Afghanistan: 'The sooner we finish, the better,'

says Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden says the US is "on pace" to meet a 31 August deadline for
evacuations, despite previous calls from allies for an extension.
"The sooner we finish the better," he said. Some American troops have already been
withdrawn, US media report - although evacuations are not affected.
At least 70,700 people have been airlifted from Kabul, which fell to the Taliban nine days
ago.
The militants have opposed any extension to the evacuation deadline.President Biden
said: "The Taliban have been taking steps to help get our people out," adding that the
international community would judge the Taliban by their actions.
"None of us are going to take the Taliban's word for it," he added.
Mr Biden said the airlift had to come to an end soon because of an increasing threat
from the Islamic State group in Afghanistan.
A bitter disappointment for many in Kabul
The staffers were punctual: they moved velvety ropes from a briefing room to the
Roosevelt Room, and got ready for the president's speech at 12:00 (16:00 GMT).
They set up a sound system, and prepared the stage for an important moment: the
president would speak about Afghanistan. But the president was late. He met aides in
the Oval Office, worked on his speech.
"What's going on?" my colleagues asked, sending me texts, wondering what was
happening, and why his speech had been delayed, again and again.
They were not the only ones who were wondering: many people in Kabul were
desperate to find out.
Finally, the president spoke at around 17:00, hours late: things were on track to end the
US mission by 31 August, he said.
His remarks were a bitter disappointment for many in Kabul, who say the mission is far
from over, since it leaves them stranded.
Backstage at the White House, the president's day, and the lead-up to his speech, were
disorganised, unpredictable and chaotic.
For many, it captured the essence of his Afghanistan policy, one that they describe as
disastrous.
In the article he talks about the conflict that is having with the Taliban, and the
turmoil that is having with the United States. Joe Biden said; "The sooner we
finish, the better" The Taliban have been taking steps to help get our people out,
"adding that the international community would judge the Taliban for their actions.
This conflict in Afghanistan is causing a lot of stir in the United States, because
Many people think that the current president should have taken measures to
prevent this from happening.

From my perspective I think it is a very sensitive subject, but one that could
possibly have been avoided.I think it could have been managed better, and that
now it is up to the president to decide whether the US forces remain in
Afghanistan, or leave on August 31 as planned until now. The president is
confident that everything will end quickly and that he will not have to extend the
time that the United States forces are in Afghanistan.

What do you think of the conflict that is taking place in Afghanistan?

Do you think the US government could have done something to prevent it?

Juan Sanchis Cabanes

American History