By Editor’s note: The views in this article are the personal opinions of the writer and do not reflect the views or an endorsement by MuslimGirl.com.
So, I want to preface this by saying I am aware I am a white woman and a convert, and I am not trying to speak to the current circumstances in Afghanistan in ways that displace the voices of Afghan women or Afghan people. I am speaking primarily as a white woman and a U.S. citizen regarding the criticism of Biden for his decision to withdraw, and the blame that people are placing on him for this decision, given the level of chaos we are seeing on the news in Afghanistan. There are people who are of the opinion that Biden has mishandled the situation in Afghanistan, and that his choice to withdraw the troops is a betrayal of both our allies and our troop’s sacrifices over the last twenty years. What is receiving far less press is the fact that Biden’s decision was based on a deal that Trump cut with the Taliban.
Yes, Trump cut a deal with the Taliban to turn Afghanistan over to them again and withdraw U.S. forces. According to the Washington Post, the deal was cut in February 2020 in Doha, Qatar, and involved an agreement to let the Taliban take control of Afghanistan again based on their promise not to support terrorism. Yes, Trump agreed with the Taliban to let them take over, based on their word that they would not support terrorism — with no mechanism for enforcement of their good conduct towards our allies on the ground, or anyone living in Afghanistan. (Which leads to another discussion entirely, which is: Was it our job to make this deal? The people of Afghanistan have every right to self-determination and to enforce that on their own.)
There are people who are of the opinion that Biden has mishandled the situation in Afghanistan, and that his choice to withdraw the troops is a betrayal of both our allies and our troop’s sacrifices over the last twenty years. What is receiving far less press is the fact that Biden’s decision was based on a deal that Trump cut with the Taliban.
Biden has followed through on Trump’s agreement because he would have had to breach the agreement with the Taliban and risk a huge loss of American lives as a result.
Miss me with “Why did Biden do this to us?” This is entirely and totally a legacy of Trump’s foreign policy choices that left the U.S. crippled in our ability to negotiate and maintain peace. Pompeo posed with the leader of the Taliban during the so-called peace talks, after ensuring his release from a Pakistani prison.
Biden has made several choices advocating for human rights and democratic values — choices that weren’t happening under Trump. His emphasis on diplomacy and negotiation has restored us to a better place in the world. His decisions like re-establishing the Palestinian embassy, declaring the Chinese actions against the Uyghur genocide, halting weapons sales to Saudi Arabia to help stop the war in Yemen, ending the Muslim ban, and his ongoing allyship to Muslims both in the U.S. and internationally is such a huge and welcome change from Trump’s Islamophobia and xenophobia. Biden deserves our support as a community both nationally and internationally, and for us to place the blame on this situation squarely on Trump’s choice to cut a deal with the Taliban for them to take over control.