Former President Barack Obama is expressing his support for President Joe Biden‘s decision to withdraw the remaining U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
In a statement on Wednesday, Obama said, “President Biden has made the right decision in completing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Today, we should pause to pay tribute to the extraordinary sacrifices of the Americans who have served in our longest war, as well as their families.”
“It has been a long and arduous struggle in Afghanistan, rooted in our response to the deadliest terrorist attack on the U.S. homeland in our history. American troops, diplomats, and development workers can take pride in their efforts to deliver justice for 9/11, destroy al Qaeda’s safe-haven, train Afghan Security Forces, and support the people of Afghanistan,” he continued.
The former president argued that it is “time to turn the page to the next chapter of our relationship with Afghanistan.” At the same time, he noted that “there will be very difficult challenges and further hardship ahead in Afghanistan.”
“But after nearly two decades of putting our troops in harm’s way, it is time to recognize that we have accomplished all that we can militarily and that it’s time to bring our remaining troops home. I support President Biden’s bold leadership in building our nation at home and restoring our standing around the world,” he added.
Read the statement below:
Obama backs Biden on Afghanistan troop withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/Ij2EfMxQxi
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 14, 2021
Biden announced on Wednesday that the U.S. would begin its “final withdraw” of its roughly 3,500 troops from Afghanistan on May 1, intending to end America’s longest war by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“War in Afghanistan was never meant to be a multigenerational undertaking,” he said, adding, “It’s time to end the forever war.”
He noted the war has spanned four presidencies and said, “I will not pass this responsibility onto a fifth.”
