Joe Biden remains privately defiant over the much-criticized US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, according to a forthcoming book titled The Internationalists. The book, written by Politico reporter Alexander Ward, sheds light on the president’s unwavering conviction that he made the right decisions despite the chaos and carnage that ensued. Ward discloses that no one within the administration offered to resign, as Biden firmly believed that ending the war would always be messy. Despite the ongoing investigations in Congress, the president assured his top aides, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, that they had done their best in a challenging situation.
The US invasion of Afghanistan followed the 9/11 attacks in October 2001, leading to the ousting of the Taliban, who had sheltered al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. However, conflict persisted throughout the years, resulting in numerous casualties. According to the United States Institute of Peace, 2,324 US military personnel, 3,917 US contractors, and 1,144 allied troops lost their lives during the conflict. The toll on Afghan lives was even more devastating, with approximately 70,000 Afghan military and police deaths, 46,319 Afghan civilian deaths, and over 53,000 opposition fighters killed.
Moreover, the war in Afghanistan had significant mental health implications for US service members. The Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs at Brown University reports that the number of suicides among military personnel surpassed the number of combat-related deaths in the post-9/11 wars, including those in Iraq and other campaigns, indicating a severe mental health crisis.
Upon assuming office, President Biden was resolute in his determination to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan. In the summer of 2021, US troops pulled out, leaving the defense of the country to the Afghan national forces trained by the United States. However, the Taliban swiftly overpowered the opposition, leading to scenes of chaos at Kabul airport and leaving thousands of Afghans unable to escape the looming threat of Taliban reprisals. Despite President Biden’s promise that troops would stay until all US citizens who wanted to leave had done so, more than 800 were left behind.
According to Ward’s book, a senior White House official revealed that no one in the administration believed they could fulfill that promise. Tragedy struck on August 26th when a suicide attack claimed the lives of 13 US service members. In a separate incident, a US drone strike killed 10 civilians, including seven children. The strike was deemed an honest mistake by a US Air Force inspector general, and no disciplinary action was taken against those responsible.
The book also highlights extensive infighting between the departments of state and defense concerning the withdrawal. President Biden, drawing on his experience as the former chair of the Senate foreign affairs committee, tended to favor the state department while having reservations about the Pentagon’s approach.
As the revelations from The Internationalists come to light, it becomes evident that President Biden remains unswayed in his conviction that the decisions made during the Afghanistan withdrawal were the right ones. Despite the criticisms and ongoing investigations, Biden privately stands by his top aides and their handling of a complex and challenging situation. The legacy of the US involvement in Afghanistan, with its staggering loss of lives and widespread consequences, continues to shape the narrative surrounding the withdrawal and its aftermath.
