Biden and Trump share responsibility for the looming defeat.
www.wsj.com
The Pentagon said Thursday it is sending 3,000 troops back into the country to protect the withdrawal of U.S. Embassy personnel, as well as the evacuation of Afghan translators who assisted the U.S. This is necessary but one more sign that the White House had no plan for helping our Afghan allies.
The White House dispatched diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad to warn the jihadists not to take the country by force. Mr. Khalilzad struck the “peace” deal during the Trump Administration that the Taliban failed to honor. The U.S. is also pleading with China and Russia to intercede with the Taliban.
Someone also dispatched White House press secretary Jen Psaki to the briefing room to say that “if the Taliban claim to want international legitimacy, these actions are not going to get them the legitimacy they seek. . . . They could choose to devote the same energy to the peace process as they are to their military campaign. We strongly urge them to do so.” Strongly urging should do the trick.(comic sans)
Meanwhile,
Donald Trump issued a statement absolving himself of all responsibility, though he cut the bad deal with the Taliban and set the 2021 withdrawal date. “I personally had discussions with top Taliban leaders whereby they understood what they are doing now would not have been acceptable,” Mr. Trump said. “It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal, and the Taliban understood that better than anyone.”
That’s not what Mr. Trump said in the spring when he praised the withdrawal and claimed credit. Both men were so determined to get political credit for bringing the troops home that they failed to face the consequences. The military offered a way to keep a minimal force in the country, providing air and other support to Afghan troops. Mr. Biden refused that advice and bet on retreat.
