National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says President Joe Biden is “taking responsibility for every decision” regarding Afghanistan but recognizes there are others responsible as well.
During a White House press briefing on Tuesday, a reporter pressed Sullivan on whether Biden is taking responsibility for the “chaos” and for any “bloodshed” that may be happening in Afghanistan.
Sullivan responded, “He’s taking responsibility for every decision the United States government took with respect to Afghanistan because, as he said, the buck stops with him. I am also taking responsibility, and so are my colleagues.”
He continued, “At the same time, that doesn’t change the fact that there are other parties here responsible as well who have taken actions and decisions that help lead us to where we are.”
Sullivan argued the question at the end of the day is, “Can we effectively evacuate those people who we intend to evacuate and that is what we are planning for and executing against beginning today where the airport is secure, the flights are going, the people are coming, and we will continue to do that in the days ahead.”
Watch part of the press briefing below:
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan: "[President Biden is] taking responsibility for every decision.
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 17, 2021
That doesn't change the fact that there are other parties here responsible as well who have taken actions and decisions that help lead us to where we are." pic.twitter.com/ApaeXZFc6n
Biden blamed President Donald Trump for the situation in Afghanistan during his speech on Monday. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) also said the former president is also responsible for the crisis, as IJR reported.
“You know, ultimately, this is President Biden’s decision. He is the one that has called for this withdrawal, is going forward with it. But this didn’t happen in a vacuum. I mean, it was President Trump that negotiated the agreement with the Taliban to have a complete withdrawal that was supposed to actually happen by May 1. So who bears responsibility?” Cheney said during an interview with ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday.
She added, “Look, I think, absolutely, President Biden bears responsibility for making the decision. But there’s no question that President Trump, his administration, Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo, they also bear very significant responsibility for this.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tore into Biden for blaming Trump, as IJR reported.
“President Biden chose a dangerous and dishonorable path in Afghanistan, and he has no one to blame for this debacle but himself,” Graham said in a statement.
