Biden made a remark stating that he does not regret pulling out U.S. troops from Afghanistan. This comes despite the deteriorating condition in the country, the growing of civilian fatalities, and the Pentagon scrambling to send troops to rescue Americans.
Biden: Now Afghans have to fight for themselves and for their country
In a shocking statement made by Biden on Tuesday, he mentioned that the Afghans are now left to fight for themselves and fight for their own country.
Biden justified the statement by stating that the U.S. has spent over $1 trillion in the span of 20 years. He also added that the U.S. lost thousands of Americans, due to war deaths and injuries.
However, despite withdrawing U.S. troops, he claimed they have trained and provided the 300,000 Afghan forces with modern equipment to fend for themselves.
The Taliban now controls 65% of Afghanistan.
240,000+ people have been forcibly displaced by violence as U.S. forces leave, with mass killings reported and 27 children killed in recent days.
Pres. Biden said he does not regret leaving: "They have got to fight for themselves." pic.twitter.com/9RxxPaI6Ex
— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 11, 2021
Biden also vowed to keep the U.S. promise to provide air support to Afghan forces, resupplying their equipment and providing food and salaries. However, he emphasized that the people in Afghanistan have to want to fight the Taliban who have been seizing their provincial capitals.
Meanwhile, according to the data from the United Nations, there are more than 1,000 civilians who have died due to the intense conflict between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
UNICEF, the UN agency for children, likewise made a remark stating that crimes committed against children are also increasing every day.
On the other hand, Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State under the Trump administration, criticized Biden for his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan. He noted that the move made by Biden was poorly implemented and poorly strategized.
Pompeo: the withdrawal of troops would make the capital fall within 90 days
The former State Secretary also predicted that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan would make the capital fall in the hands of the Taliban within three months.
Pompeo then added that the Biden administration did not follow the models of deterrence that the former administration prepared for, in case U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan.
According to the former Secretary of State, the model was made in order to stop possible disasters from happening. He added that the plan they formed during the Trump administration was dependent on proper execution. However, it looks as if the Biden administration got scared.
However, Pompeo noted that his real concern is not just the Taliban itself. He is also worried about how Afghanistan can become a center for ISIS and Al Qaeda if it falls in the hands of the Taliban, the same scenario as it was before 9/11.
Ranking Member @RepMikeRogersAL: "For months, I have pressed President Biden for a plan to avoid the very situation that is now happening in Afghanistan.
We are watching President Biden’s Saigon moment unfold before us.
Mr. President, where is the plan?"https://t.co/UuDhq9ZRvq pic.twitter.com/bqpr3IW8gi
— Armed Services (@HASCRepublicans) August 12, 2021
Meanwhile, a Republican member of the Committee for House of Armed Services talked about his concerns of how Biden is gambling for another “Saigon Moment”.
Rogers also noted that he was pressing Biden to have a plan on how to deter the condition that’s occurring right now. However, the president hasn’t made plans yet and thousands of lives are on the line.
