used.

You are forgetting why "the greatest airlift in American military history" was necessary.

Under Trump "the greatest airlift in American military history" would have never been necessary.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

yes, and once they issued that statement and Biden said it was "highly likely" there would be another deadly attack- I was relieved and posted such.

Because almost anything Biden says is wrong. in this case, thankfully so.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

The other guy didn’t lose the war.

They surrendered, signed an agreement with taliban, pompeo even took selfies and bragged about surrendering to taliban.

And they asked the taliban to nominate trump for a Nobel!!!

That’s just not losing , it’s losing and groveling!

-6 ( +16 / -22 )

This was a delusional speech by a man completely out of touch with reality. Thirteen dead soldiers is an “extraordinary failure”

It’s ironic that people think 13 soldiers dying is failure but 500,000 Americans dying is a success.

-7 ( +14 / -21 )

How could it be called successful when not everyone was airlifted by the deadline?

You didn't read or hear the speech, did you? Because they should have left long ago. Everyone was told in April that August 31st would be the last day. It's like people who decide to "ride out" a hurricane when told to evacuate. They put others at risk having to rescue their dumb asses.

No American soldiers died in Vietnam after 1975. No American soldiers will die in Afghanistan after yesterday. What's the problem with that?

More people are murdered on American streets every six weeks than all of the US military people killed in Afghanistan in 20 years. 650,00 more people have died from a pandemic than all of the US military people who died in Afghanistan in 20 years.

You anti-vax, anti-mask, anti-Biden Republicans could care less about American lives, so why do you care about Afghanistan? I think most people would call you hypocritical partisans. You certainly are not patriots in any way, shape or form.

-7 ( +10 / -17 )

I was not going to extend a forever exit.

Well said.

I take responsibility for the decision

Now compare that with the former guy, ‘ I don’t take responsibility for anything’.

-14 ( +15 / -29 )

Biden does not need advocates to make the case for his policy. He does it better than anyone else could. This speech addresses every aspects of why we left & why we left as we did & why we left when we did & where we go from here. Its arguments are sound and his passion is real.

-18 ( +12 / -30 )

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