The Latest: Adviser says Biden 'stands by' US withdrawal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The latest on Afghanistan:

WASHINGTON — U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the failure of the Afghan military is to blame for the Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan.

Sullivan said Monday that President Joe Biden didn’t want the U.S. to enter a “third decade of conflict” in Afghanistan and believed it was time for the Afghan army to defend the country two decades after billions of dollars of investment and training by the U.S.

But Sullivan said, “we could not give them the will and ultimately they decided that they would not fight for Kabul.”

He added that the “worst-case scenario” for the U.S. would be to send thousands of troops to fight in a civil war when the Afghan army “wasn’t prepared to fight itself.”



Taliban fighters stand guard at a checkpoint on the road to the Afghan foreign ministry, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. The U.S. military has taken over Afghanistan's airspace as it struggles to manage a chaotic evacuation after the Taliban rolled into the capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-united-nations-d832920fb7b00d6d9bd5e54fd7fc3ef5

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Sullivan spoke Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and NBC’s “Today.”

[Voltaire2]

1. Trillions not billions.

But we can’t afford Medicare for All.

[George II]

8. Americans CAN afford Medicare for All, they just don't want it. Now about Afghanistan?

[FalloutShelter]

2. Top Taliban leaders are among the 5000 that Trump released last year over everyone's objections

This is the headline of a good article on Dk, in case anyone (MSM?) needs a little primer on how former guy got us here; NOT Biden.
He thought this move would get him a little election bump. Wonder how much $$$$$$$$ was involved?

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/8/15/2046070/-Taliban-leader-and-top-commanders-are-among-the-5000-fighters-Trump-released-against-objections?pm_source=story_sidebar&pm_medium=web&pm_campaign=recommended

[JohnSJ]

3. The problem isn't the withdrawal, it is not evacuating people first before the

withdrawal

[samsingh]

4. i thought we cared about people's lives

[marble falls]

9. So do you think we made a lick of difference; except by our being there, killed more????

[honest.abe]

5. I really think Biden needs to make a statement on national TV on what is going on in Afghanistan..

and explain how we are trying our best to help minimize the chaos.

I wonder if there could be some sort of temporary "embassy" setup at the airport to allow these people chasing planes to file for political asylum in an organized way. I suppose they all have legitimate reasons for leaving but I'm sure there are some who worked directly with the US that should be given priority. I suppose it would still be chaos but at least get them off the runways and provide them some hope of getting a flight out. Perhaps impossible at this point but just trying to think of what more can be done.

[hamsterjill]

10. +1

Great post and a great idea.

[onetexan]

13. He is - this afternoon. Google it.

[McKim]

6. We are so glad!!!!

We are so glad,in this family. that Biden has the courage to end this Forever War on Afghanistan.
My brother in law died in Vietnam for a lie. Never again! After decades of serving our country with peace activism, finally a reward!

[marble falls]

7. And we stand by Biden/Harris.

[onetexan]

14. +1 K&R.

Howdy Marble Falls

[Bayard]

11. Joe did the right thing

Rethuglicans are screaming now about how he is abandoning the Afghan people, but you can bet they'd be really screaming if we started bringing boatloads of refugees into this country.

The people and army have to fight for themselves now. I think they've become complacent about the U.S. handling the fight.

[Polybius]

16. Not all Republicans

Neo-cons are screaming. Paleo-con Republicans (isolationist wing) are praising him.

[cstanleytech]

12. Not wrong about the Afghan military not doing its job as its clear that most of them turned tail

and ran and or switched sides to the Taliban.

[ShazamIam]

15. I'm not one of his advisors, but I support the withdrawal, There was never another way to end our

involvement especially with all the corruption and betrayals. I think corruption killed the operation early on, followed my multiple layers and players in betrayals.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. I stand with Joe Biden

Link to tweet