The blazingly blunt cover of this week's "The Economist" has it right:
"BIDEN'S DEBACLE"
There is no escaping, no side-stepping this brutal description.
Sure, we had to finally exit this 20-year commitment. But we had pledged we would do it carefully, with dignity while protecting our troops and citizens and those thousands of Afghanis who supported us in the pursuit of Freedom, at risk to their and their families' lives.
We are failing miserably to do this.
Biden claimed the right to the Presidency based on his competence, his compassion and his integrity. Sadly, his response to date fails on each of these measures.
He is failing to acknowledge a grave misunderstanding of the speed of the Taliban takeover as a result of his actions. He is shifting blame to Trump (who admittedly deserves a good measure of it) and to the Afghani government and worst of all to the Afghani soldiers He is failing to be compassionate about the threat to the lives of thousands of people. Above all, I believe, he is failing to be transparent and speak straight to the American public and maybe even himself. People aren't blind or dumb. They see what is happening.
If he doesn't turn this situation around dramatically in the next week, I believe Biden's presidency will incur fatal damage.
Inevitably it will be scarred; the photos of petrified Afghanis on the tarmac of the airport clinging to the landing gear will live on for decades. However, the jury is out on how this event will most be remembered and the impact it will have on the next three years of Biden's administration.
It is perfectly clear what Biden has to do to avoid "fatal" damage.
1. Start by speaking straight to the American and world public. "I misjudged the speed with which the Taliban would assume control" and "we are going to do everything to make sure we do the right thing now and going forward" We have seen again and again that much worse than making a mistake is not owning up to it promptly and taking action to deal with its consequences.
2. Expand the number of troops, clear the roads, open other airports and do everything else necessary immediately to secure the safe exit of U.S. citizens AND those many Afghanis who supported us as interpreters and in other ways.
3. Provide humanitarian support for the Afghani people working with other nations.
The most fundamental values of our Nation are at stake here. Can people trust our word and our promises? Are we honest with ourselves and others? Will we do everything in our power to do the right thing?
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