Biden Defends Afghanistan Withdrawal in Final UN Speech

In his final address to the United Nations as president, Joe Biden defended his widely criticized decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan, a move that handed control of the country to the Taliban. Speaking before world leaders, Biden emphasized that ending America’s longest war was a difficult but necessary choice, despite the chaos and tragedy that followed.

“When I came to office as president, Afghanistan had replaced Vietnam as America’s longest war,” Biden said. “I was determined to end it, and I did. It was a hard decision but the right decision.” He repeated the phrase for emphasis, making it clear that he stands by his choice.

However, the decision to withdraw in August 2021 has left a dark legacy. The rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in the wake of U.S. forces’ exit shocked the world, leading to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a terror attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The attack, which also killed dozens of Afghan civilians, was carried out by ISIS-K, a group that gained a foothold in Afghanistan amid the power vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal. Biden acknowledged the tragic loss of life in his speech: “It was a decision accompanied by tragedy. 13 brave Americans lost their lives along with hundreds of Afghans in a suicide bomb. I think about those lost lives every day.”

While Biden’s defenders argue that the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan had long passed the point of strategic value, critics have pointed to the disastrous handling of the withdrawal as evidence of failed leadership. The image of Biden checking his watch during the Dignified Transfer ceremony for the fallen service members further fueled outrage, reinforcing the perception that the president lacked empathy for the tragedy unfolding under his administration.

Beyond the human toll, the U.S. withdrawal left behind billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment, much of which is now in the hands of the Taliban. This abandoned arsenal has resurfaced in conflicts across the region, with reports that some of it has been used by militant groups in ongoing violence.

Biden’s UN address also touched on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe. The president called for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and urged diplomacy to prevent a wider conflict involving Hezbollah in Lebanon. “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” Biden said, emphasizing that diplomacy is the only viable solution. On the war in Ukraine, Biden reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering support for Ukraine, adding, “Putin’s war has failed in its core aim. But we cannot let up.”

While Biden used his final UN address to highlight the achievements of his foreign policy, his legacy will undoubtedly be shaped by the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The repercussions of that decision continue to ripple across the globe, leaving many to question whether the president’s "right decision" truly served America’s interests.

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