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“I am president of the United States of America, and the buck stops with me.”
With growing insistence that President Biden speak out on events in Afghanistan, President Biden returned from vacation at Camp David to The White House to give a speech to the American people. He spoke for less than 15 minutes at 3:45pm. After his speech, which could be categorized as strong, for this President, he then turned and left the room, with media shouting questions at him. He took none. Within the hour there was the video of Biden getting back on his helicopter to return to Camp David.
The President focused on reframing what we are seeing on television as action that needed to be taken in America’s interest – not in another country’s interest; not in country-building. The President said this action was his and his alone and he refused to pass this on to a 5th president.
Once again he referenced the need to “act fast” – a phrase which has made its way into most speeches on broad policy issues such as election reform, social service programs, climate change, housing, etc.
Many questions remain as liberal and conservative media alike say the President will face many questions on not what the intent was – but how it was implemented – and the utter disaster that the news and social media are allowing people all over the world to view.
Richard Engel, embedded in Afghanistan, tweeted a compelling remark questioning if the President might have known more about what would happen than everyone thought. Meet the Press tweeted: “As the Taliban takes over the civilian side of the Kabul airport, Richard Engel says “I don’t believe that the U.S. was as surprised as it is claiming.” #MTPDaily@RichardEngel: “This was absolutely predictable. … People were warning from here. I spoke to them.”
Interestingly, media seem to have a bipartisan negative reaction to the situation in Kabul and to President Biden’s botched handling of it, questioning how the US could have gotten it so wrong.
After Biden’s remarks, a State Department spokesman said that all people who wish to leave should be allowed to do so but that they should shelter in place and not go to the airport now while it is being made secure. He also called for a new government be put in place that respects the rights of all Afghans, including women.
After the state department spokesman, a Pentagon briefing was held. 700 SIV applicants have left Afghanistan – a total of 2,000 have been evacuated. US Embassy has closed and several hundred were removed to the airport, and should depart soon. Over the next coming days US troops will increase evacuations, saying they will “self-defend”, if necessary.
A DOD spokesperson spoke about relocations of refugees and other Afghan groups. They’ve worked since July on this initiative. Temporary sites in Texas and Wisconsin are being set up. 22,000 spaces with room to expand have been planned for. Focus has shifted on Aug. 14th to safely withdraw people from Kabul. Still bringing in aircraft to do this – several hundred have been withdrawn. Pace will be picked up when the airport is stabilized.
Notably, Preident’s Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, is away on vacation for the week.
Here is the President’s remarks:
This is part of the video featuring a question from a female Afghan reporter:
Photo, top of page: Left, called the Falling Man, one of many who jumped to their death in the twin towers on September 11th. Right, 2 Afghan men fall from a large US Marine plane removing residents from Afghanistan. They couldn’t board so they held on on the outside of the plane.
Reports say the Taliban are going door to door looking for women and those who had helped Americans with their work in Afghanistan.