President Biden plans to announce that the U.S. will Withdraw All of its Troops from Afghanistan by the 20th Anniversary of the Sept. 11th Terrorist Attacks that prompted the War, a House Aide Confirmed.
The Plan, which Biden is expected to announce Wednesday, pushes back a May Withdrawal Deadline that was set in a Deal with the Taliban signed by the Trump Administration last year.
The Biden Administration has telegraphed for weeks it would Not adhere to the May 1st Deadline set in the U.S.-Taliban Deal, if only because of the Logistical Challenges of moving out Thousands of Troops and their Equipment in a Short time frame. The New Deadline is Not "conditions based," unlike previous Decisions on Troop Levels.
But Biden, who Unsuccessfully argued for a Smaller Troop presence in Afghanistan during the Obama Administration, stressed he didn’t intend to keep Troops there much longer than May. But noW says: “It’s going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline. If we leave, we’re going to do so in a safe and orderly way.”
Officially, the U.S. has about 2,500 Troops remaining in Afghanistan, the Number left there by Trump who continued Drawing down despite Military Advice to the contrary. The U.S. had a Peak of more than 100,000 in 2011.
Under the Deal with the Taliban, the U.S. Withdrawal is supposed to be Contingent on the Insurgents meeting Certain Commitments, including Breaking from al Qaeda and Reducing Violence in the Country. But U.S. Military Officials have Repeatedly said the Taliban has yet to Uphold its Commitments.
While the Taliban has Increased Attacks on Afghan Forces since Signing the Deal, it has largely Refrained from Attacks on U.S. and NATO Troops.
But the Taliban has Threatened to Resume Attacks if Troops do Not Withdraw by May. And in recent weeks, it has taken Credit for Rocket Attacks that landed near Two Bases housing U.S. Troops, a Change apparently meant to Pressure Biden as he decided whether to Withdraw.
As Biden deliberated, Outside Experts and some Officials and Lawmakers warned a U.S. Withdrawal without a Peace Deal between the Afghan Government and the Taliban could cause Afghanistan to Descend into Full-Scale Civil War and eventually Lead to the Collapse of the Afghan Government.
The Biden Administration has been working to Reinvigorate faltering Peace Talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban, including backing a Peace Conference in Turkey, later this Month, seen as integral to the Administration’s Efforts. The Taliban has yet to Agree to Attend the Conference.
Biden also Faced Pressure from the Progressive Wing of his Party to End U.S. Military involvement in America’s Longest War.
Those Progressive hailed the News that Biden will Commit to Withdrawing by September. “I applaud President Biden for achieving an impossibility here in Washington: ending a forever war,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA, 17th District) said in a statement, Tuesday. “It is an act of extraordinary political courage and vision. After 20 years, thousands of lives lost, and trillions of dollars spent, we are finally bringing home our troops from Afghanistan.”
But Setting a Withdrawal Date months in the Future also leaves Open the Possibility of continuing to push it back when the Deadline gets closer.
Former President Obama, repeatedly announced Withdrawal Deadlines, only to push them back on the Advice of Military Advisers and amid Criticism from Republicans and some Democrats of Withdrawing based on the Calendar instead of Conditions on the ground.
Biden is liable to face that same Pressure and was already receiving Criticism from Republicans after News broke, Tuesday, of his planned Announcement.
“I am shocked and extremely concerned by reports of President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by September,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX, 10th District), the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. “This premature withdrawal shows a complete disregard for the realities on the ground, and will not only put Afghans at risk, but endanger the lives of U.S. citizens at home and abroad. I have urgently requested details on this decision and strongly urge the President to reconsider.”
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