The American leader made an official announcement on the ending of the military mission in Afghanistan by Aug. 31. Joe Biden added that the United States achieved its goals in the region and should not seek to rebuild the nation.
In his in a speech at the White House on Thursday, President Biden stressed that America’s longest war will end just shy of its 20-year anniversary. Over the two decades, the USA lost 2,448 U.S. service members, while nearly 21,000 were injured.
“I want to be clear: the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan continues through the end of August,” Biden said and emphasized that the US would continue “to speak out for the rights of women and girls” even as the Taliban makes quick gains amid the NATO-US drawdown. According to Biden, the invasion had succeeded at bringing to justice Osama bin Laden, the perpetrator of the Sep. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome,” Biden promised on July 8th.
Biden said the U.S. would continue to provide civilian and humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. He also said it was not inevitable that the Taliban would retake control of the Middle Eastern country, pointing out that the Afghan government has a far larger and technologically superior military.
Vice President Kamala Harris joined the briefing with Joe Biden on Thursday on the progress of the troop withdrawal. The military advisers had highly recommended pulling out the US forces swiftly once President announced the decision.
