Biden’s Demoralizing Decision to Abandon Our Troops and

Afghanistan
The President may have decided we’ve sealed the deal on the War Against
Terrorism, but 13 U.S. soldiers have been our new causalities in Kabul. Their
deaths are only the precursor to more human devastation.
By: Makayla Scott Date: 09/9/2021

As the U.S President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of the last American troops from
Afghanistan, the Taliban celebrated its complete takeover of the nation. Biden’s decision has led
to mass destruction and chaos in the mountainous region: Afghanistani protesters are being shot
in their streets, and women watch as their families and children are beaten and killed by Taliban
soldiers.
The news of chaos apparently interrupted Biden’s Vermont vacation. As millions of Afghans
lives are extinguished or upended, the President of the United States sent out a tweet:

“American troops cannot — and should not — be fighting and dying in a war that Afghan forces
are by and large not willing to fight and die in themselves.”

According to the White House, “… a total of approximately 13,400 people were evacuated from
Afghanistan. 17 U.S. military flights evacuated approximately 5,100 people and 74 coalition
aircraft evacuated approximately 8,300 people from Kabul.” Just as U.S. soldiers were herding
more people onto escape flights, news broke that a suicide bomber killed 103 people, including
13 American servicemen and women, over 60 Afghan civilians, and injured even more.
Biden’s response? "Look, it was a simple choice…"I am deeply saddened by the facts we now
face, but I do not regret my decision." But it was not just a bad choice. It was bad strategy. And
now even many of his fellow Democratic party members have turned on him.
Maybe Biden’s desire to recall American forces fighting a “Forever War” in Afghanistan
reflected sound foreign policy instinct. But in terms of military strategy, can he honestly justify
the innocent blood on his hands as the result of his generals’ tactics?
What about the Afghanistani women? In 2009, a new Elimination of Violence Against Women
law criminalized rape, battery and forced marriage, and made it illegal to forbid women to work
or study. Although the Taliban has promised to keep women’s rights gains intact, journalists
inside Afghanistan are doubtful. A 23-year-old named Mina Khairi was killed in a Taliban car
bombing in June. Another young woman, named Manizha, told of hiding in terror as she
witnessed fifteen Taliban soldiers brutally beat and kill her mother for not having enough food in
the house to feed them. Other women have been sold as sex slaves, while more scramble to buy
burkas or seek refuge in the home of a male relative. Now, the Taliban has taken to beating
women with whips that protest their new government.
Patricia Gossman, associate Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, says "Many, many cannot
get out and will be in great need of both urgent humanitarian assistance and other essential
services like education. It's the wrong time now for donors to be saying, 'Oh, we're done now in
Afghanistan.'"
Back home, Biden’s response to the brutal murders deflects such concerns. "The idea that we're
able to deal with the rights of women around the world by military force is not rational," the
president has remarked. "There are a lot of places where women are being subjugated." So,
there’s the President’s answer. With the sudden removal of American protection, Afghanistani
women — who were enculturated by U.S. government-sponsored agents eager to share modern
values — may now find themselves persecuted in ways reminiscent of the Dark Ages. But hey,
it’s not too big of a deal, really. Because women in other countries are being subjugated too. Our
military force was the one standing up for those Afghan women. Yet we almost overnight
abandon them in a cruel game of cat and mouse political drama and red tape. “Have a nice life.”
Will we ever be able to justify the murders of our soldiers and innocent Afghans? Will America
ever again be seen as a reliable ally to nations that need us? Or will choose utilitarian solutions
over honor and ideals? Will we endure against opposition, or will we simply give up?
I fear the days of darkness are just beginning for us all.

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