U.S. President Joe Biden has reiterated his belief that American troops should have departed Afghanistan immediately after the elimination of Osama bin Laden, the leader of the banned terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Speaking at a press conference following the NATO summit in Washington on July 11, Biden emphasized his longstanding opposition to the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and attempts to unify the country.
"Once bin Laden was removed, we had to move on, because it was not in our competence," Biden stated, highlighting his critique of prolonged U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan.
He further pointed out that attempting to unify Afghanistan was futile, aligning with his previous comments about the complexities and challenges of nation-building in the region.
The decision to end the operation in Afghanistan, which began in October 2001 and became the longest foreign military campaign in American history, was formally announced by Biden on April 14, 2021. This marked a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Afghanistan, following years of military presence that peaked with over 150,000 Western troops during the height of operations from 2010 to 2013.
Reflecting on the broader Middle East policy, Biden also criticized the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, asserting that the belief Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction was erroneous. He pointed out that subsequent investigations by U.N. inspectors and the U.S. military concluded that Iraq did not have active programs for such weapons nor maintained operational links with Al-Qaeda, as previously alleged by Washington.
The statements by Biden points out his administration's focus on ending what he described as costly military engagements that did not serve long-term American interests. The president highlighted the need for the United States to prioritize combating modern threats such as terrorism, pandemics, and climate change, emphasizing cooperation with international partners for global security and stability.
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