Let’s agree that Mr. Biden was dealt a bad hand in Afghanistan. Many previous administrations* had failed to deal with the quagmire, and there certainly was no good set of options available to any president. But was it possible for Mr. Biden to play his cards any worse? What he has done, and what he continues to do, is spectacularly misguided and tragic–for the U.S., for the Afghani people, and the world. Yesterday’s news conference by Mr. Biden, where he reiterated his view that this was the best course of action, reminds us of Mr. Obama’s Secretary of Defense’s statement that Mr. Biden has been wrong on every foreign policy decision of the last four decades.** Clearly Mr. Biden’s track record continues. Yes he inherited a mess, yes Donald Trump could have made it better (and Obama and Bush before that), yes you could always have better intelligence. Yes the Afghani leadership and “military” are cowardly and incompetent, despite almost a Trillion dollars and much American blood spent trying to create a more stable society. But there is only one man that owns this debacle, even though many will pay the price for his decision.

There is much press on how this was a twenty year failure in the making, and I don’t think it’s inappropriate to examine that. Much could have and should have been done differently. There is a time for coulda-shoulda-woulda thinking, but it’s not really now. Is there anything that can be done right now to stop this tragedy? We’re already hearing reports that the Taliban is systematically beheading those that were aiding the government. The Taliban are gaining control of a trove of high grade military equipment. Mr. Biden’s response? If the government leaders and military won’t fight, why should we stay there?

In Mr. Biden’s view, it was either this or enter into a new phase of fighting and expansion of the conflict. This false dichotomy masks his inability to make better decisions. The question for Mr. Biden was always, does withdrawal lead to a better and more secure future for the U.S., or does it lead to a worse and less secure future for the U.S.? Can anybody say that his decision and the totally incompetent execution is leading to a better future for the U.S.? To say nothing of the people that we made extensive promises to that we are now leaving to be butchered?

Mr. Biden in this conference assured us that we’ll “continue to support the Afghan people, we will lead with our diplomacy, …we’ll continue to speak out for the basic rights of the Afghan people, of women and girls.” His spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, tells us

The Taliban also has to make an assessment about what they want their role to be in the international community,” she said, adding that international orgs would “watch closely how the Taliban behaves” and have a “range of tools in their arsenal as well to take steps should they choose.”

Really? The Taliban should be concerned about what the rest of the world thinks about them? And we have “a range of tools,” even as we’re tucking tail and running? There will be time in elections to come of alternative views–more clear-eyed views–of what our nation’s foreign policy should be. Mr. Biden is defiant in his surrender despite much criticism, so I think there is little hope for better policy. But that doesn’t stop the urgency of this moment. Mr. Biden will not aid the Afghan people; perhaps God will. Now is a time of prayer.

* Including one which featured Mr. Biden on the ticket for his foreign policy experience!

**