WH officials tout “successful withdrawal” from embassy in Afghanistan amid harsh criticism

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Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday called the withdrawal of staff from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul a success, despite widespread criticism of how the Biden administration handled the evacuation.

His comments came a week after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also touted what he called the “successful withdrawal”.

Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan defend the evacuation of the US embassy in Afghanistan in the face of widespread criticism. Above, Harris at a joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday. Getty Images

Harris’ remarks on Afghanistan took place at a press conference Monday in Singapore with the country’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In addition to saying that “we have witnessed a successful withdrawal from the Embassy,” noted Harris, “I think there will be plenty of time to analyze what happened and what happened in the context of the withdrawal from Afghanistan “.

She added: “But for now, we are particularly focused on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who have worked with us, and Afghans who are vulnerable, including women and children.”

Harris is in Singapore on his second overseas trip since taking office as vice president and will later travel to Vietnam. At Monday’s press conference, she announced that the United States and Singapore would work together on climate change and cybersecurity, but reporters focused their questions on Afghanistan.

Lee has expressed support for the withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan by the Biden administration. “The US intervention has prevented terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a safe base for 20 years,” he said. “For this, Singapore is grateful.”

Harris’s comments about the embassy in Kabul echo remarks made by Sullivan during an appearance on the Today show on August 16.

Speaking after a tumultuous weekend which saw the Taliban take control of the Afghan capital, Sullivan said: “What the president kept saying is that it was not inevitable that Kabul falls. And it wasn’t inevitable. There was the ability to stand up and resist. This ability did not take place. “

He continued, “Now the president has prepared for every possible eventuality, including this one. it’s because the president [positioned] these forces, thousands of them in the Gulf, so that they can be moved quickly in the event of a rapid collapse. “

Sullivan’s description of the situation was quickly ridiculed by some members of the media, including CNN’s Jim Sciutto.

“Hearing Jake Sullivan call it the ‘successful withdrawal from the US Embassy’ over there – his words, I mean – is almost comical, isn’t it? Sciutto, the channel’s chief national security correspondent and CNN Newsroom co-host, said Aug. 16. “I don’t see how anyone could call it a successful withdrawal given the circumstances we are experiencing there.”

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment, but has not received a response in time for publication.

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