Three years ago, the Biden administration’s handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was widely criticized as a catastrophic failure. Vice President Kamala Harris, who was a key player in the decision-making process, still defends the administration’s actions, despite the devastating consequences.
Harris has boasted about being the “last person in the room” with President Biden when he decided to set a specific date for the withdrawal of all US personnel. She has also claimed to have been “comfortable” with the decision, implying that she was influential in making it happen. However, a review of the events leading up to the withdrawal reveals a series of critical errors and misjudgments.
The Biden administration had access to a bipartisan report from the Afghanistan Study Group, which warned against setting a specific date for the mission’s end and recommended keeping a long-term counterterrorism force in the country. The report also cautioned that withdrawal would likely lead to Taliban supremacy and have severe repercussions. Biden ignored that and also ignored intelligence warnings of looming catastrophe. Instead, he chose to proceed with the withdrawal. Despite his claims to the contrary, his military leaders testified almost immediately after the withdrawal that they had directly advised Biden against it.
The actual conduct of the withdrawal was marred by incompetence and poor planning. The administration failed to secure the evacuation of nonmilitary personnel and Afghan allies before drawing down troop levels, leaving many stranded and vulnerable. The US government was even forced to send a message to fleeing allies warning them that their security could not be guaranteed.
The abandonment of Bagram Air Base, a key military installation, was also a critical mistake. The base was left unsecured and eventually fell into the hands of the Taliban, who were able to capture large quantities of US military equipment.
The consequences of the Biden administration’s actions in Afghanistan are still being felt today. The Taliban have restored their safe haven for al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, and the country is plagued by violence, poverty, and human rights abuses. The international community, including the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, has condemned the situation in Afghanistan, and many analysts believe that the US withdrawal has emboldened hostile powers such as Russia, China, and Iran.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of the administration’s failures, Harris continues to defend the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. Her refusal to acknowledge the mistakes of the past and her continued support for the administration’s actions are deeply concerning, and raise serious questions about her judgment and leadership abilities.
