Cheney Blames Trump For Botching Afghanistan Exit

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Although she also singled out the Biden administration, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has now spoken out strongly against the Trump administration’s handling of Afghanistan-related issues. The Taliban has swiftly moved in to control Afghanistan amid the final stages of the previously planned U.S. withdrawal from the country — a withdrawal that was set up by the Trump administration via a deal with the Taliban in early 2020. At this point, the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan to the point that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has left the country, and the group has overrun the capital city, Kabul.

While also criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the situation, Cheney pointed out on Twitter in recent days how the Trump administration essentially elevated the Taliban ahead of these latest developments. As Cheney put it:

‘The Trump/Biden calamity unfolding in Afghanistan began with the Trump administration negotiating with terrorists and pretending they were partners for peace, and is ending with American surrender as Biden abandons the country to our terrorist enemies.’

Cheney isn’t exaggerating about the Trump administration’s treatment of the Taliban. Around the time of last year’s deal-signing between Trump’s team and the group, Trump himself publicly insisted that he “really” believed that the Taliban “wants to do something to show we’re not all wasting time.” Clearly, Trump was way off the mark, and these comments seriously undercut the recently promoted idea from Trump himself that he’d be able to handle Afghanistan more effectively than Biden’s administration. Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State during the Trump administration, has observed how the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan didn’t happen during Trump’s term — but the full withdrawal that the Trump administration planned on didn’t happen during Trump’s term either, so the comparison is ridiculous considering the stark difference in circumstances.

Trump has called for Biden to resign over the situation in Afghanistan, although again — pretending as though Trump himself is some kind of cunning military leader is ridiculous. By all appearances, he was essentially hoodwinked by the Taliban while in office, so the prospect of Trump or someone who is aligned with Trump controlling U.S. military operations is certainly troubling.