The US President justified the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and referred to the fall of the Afghan government following the Taliban’s domination of the country, saying: I am completely behind my decision. There was never a good time for American troops to leave. But the truth is that this {the fall of the Afghan government} happened faster than we expected.
“Speaking about Afghanistan,” Biden was quoted as saying by CNN: I am completely behind my decision. After 20 years, I learned with difficulty that there was never a good time for American troops to leave Afghanistan. That’s why we’re still there. We were clear about the dangers. We had planned for any incident. But I always promised the American people that I would talk to you directly. The truth is that it happened faster than we expected.
He said: The US national interest in Afghanistan has always been to prevent a terrorist attack on the American mainland, and the US goal has already been achieved.
Joe Biden continued: The Afghan Armed Forces is responsible for resisting the Taliban’s attacks, and re-established the group two decades after US forces helped oust the Taliban and establish a democratic government. What happened? Afghanistan’s political leaders surrendered and fled the country!
Referring to his meeting with Afghan government officials, the US President added: Earlier in the summer, we had frank talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the head of the Afghan delegation to the peace talks, Abdullah Abdullah, but in the end they did not accept the US proposals. We talked about how Afghanistan was preparing to fight its civil war after the withdrawal of the US military, as well as how to clean up corruption in government so that the government could work for the people of Afghanistan. We also talked about the need for Afghan leaders for political unity.
Biden clarified: They called for diplomacy and a political solution in negotiations with the Taliban, but this recommendation was explicitly rejected. Mr Ghani insisted that Afghan forces would fight, and he was obviously wrong.
Biden blamed the previous US president for the current situation in Afghanistan, saying: Part of the blame for the current situation lies with Donald Trump, who agreed with the Taliban to withdraw US troops by May 1, 2021.
The President of the United States stated: While the majority of Americans support the decision to end our military presence in Afghanistan, it remains to be seen how the general public will view the withdrawal as fruitless.
Biden said: How many more generations of American boys and girls should we send to fight in the Afghan civil war when the Afghan forces are not doing it?! How many other Americans’ lives are worth it?! How many endless rows of tombstone from Arlington National Cemetery are needed?! I extend my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan or to Americans who have fought and served in Afghanistan.
Biden returned to Camp David shortly after the speech; Where he had spent his weekend.