John Bolton, the former national security adviser, has condemned the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan, asserting that President Joe Biden's approach mirrors that of former President Donald Trump. Bolton labeled the sudden pullout as a "strategic mistake," attributing blame to both leaders for the decision.
In an interview with CNN, Bolton emphasized that Trump was fully supportive of the withdrawal and would have pursued the same course had he been reelected. He likened the positions of Trump and Biden on the Afghanistan withdrawal to "Tweedledee and Tweedledum."
While acknowledging Trump's initial agreement to withdraw U.S. forces as empowering the Taliban, Bolton held Biden primarily responsible for the chaotic nature of the withdrawal. He characterized the situation as catastrophic, expressing concerns about further deterioration.
Bolton, a staunch advocate of robust American military presence abroad and a key figure in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, was removed from his position by Trump due to disagreements over ending the "forever war" in Afghanistan.
Despite acknowledging past miscalculations by administrations, Bolton refused to concede that the 20-year duration of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan was excessive. He argued for the necessity of an ongoing American presence as an "insurance policy" against the resurgence of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS.
Bolton concluded by asserting that the American public recognizes the importance of a prolonged overseas presence if national leaders commit to it