At any moment, Kabul would fall, the Taliban would return to running Afghanistan, and the victories in America’s 20-year-long war would be largely washed away. All of that was due to President Biden’s decision to hastily pull out of the country and leave civilians to be oppressed. Yet, on their Sunday morning newscast, ABC’s Good Morning America ran damage control for Biden by downplaying the idea there would be political blowback. And on NBC’s Sunday Today, they were lamented it would “haunt” Biden’s legacy.
ABC’s chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl touted Biden for going against the advice of his military advisors to co-anchor Dan Harris. “But Dan, this is something that Biden has seen over and over again. He has seen the military urge presidents to continue a presence in Afghanistan and he believes it is time to stop. It is time for the U.S. to get out,” he said.
Harris noted that the popularity of the war had plummeted as it dragged on for 20 years and wondered if that gave Biden some political protection. And Karl seemed to agree, saying: “Right now polls – and consistently really for the last several years, have shown the United States – voters in the United States, Republican and Democrat, have wanted a withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
Karl admitted that things could change in the future, but doubled down on suggesting Biden was in the clear:
The move that Biden is doing – actually, right now is quite popular. The question, Dan, is, given it is precipitated the kind of disaster we have seen on the ground, will it remain popular? But right now, there's no question there is war fatigue; specifically, fatigue with the war in Afghanistan.
Over on NBC, host Willie Geist boasted about Biden’s statement saying he wasn’t going to pass the war on to a fifth president and asked NBC political director Chuck Todd if the president’s decision was a good one.
But after noting that Biden had been “an advocate for getting out ten years ago,” Todd lamented that “at the end of the day, Willie, this is a decision that is going to haunt him.” But Todd still did his best to try to follow Biden’s marching orders and blame former President Trump. Suggesting “there’s a lot of truth in there,” Todd parroted Biden’s comments:
And maybe – he was not so subtle in that statement yesterday. He put this blame on – right on President Trump, saying that he negotiated this deal, he’s the one who wanted to bring the Taliban to Camp David – speaking of Camp David – something he ended up deciding not to do. He created the situation and essentially tied his hands.
“But at the end of the day, Biden is the one at the wheel right now,” Todd relented. “Look, anything that happens, a reconstituted Al Qaeda, an ISIS-like result like what we saw after the withdraw in Iraq. Anything like that, this decision is going to get re-litigated over and over again.”
Like the good team player he was, Todd couldn’t get over the idea that Biden would be blamed for his decision: “Look, I happen to think that Biden can serve eight years and in year nine something happens and we’re going to be re-litigating this decision nine years later. It’s something that’s just going to haunt his legacy.”
These operations to run cover for President Biden’s disastrous decision was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from UPS on ABC and Progressive on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcripts are below click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
August 15, 2021
8:10:57 a.m. EasternDAN HARRIS: Jon, good morning. Take us behind the scenes, if you will, at the White House. Why was the president so insistent upon withdrawing and what is he thinking now?
JONATHAN KARL: Well Dan, withdrawing from Afghanistan is something that Biden has been focused on for a long time. If you remember, even back in 2012 when he did the debate that Martha Raddatz hosted during the election with Paul Ryan, even then, nine years ago, he said that he wanted to see a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan. He opposed Obama's move to send more troops during his first term. He has been focused on this.
That said, behind the scenes at the White House he was advised by his military advisers, his top military advisers, including his secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commander in Afghanistan, not to quickly withdraw, to leave some force behind in Afghanistan. He was warned by his intelligence agencies that a U.S. withdrawal would likely result in Taliban gains across the country. Although, nobody predicted as quick as it’s all unraveled.
But Dan, this is something that Biden has seen over and over again. He has seen the military urge presidents to continue a presence in Afghanistan and he believes it is time to stop. It is time for the U.S. to get out.
HARRIS: And we will see the consequences. This is going to date me here. But I really vividly remember flying into Afghanistan to cover the war when it started nearly 20 years ago and watching how quickly the Taliban toppled back then. Now, they appear to be retaking the country almost as quickly.
The war was really popular back in 2001. Over the years, it has become unpopular with Americans. So, given the unpopularity, is Biden likely to pay a big political price if this situation continues to get worse now?
KARL: Well, it is astounding. If you remember back when you were going into Afghanistan to cover that initial effort, George Bush was then president. His approval rating was well over 90 percent. America was thoroughly behind it. That is a long time ago. Right now polls – and consistently really for the last several years, have shown the United States – voters in the United States, Republican and Democrat, have wanted a withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The move that Biden is doing – actually, right now is quite popular. The question, Dan, is, given it is precipitated the kind of disaster we have seen on the ground, will it remain popular? But right now, there's no question there is war fatigue; specifically, fatigue with the war in Afghanistan.
HARRIS: Jon Karl, always appreciate your analysis on a Sunday morning.
NBC’s Sunday Today
August 15, 2021
8:08:29 a.m. EasternWILLIE GEIST: A lot of people said this was going to happen. I don't think they thought it would happen this quickly. People like General David Petraeus, who said you have to keep a small force in the country to keep the Taliban at bay. But, and Monica just reported, President Biden is standing by his position saying, “I'm not going to pass this war on to a fifth president after me.” How does that decision look this morning?
CHUCK TODD: Look, it is -- Vice President Biden was an advocate for getting out ten years ago. So look, his mind was pretty made up when he took the oath of office, on this. And obviously, the Pentagon and intelligence folks don't necessarily love this decision, but they acknowledge he had a lot of bad choices sitting in front of him.
But at the end of the day, Willie, this is a decision that is going to haunt him. And maybe – he was not so subtle in that statement yesterday. He put this blame on – right on President Trump, saying that he negotiated this deal, he’s the one who wanted to bring the Taliban to Camp David – speaking of Camp David – something he ended up deciding not to do. He created the situation and essentially tied his hands.
All of that is – there’s a lot of truth in there. But at the end of the day, Biden is the one at the wheel right now. It’s a decision – Look, anything that happens, a reconstituted Al Qaeda, an ISIS-like result like what we saw after the withdraw in Iraq. Anything like that, this decision is going to get re-litigated over and over again.
Look, I happen to think that Biden can serve eight years and in year nine something happens and we’re going to be re-litigating this decision nine years later. It’s something that’s just going to haunt his legacy.
GEIST: And no question about it. And as Richard Engle put it, the Afghan military trained by the United States for 20 years is melting away before our eyes. Chuck, thank you so much.
