Biden overruled Blinken and Austin's attempts to extend US presence in Afghanistan

[brooklynite]

CNN

Washington (CNN)In their new book "Peril," journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa explore the opening months of Joe Biden's presidency, including how Biden was hellbent not to let the military stop him from withdrawing from Afghanistan and how Donald Trump's shadow hangs over the Biden presidency.

The book explores Biden's determination to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan despite resistance from top advisers. Biden was resolute on getting US troops out, having wrestled with the issue for nearly 20 years -- and having watched, as vice president, military and national security leaders box in then-President Barack Obama in his first year when he wanted to end the US war in Afghanistan.

Biden believed the military manipulated Obama.

"The military doesn't fuck around with me," Biden told others in 2009, implying they had with Obama, according to the book.

[JohnSJ]

1. If a deadline wasn't met, and kept being extended, it would never end

[VarryOn]

2. The President said the buck stops with him...

It doesn’t matter what anyone under him advised him to do. It was his decision. Time will show whether it was a good call or not. I hope it was.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. His instincts are totally right.

Thanks President Biden!

[Budi]

4. Biden finally made the call, while the Pentagon ran their game for 20 damned years

And would have run their for-profit war games for 20 more.

Biden overruled their bs game.
He wasn't seeking a medal of honor, nor high praise for it. He sought to end it the only way he could do so.

Damned glad he made the choice & we are gone from that forever war.

Takes a leader with the correct moral compass to do what this President did.

Joe Biden is the hero in that game.

Bravo, brave man.
Respect & trust are some rare qualities anymore.
President Joe Biden epitomizes both.

[dsc]

5. This is one reason experience matters

both Clinton and Obama did get rolled by the military during at least the early parts of their presidencies. For Clinton it was the way DADT was implemented at some bases while for Obama it was not getting out of Afghanistan.