It's not only individual pundits weighing in on Afghanistan but newspaper editorial boards as well. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, skewers President Biden in particularly harsh manner (details below), while other big papers also chide his decision-making. Biden will get a chance to defend himself Monday afternoon when he speaks from the White House, per the AP. In the meantime, four editorial viewpoints (plus one opposing op-ed):
- New York Times: What's happening is "unutterably tragic," write the editors. After "more than $2 trillion and at least 2,448 American service members' lives lost in Afghanistan, it is difficult to see what of lasting significance has been achieved." The editorial lays the blame for this on both parties but faults Biden in particular for mismanaging the pullout. "There was no need for it to end in such chaos, with so little forethought for all those who sacrificed so much in the hopes of a better Afghanistan."