The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 stands as one of the most significant foreign policy failures of the Biden-Harris administration. What was supposed to be a strategic, well-planned exit turned into a chaotic and deadly evacuation, leaving lasting impacts on American foreign relations, national security, and military morale. While President Biden and his administration claimed that their decision to end the two-decade-long war was both necessary and long overdue, the execution of the withdrawal raised serious concerns globally. This article explores the administration’s plan, the execution flaws, Vice President Kamala Harris’s involvement, and the subsequent fallout from the debacle.

The Plan and Objectives of the Withdrawal

The U.S. had been engaged in a prolonged conflict in Afghanistan since the 2001 terrorist attacks, with successive administrations grappling with how to extricate American forces from the country. The Trump administration, in February 2020, negotiated the Doha Agreement with the Taliban. This deal set a conditional withdrawal of U.S. troops by May 2021, contingent upon the Taliban meeting certain benchmarks, including counterterrorism guarantees and reductions in violence. However, when the Biden administration came to power, they were determined to proceed with the exit regardless of the conditions. President Biden extended the deadline to August 31, 2021, stating that maintaining U.S. forces in Afghanistan was no longer in America’s interest.

The primary objectives of the Biden administration’s plan were:

• To honor the U.S. commitment to the Doha Agreement.
• To conduct a timely, organized withdrawal of all U.S. military personnel and contractors.
• To ensure a safe evacuation of American citizens and Afghan allies who assisted U.S. forces over the two decades.

What Went Wrong?

While the goal of leaving Afghanistan was widely supported, the execution of the withdrawal left much to be desired. Several key issues and missteps turned the operation into a humanitarian and military catastrophe.

1. Failure to Prepare for a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO): Despite mounting intelligence that the Taliban were rapidly advancing and would likely overrun Kabul, the administration did not plan for an immediate noncombatant emergency evacuation. The evacuation order only came after Taliban forces had entered Kabul on August 15, 2021, creating a hasty and dangerous scramble for control at the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA).
2. Lack of Coordination: The Biden administration’s delayed response, combined with the absence of a cohesive strategy, created widespread chaos. Afghan interpreters and U.S. allies, who had been promised safe passage out of the country, were left behind as Taliban checkpoints made it impossible for many to reach the airport.
3. The Abbey Gate Attack: The most tragic moment of the withdrawal occurred on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bomber attacked the Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport. Thirteen U.S. servicemembers were killed, and dozens more were injured, along with over 170 Afghan civilians. This attack became a grim symbol of the Biden administration’s failure to secure the evacuation properly.
4. Weapons and Equipment Left Behind: Billions of dollars worth of U.S. military equipment, including advanced weaponry, vehicles, and aircraft, were left behind and subsequently seized by the Taliban. This not only bolstered the Taliban’s capabilities but also created significant concerns about these assets falling into the hands of terrorist groups like al Qaeda and ISIS-K.
5. Degradation of Counterterrorism Capabilities: By removing all U.S. military presence and closing vital bases like Bagram Airfield, the administration severely reduced America’s ability to monitor and combat terrorist threats in the region. The Taliban’s reestablishment of control in Afghanistan has led to a resurgence of terrorist groups, including al Qaeda and ISIS-K.

Kamala Harris’s Role: Involvement or Absence?

Vice President Kamala Harris, though not directly responsible for foreign policy decisions, played a role in the Afghanistan withdrawal as part of the administration’s inner circle. According to reports, she was involved in key discussions leading up to the decision to withdraw. Harris publicly stated that she was “the last person in the room” during the deliberations with President Biden before the final decision was made. However, her involvement in managing the aftermath of the withdrawal seemed minimal, with public attention largely focused on President Biden and key national security advisors.

Critics argue that Harris could have taken a more active role in overseeing the crisis, particularly given the critical nature of the situation. Her perceived lack of direct involvement during the withdrawal’s chaotic final days has led to speculation about her influence in the administration’s foreign policy decision-making.

Consequences of the Withdrawal

The immediate and long-term impacts of the Afghanistan withdrawal are still unfolding, with several significant consequences:

1. Damage to U.S. Credibility: The abrupt withdrawal and abandonment of Afghan allies have severely damaged U.S. credibility on the world stage. NATO allies, who had joined the U.S. in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, were frustrated by the lack of coordination. This strained relationships with key allies, particularly the United Kingdom and other European nations, who had pressured Biden to extend the deadline for a safer evacuation.
2. Resurgence of Terrorist Threats: The withdrawal left a vacuum in Afghanistan that has been quickly filled by Taliban forces and terrorist organizations. Al Qaeda, once thought to be on the decline, has regained a foothold in the country, with its leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, reportedly living openly in Kabul until his death in 2022. ISIS-K, responsible for the deadly attack on U.S. forces at Abbey Gate, has also grown stronger.
3. Humanitarian Crisis and Repression of Women: Under Taliban rule, the situation for Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls, has worsened dramatically. Women’s rights, which had seen modest improvements during the U.S. presence, have been rolled back under Taliban-imposed restrictions, leading to widespread repression and the erasure of women from public life.
4. Moral Injury to Veterans: Many U.S. veterans who served in Afghanistan have struggled with feelings of betrayal and disillusionment following the withdrawal. For those who lost comrades or were wounded during the war, the sight of Taliban forces reclaiming control of the country has been particularly painful. Calls to veterans’ crisis hotlines surged in the aftermath, highlighting the emotional toll the event took on former servicemembers.

Conclusion

The Biden-Harris administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan will be remembered as a dark chapter in U.S. foreign policy. While the goal of ending America’s longest war was noble, the chaotic and deadly manner in which it was executed undermined years of progress, endangered national security, and weakened U.S. standing on the global stage. The administration’s failure to adequately plan for contingencies and coordinate with allies not only led to immediate loss of life but also created long-term challenges that the U.S. will have to confront for years to come.