Sir, – The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, on foot of the withdrawal of US troops, was entirely predictable. Despite protestations to the contrary, President Biden and his advisers can hardly be surprised at the speed at which the Taliban has retaken control, given the historically poor performance of the Afghani army to maintain order, when left to its own devices.
The simple truth is that President Biden is both delivering on an election promise and progressing a plan already initiated by his predecessor. In this regard, Mr Biden is both acting on a long-held belief that continued US involvement in Afghanistan is futile while also playing to the "America First" Trump mantra in an effort to win back some of the core blue-collar Democratic vote that switched to Mr Trump over the last two US elections.
These voters want to see an end to both the trillions of dollars being spent on wars in far-flung locations and the associated sombre repatriation of body bags containing young US soldiers. Redirection of some of this vast amount of money into the domestic economy may well secure precious votes, both in the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election.
President Biden has announced that “America is back” in the context of more normal engagement with the rest of the world than that experienced under a jingoistic Trump administration. Clearly that approach will not extend to him feeling the need to police the world’s “hot spots” in perpetuity, on everybody else’s behalf.
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And who can blame him? – Yours, etc,
GERRY PRIZEMAN,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – President Biden deserves credit for admitting the sunk-cost fallacy of the war in Afghanistan.
As a direct result of the war, 241,00 people have been killed, including 71,000 civilians.
No vital interest of the West justified this, or the trillions of dollars spent.
Only refusal to recognise the fallacy kept the futile endeavour going so long. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dhún na nGall.
Sir, – I was delighted to read that a "majority" of the approximately 3,000 Afghans living here are anti-Taliban ("Afghans in Ireland in deep shock", News, August 16th). How big is the minority who are pro-Taliban? – Yours, etc,
KARL MARTIN,
Bayside,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – We were seconded by the Irish Government to serve as part of the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL Afghanistan). During our time in Afghanistan we worked closely with local staff employed by the EU police mission and delegation who provided critical expertise and support to gardaí and Irish civilian mission members. We urge the Government to ensure that, where refuge is required by former employees of the European Union in Afghanistan, Ireland and other EU members states offer a generous welcome. Our lives depended on the care and courage of Afghan colleagues.
It is now time for us and our Government to show the same solidarity and compassion in this gravest of times. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD BURKE,
DECLAN DEVLIN
JOHN NOLAN,
PETER QUINN,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork.