U.S. Military Should Not Fight Battles Afghans Aren't Engaging In: Biden's Special Address

On August 16, during a speech at the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the situation in Afghanistan. He specifically stated: “The U.S. was prepared for the rapid collapse in Afghanistan that we are witnessing now. Our mission in Afghanistan was never nation-building; it was never about creating a unified, centralized democracy. Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains preventing terrorist attacks on the United States.”

According to him, the U.S. had one goal in Afghanistan – to capture those who organized the September 11 attacks and ensure that Al-Qaeda could not use Afghanistan for future attacks. “We did that,” Biden said, noting that this occurred over a decade ago. “Throughout my decades in public life, I have come to one certainty: there is never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces. American troops should not fight in battles that Afghan forces are not willing to fight themselves. It is not right to ask American service members to engage in a conflict when Afghans cannot defend themselves.”

Biden emphasized that the political leadership in Afghanistan capitulated and fled, and the army collapsed. He also noted that he has no regrets about his decision and believes that the objectives set before the troop contingent have been fulfilled. Washington provided Afghanistan’s allies with everything that was required. “We gave them all the opportunities to shape their own future. However, we could not give them the will to fight for that future,” Biden stressed.

He further addressed America's adversaries: “Our true strategic adversaries—Russia and China—would most like us to continue pouring billions of dollars and resources into stabilizing Afghanistan indefinitely.” The U.S. president also expressed his readiness to assist the allied nations’ public servants in exiting Afghanistan.