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Biden's Afghan exit

April 16, 2021

Greetings, Quicktake readers! This week, after 20 years at war, the U.S. plans to leave Afghanistan. Plus: What reparations for slavery might look like in 2021. Stream now for free.

Biden's exit strategy

President Joe Biden announced this week the U.S. would withdraw its remaining troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, bringing an end to America's longest war.

The drawdown of the roughly 2,500 U.S. forces would begin on May 1, which had been the deadline for full withdrawal under an agreement reached with Taliban under the Trump administration. Experts say the delay risks Taliban-led retaliation but military and diplomatic leaders had warned a rushed pullout could destabilize the country, which remains in violent turmoil. 

In a speech, Biden said he wouldn't continue the cycle of extending U.S. military presence in the country, hoping for ideal conditions to pull out. "I am now the fourth United States president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth."

Biden made clear in the announcement that he plans to recalibrate U.S. foreign policy to face future threats posed by China and Russia. On Thursday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on dozens of Russian individuals and companies and expelled 10 Russian diplomats in response to claims that Moscow was behind the SolarWinds hack and interfered with last year's election.

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