Biden: "Afghan Withdrawal Was the Best Decision... No Prolonging Wars Without National Interest"

"If Captured in Afghanistan, China and Russia Will Be Pleased"
"The Era of Military Operations for Rebuilding Other Countries Is Over"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden defended his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, asserting that it was the right decision made in consideration of national interests. He directly rebutted domestic and international criticism of the Afghanistan withdrawal, arguing that the U.S. cannot remain stuck in Afghanistan while facing new challenges from China and Russia.

On the 31st (local time), President Biden, in a nationwide address at the White House regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal, stated, "I believe the Afghanistan withdrawal was the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision," emphasizing, "The world is changing, and we are in serious competition with China. If we continue fighting in Afghanistan for another 10 years and remain immobilized, China and Russia will be the happiest."

President Biden explained, "The choice regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal was between leaving or escalating tensions," adding, "I did not want to extend the 'forever war'." He continued, "This decision is not only about Afghanistan," emphasizing, "It means the era of the U.S. conducting major military operations to rebuild other countries is over."

Regarding the Afghanistan evacuation operation, which has faced heavy domestic and international criticism, he described it as a "great success," stating that "90% of Americans who wanted to evacuate were able to do so." He also pledged to do his best to support the evacuation of the remaining Americans.

However, concerning the Islamic State (IS) affiliate group IS-Khorasan (IS-K), which carried out a suicide bombing at Kabul airport on the 26th, he declared, "It is not over yet," reaffirming that retaliation will continue. He stressed, "The terrorist threat has spread from Afghanistan to the entire world," and "The terrorist threat continues, and our strategy must also change."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.