In a lengthy statement, Biden defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, arguing that Afghan forces had to fight back against Taliban fighters sweeping through the country. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of the 5,000 Biden announced, 4,000 were already previously announced. “One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me,” Biden added. (Reporting by Idrees Ali, Steve Holland and Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis)

Source: MetroXpress August 14, 2021 22:00 UTC