Anticipation
It is apparent now. Donald Trump ordered American troops to leave Afghanistan. So, when Joe Biden became president, I thought he would reverse course and keep them there; so, when he continued the policy of his predecessor, my instinct said, “that’s weird, why would he do that”? Because he’s steeped in the past? I thought he would reverse the tariffs on China’s products; he wants Americans to buy American, so he kept the tariffs in place; people buy a product because they want it, where it comes from is irrelevant. Joe Biden didn’t anticipate the Taliban moving so quickly to take over cities and provinces; now conferring with his advisors at Camp David to figure out what to do. He sent 3,5000 troops back to Afghanistan to protect the Americans that are there, troops that he removed months before, with another 3,000 soldiers waiting in Kuwait if things get out of hand. The issue isn’t if we should stay or leave but foreseeing the consequences of actions. A president’s job is to anticipate outcomes. He didn’t expect the Taliban would take over so much territory so soon. July 8, 2021, he was asked: Q. Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it is not.
Q Why?
THE PRESIDENT: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable.
My answer: He didn’t understand the consequences of his decision. Now he must stand by it. He decided to leave; he can’t go back. He and his predecessor made the same decision to remove troops from Afghanistan. The former with no experience and the latter with too much.