LETTER: Trump had plan to stop Taliban takeover, but Biden ignored it

To Ozaukee Press:

I read the opinion of Keith Schmitz in last week’s Ozaukee Press letters to the editor section putting the blame on former President Trump for the Taliban Afghanistan takeover. My initial reaction was, “Seriously? Are you kidding me?”

The first question Mr. Schmitz asked was, “So what did Donald Trump leave Joe Biden?” To which, I would be happy to answer and at the same time clarify some false assertions.

Donald Trump did in fact leave Joe Biden with a strategic withdrawal plan that was conditions-based.  The Afghan government and the Taliban were to negotiate an interim joint government.  Both parties were required to repudiate and reject Al Qaeda. The U.S. would also keep special operations in a command and control area where they could fly in and out securely, with the ability to have air strikes if needed for terrorist uprisings. Last but
not least, Donald Trump made it perfectly clear that if any harm came to Americans or American interests they would feel the full force of the U.S. military.

Pentagon National Security Adviser Kash Patel was assigned to transition with Joe Biden’s acting defense secretary, Christopher Miller. The Trump plan was handed over after much discussion.

Recently, a transcript of a telephone call on July 23, 2001 between Joe Biden and Afghani President Ashraf Ghani was released.  It is proof that our president knew the Taliban was advancing and causing problems, and yet he took no action.

This is an excerpt of that conversation.  Biden said, “I need not tell you the perception around the world and in parts of Afghanistan, I believe, that things aren’t going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban. And there’s a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture.”

Wow! He literally encouraged Mr. Ghani to lie. I find that deeply disconcerting and far worse than Trump’s Ukraine call that resulted in his impeachment.

I would like to address Mr. Schmitz’s derogatory statement questioning the intelligence of Trump and his supporters. After extensive research, I feel I am in good company and concur with some very intelligent people. They are the 90 retired generals and admirals who wrote a letter calling for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley to resign for their roles in the chaotic withdrawal. I would add the unnecessary loss of many lives and those inexcusably now left behind to face the Taliban in fear for their lives.

Peggy Klug
Cedar Grove