Blinken stands firm on ending America's 'prolonged conflict' in Afghanistan.

During an interview with The New York Times, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he would not offer any apologies for the decision to end the war in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 Americans and the Taliban's return to power, prior to the Biden administration's departure.

According to the speaker, the election was not primarily influenced by foreign-policy issues. Most elections do not focus on such matters. However, leaving that aside, Americans do not desire conflict or war. The speaker mentioned that the US had been involved in Iraq and Afghanistan for 20 years, which left many people exhausted. As vice president, President Biden oversaw the conclusion of the US's engagement in Iraq. As president, he ended the longest war in US history, Afghanistan.

The New York Times interviewed Blinken prior to his departure from the White House and reported that Americans initially doubted Biden's foreign policy due to the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of over a dozen American soldiers and the Taliban's regaining control. The interviewer inquired about the impact of the Afghanistan "mishap" on America's reputation.

Blinken stated that ending America's longest war was a significant accomplishment of the president. He emphasized that the absence of another generation of Americans fighting and dying in Afghanistan was an important achievement in itself.

The Taliban has made it much harder for women in the country, and The Times responded by pushing back.

The United States did not desire the manner in which Afghanistan was left, nor the state it is in.

Blinken stated that there was no simple way to extricate ourselves from 20 years of war. The question was what we would do after withdrawal. Additionally, we needed to learn from the lessons of Afghanistan itself.

The Biden administration faced criticism following the disorganized withdrawal, with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reportedly considering resignation over the decision, according to The Washington Post's David Ignatius.

Despite concerns about the exit, Sullivan ultimately stated that it would have been challenging regardless of their actions.

"According to Sullivan, ending a war like Afghanistan, where there are established dependencies and pathologies, will be complex and challenging. The decision was to either leave, which would not be easy, or stay indefinitely."

He stated that "departing from Kabul allowed the United States to address Russia's invasion of Ukraine more effectively, as it might have been challenging to do so while remaining in the city."

The withdrawal from Afghanistan "broke the early harmony" of the Biden administration's national security team, resulting in a disagreement between Sullivan and Blinken.