Biden’s Broken Afghanistan Promises

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID THERE WAS NO IMMINENT THREAT OF A TALIBAN TAKEOVER

On July 8, Biden said, “the likelihood there’s going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely” and that a Taliban takeover was “not inevitable.”
On August 9, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said the Taliban does not possess the supplies and skills the Afghan military has.
On August 11 – a mere four days before Kabul fell to the Taliban – Biden State Department Spokesman Ned Price said it was still not a “foregone conclusion” that the Taliban would take over.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT COLLAPSE

On July 2, Biden said Afghan leaders had “the capacity to be able to sustain [their] government.”
On July 8, Biden said it was “not true” that the intelligence community had assessed that the “Afghan government will likely collapse.”
On August 11, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that “no particular outcome, in our view, is inevitable” when asked if “the entire Afghan government could collapse in as little as 90 days.”

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KABUL WOULD BE MAINTAINED

In May, State Department Spokesman Ned Price said, “We certainly plan to remain engaged diplomatically with the people of Afghanistan” and “retain an embassy on the ground of Kabul.”
In May, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “We will still have an embassy, at this point, in Afghanistan and a presence there at a diplomatic level.”
In June, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “We are staying, the embassy is staying.”

In June, Price said the U.S. Embassy “will remain” in Kabul.
In July, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said “we want to be able to keep an embassy” in Afghanistan, and that “the president has made it very clear” that the U.S. will maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul.

Less than 48 hours before the fall of Kabul, Kirby said, “There is no intention right now to close the embassy … The situation in Kabul is calm right now.”

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID THIS WOULD NOT BE LIKE SAIGON

In June, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said, “I don’t see Saigon 1975 in Afghanistan.”
In July, Biden said, “There’s going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of” of the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID THERE WOULD NOT BE A RAPID AND CHAOTIC WITHDRAWAL

In February, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. would end the war in a “responsible” and “sustainable way.”
In February, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. is committed to a “responsible and sustainable” end to the war.
In February, Austin said “no matter what” the U.S. would not undertake a “hasty or disorderly withdrawal.”
In April, Kirby said a withdrawal would be conducted in a “safe, orderly and effective way.”
In April, Austin said the U.S. would withdraw “safely,” “orderly,” and “deliberately.”
In June, Kirby said the ongoing withdrawal of military forces was “safe,” “orderly,” and “efficient.”
In June, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “I would not necessarily equate the departure of forces in July, August, or by early September with some immediate deterioration in the situation.”
- Blinken: “And whatever happens in Afghanistan, if there is a significant deterioration in security… I do not think it is going to be something that happens from a Friday to a Monday.”

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID WE WOULD HAVE A SECURE AND OPERABLE AIRPORT

Biden officials repeatedly highlighted the importance of a “secure, operational airport.”
In July, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a “major component of sustaining a robust diplomatic presence in Kabul is to maintain a functioning and secure airport in Kabul.”
In August, Biden State Department Spokesman Ned Price said that the Kabul airport “is integral to our ability to have a functioning diplomatic presence on the ground.”

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID THEY WOULD PROTECT AMERICAN CITIZENS AND OUR AFGHAN ALLIES

Biden promised to get all Americans out before pulling our troops out.
- In August, Biden said, “if there are American citizens left, we’re going to stay until we get them all out.”
- The next day Biden doubled down, saying, “any American who wants to come home, we will get you home."
The Biden administration said they would protect our Afghan allies, promising to relocate them before withdrawing.
- In April, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the administration has a “commitment” to our Afghan allies.
- In June, State Department Spokeswoman Jalina Poter said SIV applicants, interpreters, and translators would be relocated “before we complete our military drawdown by September.”