Biden was my first choice as POTUS from the beninning.

[GoodRaisin]

36. I can understand people wanting that as part of a withdrawal plan.

I'm thinking in this case that with the troops already cut to 2500 by the Trump administration that perhaps weren't enough troops remaining to make those assurances, so it was necessary to rely on Afghan Army support which, of course, collapsed, or; effectively, extend the war he opposed in order to fight longer to achieve a more ideal ground situation. And then, for how long? I'm getting the sense that Biden was already boxed in when he inherited this situation from Trump. I don't know all this, but because there are so many details yet we don't know about it would be premature for me to judge Biden at this point. I think the fact that he does have the airport indicates that there was some forethought used in case the Afghan Army didn't hold. So I think for Biden it was take a risk getting out, or have to extend the war - as Trump apparently set him up for. But he's still fighting and he does have some options (noted in your links) I'm waiting to see how he uses them and hope he can successfully navigate the situation to get those people out who we were committed to helping leave. My guess is we are going to see a couple carriers in the region very soon, ready to butt heads with the Taliban if necessary to get enough of our people and friends out if it comes to that. One carrier group is already there on it's normal deployment (North Arabian Sea) and another could quickly join from it's position in the South China Sea (as I understand that situation).