I am largely replying to your thread below.
As Commander in Chief, President Biden is 100% accountable for both. He knows that.
Regarding the latter (the withdrawal), it is rapidly turning into a disaster vs a gradually controlled operation. We clearly misjudged the speed in which the Taliban would seize ground. The optics are horrible for the United States, reflecting an inability to shepherd our friends to safety. Let’s hope our friends are not left behind to suffer a horrific fate.
Regarding the former (the decision to leave), history will judge whether it would have been better to indefinitely maintain a small military presence vs pulling out after 20 years as we have decided to do. It seems the President’s calculus was that at some point, Afghanistan has to hump their own shit. And that time is now.
As a side note, it is almost a given that those Americans who are the most hawkish have never suited up. See Dick Cheney. See Donald Trump.
Stated differently, the guys in the neighborhood bar who talked the most smack about American firepower after September 11th, are the last guys to have boarded a helicopter or landing craft into Harm’s Way.
We have all seen these tough talkin’ types our whole lives. They never serve. Their kids never serve. But, they are all US military experts.
Rear echelon sick bay commandos.