U.S. grapples with fallout from Afghanistan withdrawal with Taliban back in control

Washington — The collapse of the Afghan government and rapid takeover of the country by the Taliban ahead of the U.S. withdrawal of the last troops there has led to finger-pointing across the federal government, with members of both parties blaming their political opponents for the chaos that unfolded over the weekend.

In his first remarks since dramatic scenes in Kabul showed desperate Afghans attempting to flee the country at its main airport, President Biden on Monday defended his decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan and said he inherited the situation from former President Donald Trump, whose administration negotiated a deal with the Taliban and pledged all U.S. forces would be out of the country by May 1. "I stand squarely behind my decision," Mr. Biden said in remarks at the White House, after which he returned to Camp David in Maryland. "After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces."