Why Republicans must resist a full US withdrawal from Afghanistan

When President Biden announced that American troops will withdraw from Afghanistan, ending a nearly 20 year war in that country, he likely counted on solid Republican support for the plan. After all, President Trump also announced his own prospective departure from Afghanistan, setting it for May 1, 2021. 

As a result, many prominent Republicans, elected and otherwise, are either endorsing Biden’s plan or declining to criticize it. A Politico-Morning Consult survey places Republican approval for Biden’s policy at 42 percent compared to 59 percent of registered voters nationally — a not insignificant showing of bipartisan agreement in a polarized time.  Nonetheless, support for Trump’s policy should not automatically entail support for Biden’s.