Biden officials blame Trump administration, security forces for collapse of Afghanistan

[ad_1]

WASHINGTON Officials in the Biden administration blamed the Trump administration and Afghan security forces for what they called a very risky situation in Afghanistan, defending their decision-making as the Taliban took control of the capital Kabul.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken briefed lawmakers on Sunday as part of a massive effort to airlift diplomats, civilians and Western Afghans who may be targets of the new leaders of the country.

It is the remnants of Vietnam, with helicopters picking up people from the buildings, parliamentary minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) Told officials, according to an appeal person. He questioned the United States’ decision to pull out now rather than during the winter, the person said, presumably when the Taliban was inactive.

The two secretaries highlighted a deal the Trump administration struck with the Taliban in February 2020 that called for all foreign troops to leave by May 1. They said if the United States had not met that deadline, the Taliban would have resumed war, and the United States would have had to deploy tens of thousands of troops, according to two people on call.

Biden administration officials said Afghan security forces handed towns over to the Taliban without a fight despite the ability to halt the takeovers. The ability to fight and the willingness to fight are different things, as we’ve seen, Mr Blinken told lawmakers, according to one of the people.

[ad_2]