"Afghanistan is still a dangerous place and hope for a better future for ordinary Afghans is low. But the prediction that the U.S. troop departure would automatically lead to disaster for U.S. security hasn’t come to pass." – @DanDePetris https://t.co/vDELnOr2ZV
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 26, 2024
President Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 has been met with criticism from former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. In a recent interview, McMaster stated that the Biden-Harris administration is in “denial” about the consequences of the chaotic withdrawal. McMaster pointed out that the U.S. is still dealing with the “stain of August 2021,” which includes the resurgence of jihadist terrorist organizations in Afghanistan.
Former Trump National Security Adviser HR McMaster explains on CNN why Trump bears some responsibility for the chaos of the Afghanistan withdrawal pic.twitter.com/MiLRQ8uvyH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 27, 2024
He contended that at least 65 terror cells are now operating inside the country, with terrorists in charge of the state. “I think you can draw a direct line between August 2021 and the renewed invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,” McMaster said. He believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin saw the disarray of the U.S. withdrawal and decided to take advantage of the situation in Ukraine.
Trump today repeats one of his favorite lies- his claim that the U.S. “abandoned” $85B in equipment. The TOTAL amount spent by the US in Afghan over 20 years was $82.9B – a fraction of that was equipment used by the Afghan army. Was Trump’s plan to disarm them before pulling out? pic.twitter.com/Flxmhujv7N
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 26, 2024
McMaster criticizes Afghanistan withdrawal aftermath
The former national security adviser also criticized the administration’s silence on the setbacks faced by women in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power. Last week, Taliban rulers issued a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public under new laws approved by the supreme leader.
McMaster called the U.S. withdrawal a “surrender” and a “self-defeat.” He argued that the administration negotiated a withdrawal that essentially threw the Afghan people “under the bus.”
The chaotic withdrawal left 13 U.S. service members dead and allowed the Taliban to seize power. It also resulted in a significant amount of weapons and equipment being left behind, as well as the abandonment of American citizens and Afghan allies. The consequences of the withdrawal have led many veterans to question the purpose of their service and the promises made to their Afghan partners.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of the war, the debate over the decision to withdraw and its execution continues.
- CNN.”Gen. McMaster says Trump bears some responsibility for chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal”.
- FoxNews.”Biden-Harris administration in ‘denial’ about botched Afghanistan withdrawal, HR McMaster says”.
- RealClearDefense.”America Surrendered in Afghanistan”.