A new book has shed light on President Biden’s private sentiments regarding the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan, revealing a sense of defiance and conviction in his decision-making process despite widespread criticism and public outrage.
According to reports, Biden maintains a steadfast belief that his administration made the right choices during the chaotic withdrawal, even in the aftermath of the tragic deaths of 13 American service members and the harrowing scenes of Afghans desperately clinging to departing airplanes.
Behind closed doors, Biden reportedly remains unwavering in his conviction that history will ultimately judge his decision favorably, viewing the withdrawal as a necessary step after two decades of military involvement in Afghanistan. Despite the devastating consequences, including loss of life and the abandonment of significant equipment, Biden reportedly stands by his assertion that ending the war was always going to be a messy process.
The book excerpt suggests that within Biden’s inner circle, there was no serious contemplation of resignations or personnel shake-ups following the withdrawal. Biden purportedly expressed confidence in his top aides, including White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and assured them that they had acted to the best of their abilities given the circumstances.
Moreover, the author claims that Biden was cognizant of the promises made to evacuate individuals from Afghanistan amid the chaos at Kabul airport, even as the situation spiraled into confusion and disorder. Despite the challenges and shortcomings, Biden allegedly remained steadfast in his commitment to see through the withdrawal process.
The book’s revelations offer insight into Biden’s mindset during a tumultuous period in his presidency, highlighting his resilience and determination to defend his administration’s actions. However, the public’s perception of Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, as reflected in his approval ratings, serves as a stark reminder of the significant fallout and repercussions of this critical moment in his presidency.
Behind closed doors, President Biden strongly believes that he made the right decisions on the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal that led in part to the deaths of 13 American soldiers, according to an upcoming book.
An excerpt from “The Internationalists: The Fight to Restore Foreign Policy After Trump,” obtained by Axios, suggests that Biden remains defiant that the history books will look favorably on his decision to leave Afghanistan after American troops spent 20 years fighting the nation’s longest war.
Following the withdrawal, “no one offered to resign, in large part because the president didn’t believe anyone had made a mistake. Ending the war was always going to be messy,” author Alexander Ward writes.
Biden allegedly told his top aides, including White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, that they had done their best given the situation and vowed to stand by them.
“There wasn’t even a real possibility of a shake-up,” a White House official told Ward.
The author claims that Biden knew he was making promises to get people out of Afghanistan that he could not keep as confusion and chaos unfolded at the Kabul airport.
As Biden continues to navigate the complexities of foreign policy and national security challenges, the lessons learned from the Afghanistan withdrawal are likely to shape his approach to future decisions and engagements on the global stage.
Biden's approval rating crashed in August of 2021 as a result of the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and hasn't recovered: https://t.co/Xg6CDXZDPa pic.twitter.com/hX1HaqYLni
— Kevin Madden (@KevinMaddenDC) February 16, 2024
