“I am absolutely appalled and literally horrified we left Americans there,” one administration official told POLITICO. “It was a hostage rescue of thousands of Americans in the guise of a NEO [noncombatant evacuation operations], and we have failed that no-fail mission.” Another White House official said that the mission isn’t accomplished if they left Americans behind.
Over the past few years, Politico has decidedly drifted left in its editorial biases. It always was. It has gotten more pronounced. But even Politico cannot avoid capturing what really happened in Afghanistan. What makes it even more notable is that the quotes come from those inside the White House.
Two weeks ago, Joe Biden told George Stephanopoulos that the United States would stay in Afghanistan past August 31, 2021, if there were still Americans needing extraction.
BIDEN: The commitment holds to get everyone out that, in fact, we can get out and everyone that should come out. And that's the objective. That's what we're doing now, that's the path we're on. And I think we'll get there.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So Americans should understand that troops might have to be there beyond August 31st?
BIDEN: No. Americans should understand that we're gonna try to get it done before August 31st.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But if we don't, the troops will stay--
BIDEN: If -- if we don't, we'll determine at the time who's left.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And?
BIDEN: And if you're American force -- if there's American citizens left, we're gonna stay to get them all out.
Based on the President’s own words and objectives, the United States failed.
We left behind a three year old American citizen from Sacremento. We left behind his family. We left behind others. Now, despite their promises of amnesty, the Taliban is going door to door killing people they promised to spare.
Now sources inside Afghanistan, as well as some who recently fled, have told the BBC that Taliban fighters are searching for, and allegedly killing, people they pledged they would leave in peace.
Several sources confirmed that Taliban fighters last week executed two senior police officials - Haji Mullah Achakzai, the security director of Badghis province, and Ghulam Sakhi Akbari, security director of Farah province. Video footage showed Mr Achakzai was kneeling, blindfolded, with his hands tied behind his back before he was shot.
America failed, but it is important to remember why we failed. We failed not because our military was incapable, but because the military’s Commander-in-Chief was unwilling. The man who the press said was empathetic has left behind Americans and created a hostage situation.
This is a failure of leadership. But that failure extends further.
Yesterday, I interviewed Josh Youssef of Help the Persecuted. Josh told me how the Biden Administration thwarted their private relief and rescue efforts in Afghanistan. He said other nations were far more willing to help than the United States. His organization is still trying to extract 200 Christian families from Afghanistan. The Biden Administration has not been unresponsive but has actively obstructed the rescue effort.
This isn’t misfeasance, but malfeasance.
Reality is setting in. Joe Biden is not fit for the job of leader of the free world. Even members of his White House staff are willing now to whisper that Biden failed.
Erick, a few days ago you said Biden should resign. At the time I felt that Harris would be worse. I have changed my mind. Biden, Sec of State, Defense, Joint Chief and even the head of Central Command should resign. This is a continuing disaster that will only get worse. Do I expect these folks to resign, no. The Dems will circle the wagons and accountability will be swept under the rug. Maybe it is time for a new defund. Say Defund Washington DC.
It's sickening what our President and his handlers have done. I say "his handlers" because we all know by now that Mr. Biden is not in charge of messaging. He tells us in press conferences, "They gave me a list of people to call on." He then proceeds to read from the teleprompter because he is no longer able to speak off the cuff, and respond from his knowledge of events. So Mr. Biden's handlers are dictating policy and are responsible for this human tragedy playing out in Afghanistan.