President Joe Biden Wants Closure From 9/11

 

CREDIT: Ryan Collerd/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Joe Biden didn't predict the 20th anniversary commemoration of 9/11 in the same week as the Taliban leaders from pre-9/11 Afghanistan returning to government senior posts.

Biden believed the anniversary would coincide with the final withdrawal of the U.S. forces and the hand-off to an independent Afghan military.

These two events could have symbolised the end of America's post-9/11 foreign policy.

Instead the anniversary occurred with Americans still stranded in Afghanistan, veterans wondering what all of it was for, and alliance relationships still strained.

Close Biden allies explain that despite this, Biden is still committed to his vision.

Former national security advisor to President Barack Obama, Tom Donilon has said, "You basically had, in 2001, the United States led by President George Bush, put at the center of the entire national security apparatus, the Global War on Terror."

"And we're now in the midst of a reorientation, led this time by President Biden. I think that's what's going on - I think it's a bigger picture thing than is commonly commented on."

This basically means Biden believes the country has to move on from 9/11.

"This decision about Afghanistan is not just about Afghanistan. It's about ending an era of major military options to remake other countries," said Biden.

Donilon continued, "I think he feels that it's well past time that the country has refocused its efforts and that includes a broader definition of national security, including a number of areas that have not had the attention that they need, including climate and health and cyber."

This goal is what led Biden to stick with the withdrawal plans in Afghanistan during a time of chaos and missteps.

Biden's critics believe this quick exit will eventually force the United States to pay more attention to Afghanistan and provide a safe haven for America's enemies.

Foreign Policy magazine said, "No one is celebrating the 20th anniversary of 9/11 more than Islamist militants around the world."

"China is the motivating force here, not so much a disgust with the Middle East...I think he wants to free up American capabilities, both hard and soft," said Mike Haltzel who worked with Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

"And here's a critical thing to understand: The world is changing....We have to shore up America's competitiveness to meet these new challenges in the competition for the 21st century." Biden said.