Despite the claims that Biden listen to a wide range of advice from military and civilian advisers, it seems that our Liar in Chief may have went rogue.
According to recent reports, Biden ignored all recommendations from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to gradually withdraw U.S. service members from Afghanistan, instead opting for a total and immediate pullout before American citizens were evacuated.
Blinken previously backed Biden’s decision for a total pullout, but as intelligence reports rolled in detailing the inevitable Taliban takeover, Secs. Blinken and Austin changed course. But Biden couldn’t risk another political failure. He persisted despite the advice of his cabinet, which Blinken hoped would sway the “president,” and hoped to buy time for negotiations with the Taliban. Blinken and Austin took a page from Trump’s book, thinking a peaceful withdrawal negotiation with the Taliban would result in a safer and more successful mission.
Austin proposed a “gated” withdrawal in three or four stages during negotiations to keep the pressure on.
But Biden wouldn’t budge.
“Our mission is to stop Afghanistan from being a base for attacking the homeland and U.S. allies by al Qaeda or other terrorist groups, not to deliver a death blow to the Taliban,” Biden reportedly said during a National Security Council meeting.
Biden has been heavily criticized for the chaotic withdrawal that led to the swift takeover of Kabul by the Taliban and resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.
Blinken on Monday during testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee defended the president’s decision and his agency’s handling of the evacuation mission, arguing that Biden inherited a disastrous situation from former President Donald Trump — a tried and true method for skirting blame and protecting those in power.
SEC BLINKEN: "We inherited a deadline. We did not inherit a plan" to get Americans out of Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/ZW1eXdPl5B
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 13, 2021
The administration, he added, was handcuffed by Trump’s agreement with the Taliban.
Biden “immediately faced the choice between ending the war or escalating it,” he said.
“Had Biden not followed through on his predecessor’s commitment, attacks on our forces and those of our allies would have resumed and the Taliban’s nationwide assault on Afghanistan’s major cities would have commenced.”
Instead of holding his boss’ feet to the fire, Blinken lies straight through his teeth in testimony that could result in perjury charges if these reports prove true.
Several congressional committees are investigating the withdrawal.
Author: Asa McCue
