One of the things that certainly has been surprising about the Afghanistan debacle has been that some in media seem to have woken up and become journalists again. They are now questioning Joe Biden and his team, and raising very pointed and good questions, even being honest about the mess that he has caused.
There’s a very big piece of news from the Washington Post that hasn’t gotten any real attention as yet, but it really should — because it explains how we could have completely avoided this whole catastrophe, but for a very bad decision by the Biden team.
You’re looking for the key fuckup in Afghanistan by the administration? This is game, set, and match. https://t.co/I12DMO6s7n pic.twitter.com/GIJAeimB10
— Damir Marusic (@dmarusic) August 29, 2021
In a hastily arranged in-person meeting, senior U.S. military leaders in Doha — including McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command — spoke with Abdul Ghani Baradar, head of the Taliban’s political wing.
“We have a problem,” Baradar said, according to the U.S. official. “We have two options to deal with it: You [the United States military] take responsibility for securing Kabul or you have to allow us to do it.”
Throughout the day, Biden had remained resolute in his decision to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan. The collapse of the Afghan government hadn’t changed his mind.
McKenzie, aware of those orders, told Baradar that the U.S. mission was only to evacuate American citizens, Afghan allies and others at risk. The United States, he told Baradar, needed the airport to do that.
On the spot, an understanding was reached, according to two other U.S. officials: The United States could have the airport until Aug. 31. But the Taliban would control the city.
Understand what they’re really saying there: Biden was offered control of the Kabul by the Taliban and he/his people turned it down. And they then agreed to an impossible date to get everyone out by, shortening from his own date of 9/11.
By Nick Arama
