I’m president of America and the buck stops with me: Joe Biden on Afghanistan troop withdrawal | Key factors

Over the previous couple of days, the world watched in horror because the Taliban took management of Afghanistan and the nation’s Ashraf Ghani-led authorities collapsed. The occasions of this week come after US forces, which have been stationed in Afghanistan for twenty years now, started withdrawing earlier this yr.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden made his first speech for the reason that Taliban took management of Afghanistan. Among different issues, he acknowledged that he stands by his choice to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan throughout the 15-minute-long speech. He stated, “I am the President of the USA and the buck stops with me.”Here are ten key factors from US President Joe Biden’s speech.Watch stay as I ship remarks on Afghanistan. https://t.co/jNCdmkDDX6— President Biden (@POTUS) August 16, 2021
“I STAND SQUARELY BEHIND MY DECISION”In the face of criticism from throughout the globe on the USA’s dealing with of the scenario in Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden stated he stands by his choice to withdraw American troops from the war-torn nation after twenty years.Joe Biden stated he had to decide on between sticking to a beforehand negotiated settlement to withdraw US troops this yr or sending hundreds extra service members again into Afghanistan to combat a “third decade” of conflict.He stated he had inherited the deal struck by former president Donald Trump with the Taliban, based on which there was no ceasefire or settlement defending the US forces in Afghanistan publish May 1.Biden stated he’d relatively take the present criticism than go the problem on to a fifth US president. He stated it is time to finish USA’s longest conflict after twenty years and that this was the suitable choice for his nation.”TRUTH IS, IT UNFOLDED VERY QUICKLY”During his speech, Joe Biden admitted, “I always promised Americans that I’ll be straight with them. The truth is, this did unfold more quickly than we anticipated, even though we planned for every contingency.”He acknowledged the “gut-wrenching” photos that had been popping out of Afghanistan and stated that the distress was “deeply personal”.However, he added, “After 20 years, I’ve learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces. Any more years in Afghanistan would not have made any difference. US troops were bearing the brunt for them [Afghans].””US FORCES SHOULDN’T DIE IN WAR AFGHANS NOT WILLING TO FIGHT”Suggesting causes for the fast Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Joe Biden stated, “Afghan political leaders gave up and fled the nation. The military collapsed, in some places without trying to fight.””We spent over a trillion dollars. We gave the Afghans every chance. But we couldn’t provide them the will to fight for their future,” Joe Biden stated.The US President claimed that the choice to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was justified because the “American forces should not have to die in a war that Afghan troops were not willing to fight themselves.””How many more generations of American sons and daughters should lose their lives in an indefinite war?” Joe Biden requested.”GHANI FAILED TO PREPARE AFGHANISTAN FOR CIVIL WAR”US President Joe Biden stated that Afghanistan’s former president Ashraf Ghani had failed to arrange the nation for civil conflict.”When I met Ghani in June and spoke to him over the phone in July, we had a very clear conversation. We spoke about preparing Afghanistan for a civil war after the US military pulls out. We discussed the need to clean up corruption in the government so it can function for the people and the need for Afghan leaders to unite politically. They failed to do all of this.” Joe Biden stated.He added that he had suggested Ashraf Ghani to hunt a political settlement with the Taliban however they’d failed to try this as nicely.”WON’T REPEAT PAST MISTAKES”In his deal with on Monday, US President Joe Biden stated the US is not going to repeat errors made previously.”We will not repeat the mistake of staying and fighting indefinitely in a conflict that’s not in our national interest, of doubling down on a civil war in a foreign country, of attempting to remake a country through endless military deployment of US forces,” Joe Biden stated.Further, he added, “Our true competitors China and Russia would want nothing more than for us to continue to funnel billions of dollars and resources indefinitely into Afghanistan.” The US, he maintained, was making the suitable choice by withdrawing its troops.”OUR FOCUS WAS NEVER NATION-BUILDING”US President Joe Biden stated America’s focus was by no means nation-building or establishing democracy in Afghanistan. It was to forestall one other terror assault on US soil.”It has always been our decision to get those who had attacked us and we did it. We got Osama,” stated the US President.He stated that the USA should now deal with “today’s threats, not yesterday’s”. He stated terrorism exists method past Afghanistan and these new threats requires USA’s consideration and assets.”WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AFGHANS”President Joe Biden stated the US will, nonetheless, proceed to assist the Afghan folks with its diplomacy, worldwide affect and humanitarian support.”We are focused on what is now possible in Afghanistan. We will continue to support the people. We’ll lead with our diplomacy, international influence and humanitarian aid. We’ll push for regional diplomacy to prevent violence and instability and we’ll continue to speak out for basic rights of the Afghan people,” Joe Biden stated.Joe Biden stated the USA’s present motion steps in Afghanistan embrace deployment of 6,000 US troops to help within the departure of hundreds of residents of the USA and allied nations from the war-torn area. Additionally, US safety forces will attempt to evacuate weak Afghan residents to security outdoors of their very own nation.”AFGHAN GOVT DISCOURAGED US FROM EVACUATING EARLIER”On why the US didn’t begin finishing up evacuations earlier, US President Joe Biden stated the Afghan authorities had discouraged them from doing so.”I know there are concerns on why we did not begin to evacuate Afghan civilians sooner. Part of the answer, is some of the Afghans did not want to leave, still hopeful for their country,” Joe Biden stated.He went on to say, “And part of it is because the Afghan government and its supporters discouraged us from organising a mass exodus to avoid triggering, as they said, a crisis of confidence.””CLOSELY MONITORING SITUATION”US President Joe Biden stated, “My national security team and I have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and moving quickly to execute the plans we had put in place to respond to every constituency and contingency including the rapid collapse we are seeing now.””WILL RESPOND WITH DEVASTATING FORCE IF US PERSONNEL ATTACKED”Reiterating his assist for the withdrawal of troops, Joe Biden stated that if the Taliban assault US personnel, the US will reply with ‘devastating pressure’ if obligatory. He additionally stated that the response can be swift and decisive.In a stern warning to the Taliban, Joe Biden stated, “If they attack our personnel or disrupt our operation, the US response will be swift and forceful. We will defend our people with devastating force if necessary.”LONG READ | Who are the Taliban?ALSO READ: Deeply fearful about Afghan girls, says Malala Yousafzai as Taliban shut in on Kabul