Criticism of Withdrawal Grows Among Opposition Leaving Americans Behind
Concerns Over IS Terror Attacks Persist
Republican Momentum Builds Ahead of Next Year's Midterm Elections
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The political crisis of U.S. President Joe Biden is intensifying as it coincides with the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the damage caused by Hurricane Ida.
On the 30th (local time), the U.S. withdrawal operation from Afghanistan, which was carried out suddenly late at night a day ahead of schedule, surprised not only the U.S. political circles but also the media. The U.S. military previously left Bagram Air Base without notifying the Afghan army, shocking not only Afghanistan but also allies and U.S. political circles, and this time made a similar decision.
Conservative U.S. media unanimously criticized President Biden for failing to keep his promise to protect Americans remaining in Afghanistan. According to the White House and the Department of Defense, about 250 Americans remain. Secretary of State Tony Blinken mentioned that 100 Americans remain in Afghanistan.
Regardless of the exact number, advancing the withdrawal schedule by a day while leaving Americans behind is highly subject to criticism. There is also analysis that the operation was hurriedly completed due to concerns about additional terrorist attacks by the Islamic State (IS). The withdrawal was carried out one day after the remains of 13 U.S. soldiers killed in the Kabul bombing arrived.
President Biden was criticized for shifting responsibility for the decision to withdraw from Bagram Air Base to the military leadership, and on this day, he also claimed that the advancement of the withdrawal was based on unanimous advice from military leaders.
The U.S. said it would bring back Americans remaining in Afghanistan through diplomatic negotiations, but all diplomats have left Afghanistan. With no minimum personnel to protect its citizens, the U.S. is forced to rely on the Taliban.
The Afghans whom the U.S. promised to bring back could also become a burden for the Biden administration. Amid confusion over Biden’s immigration policy, there is strong opposition to the settlement of tens of thousands of Afghans in the U.S.
The political media outlet Politico reported that the Republican Party is focusing heavily on the Afghanistan issue ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Middle East issues have long been a heavy burden on the Democratic Party’s election strategy. Former President Jimmy Carter’s re-election bid and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid both failed due to being hampered by Middle East issues.
The challenge of preventing IS terrorism remains. With the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaching, concerns about terrorist incidents are growing, but there is no clear solution.
As public opinion turns cold, the super typhoon Hurricane Ida striking the southern region is also a major variable. Even CNN, which is pro-Biden, reported that amid the worsening COVID-19 situation, the overlapping of the Afghanistan withdrawal and the hurricane is escalating the Biden administration’s crisis.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
