Lawmakers Unite in Bipartisan Fury Over Afghanistan Withdrawal

If President Biden hoped to find cover from politicians in both parties who had reached a broad consensus on withdrawal, he was most likely disappointed.

President Biden’s unapologetic defense on Monday of his decisions in Afghanistan rallied some Democrats to his side, but the president still faces angry and increasingly public criticism from lawmakers in both parties over the chaos descending on Kabul. After leaving the White House largely undefended, some Democratic leaders voiced tentative support after the speech. “President Biden understands history when it comes to Afghanistan,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, a member of Democratic leadership. “He made the difficult decision to not hand over this longest of American wars to a fifth president, and had he walked away from the withdraw agreement originally negotiated by President Trump, Taliban attacks on U.S. forces would have restarted and required yet another surge in U.S. troops.”