Changes

The circumstances surrounding the U.S. withdrawal served as a wake-up call to the anti-Trump elements in Great Britain who colluded with [[fake news]] [[mainstream media]] outlets, the [[2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton campaign]], and the U.S. [[intelligence community]] to interfere in American elections and sabotage the presidency of [[Donald Trump]], of the reluctance of Washington to operate as a global policeman.  During the Rape of Afghanistan, Biden ignored [[UK]] [[Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]]'s frantic phone calls for 36 hours.<ref>https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2021/08/20/special-relationship-biden-ghosted-johnson-over-bungled-bugout-n1471066</ref>

The circumstances surrounding the U.S. withdrawal served as a wake-up call to the anti-Trump elements in Great Britain who colluded with [[fake news]] [[mainstream media]] outlets, the [[2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton campaign]], and the U.S. [[intelligence community]] to interfere in American elections and sabotage the presidency of [[Donald Trump]], of the reluctance of Washington to operate as a global policeman.  During the Rape of Afghanistan, Biden ignored [[UK]] [[Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]]'s frantic phone calls for 36 hours.<ref>https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2021/08/20/special-relationship-biden-ghosted-johnson-over-bungled-bugout-n1471066</ref>

According to the U.K . ''Telegraph'',  

According to the U.K . ''Telegraph'',  

{{quotebox-float|“Joe Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal was condemned as “catastrophic” and “shameful” on Wednesday as the [[Houses of Parliament]] delivered an unprecedented rebuke to a US president.  MPs and peers from across the political spectrum, including [[Boris Johnson]], put some blame for the Taliban’s takeover and the chaos that followed on Britain’s closest ally.  Mr Biden was accused of “throwing us and everybody else to the fire” by pulling out US troops, and was called “dishonourable” for criticising Afghan forces for not having the will to fight.  Former defence chiefs who led British troops in the Middle East were among those to speak out, while there were warnings that the West’s withdrawal would embolden Russia and China.

{{quotebox-float|“Joe Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal was condemned as “catastrophic” and “shameful” on Wednesday as the [[Houses of Parliament]] delivered an unprecedented rebuke to a US president.  MPs and peers from across the political spectrum, including [[Boris Johnson]], put some blame for the Taliban’s takeover and the chaos that followed on Britain’s closest ally.  Mr Biden was accused of “throwing us and everybody else to the fire” by pulling out US troops, and was called “dishonourable” for criticising Afghan forces for not having the will to fight.  Former defence chiefs who led British troops in the Middle East were among those to speak out, while there were warnings that the West’s withdrawal would embolden Russia and China.

Defence secretary breaks down in tears and admits ‘some won’t get back’ from Afghanistan], Adam Forrest, ''The Independent'', August 16, 2021.

Defence secretary breaks down in tears and admits ‘some won’t get back’ from Afghanistan], Adam Forrest, ''The Independent'', August 16, 2021.

</ref>  Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab concluded that Britain would have to turn to Russia and China to assist with exercising a "moderating influence" over the Taliban despite a deep mistrust of both regimes. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Tom Tugendhat wrote,  

</ref>  Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab concluded that Britain would have to turn to Russia and China to assist with exercising a "moderating influence" over the Taliban despite a deep mistrust of both regimes. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Tom Tugendhat wrote,  

{{quotebox-float|"The [[fall of Kabul]] is the biggest foreign policy disaster since [[Suez Crisis|Suez]]. The operation to seize the canal in 1956 symbolised the end of [[British Empire|Britain’s global ambition]] and refocused us on Nato and alliances. It showed conclusively that the US could limit our actions and change our policy.  The fall of Kabul will be remembered for similar reasons: not just its abject failure, but also because it revealed the nature of US power and our inability to hold a separate line.  The redeployment of 2,500 US troops, half as many as it takes to crew a carrier, ended 20 years of British effort in Afghanistan and left thousands of British citizens under Taliban jurisdiction....The longer-term question is: what next? Is Britain’s [[foreign policy]] achievable given the past week? What are the implications for our alliances?...just like in Suez, we need to reset to make sure that a false narrative does not grow, and that means commitment.  Cuts to overseas engagement, whether defence, diplomacy, aid or trade, will look different today from how they did a week ago...." <ref>[https://archive.is/KmgYt Tom Tugendhat on Afghanistan: Six decades after Suez, we remain impotent in the face of US policy], August 16 2021, ''The Times''.</ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|"The [[fall of Kabul]] is the biggest foreign policy disaster since [[Suez Crisis|Suez]]. The operation to seize the canal in 1956 symbolised the end of [[British Empire|Britain’s global ambition]] and refocused us on Nato and alliances. It showed conclusively that the US could limit our actions and change our policy.  The fall of Kabul will be remembered for similar reasons: not just its abject failure, but also because it revealed the nature of US power and our inability to hold a separate line.  The redeployment of 2,500 US troops, half as many as it takes to crew a carrier, ended 20 years of British effort in Afghanistan and left thousands of British citizens under Taliban jurisdiction....The longer-term question is: what next? Is Britain’s [[foreign policy]] achievable given the past week? What are the implications for our alliances?...just like in Suez, we need to reset to make sure that a false narrative does not grow, and that means commitment.  Cuts to overseas engagement, whether defence, diplomacy, aid or trade, will look different today from how they did a week ago...." <ref>[https://archive.is/KmgYt Tom Tugendhat on Afghanistan: Six decades after Suez, we remain impotent in the face of US policy], August 16 2021, ''The Times''.</ref>}}

Former Tory prime minister [[Theresa May]] said  "What does it say about NATO if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision taken by the United States? ... Did we feel we just had to follow the United States and hope that on a wing and a prayer it'd be all right on the night?"  Former Labour prime minister [[Tony Blair]] slammed Biden's "imbecilic" retreat.<ref>https://archive.is/2D8am#selection-491.1-491.56</ref>  Blair said the "deep politicisation" of US foreign policy was "visibly atrophying" American influence, and claimed the debacle over the withdrawal risked Britain being relegated to the "second division" of global powers.

Former Tory prime minister [[Theresa May]] said  "What does it say about NATO if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision taken by the United States? ... Did we feel we just had to follow the United States and hope that on a wing and a prayer it'd be all right on the night?"  Former Labour prime minister [[Tony Blair]] slammed Biden's "imbecilic" retreat.<ref>https://archive.is/2D8am#selection-491.1-491.56</ref>  Blair said the "deep politicisation" of US foreign policy was "visibly atrophying" American influence, and claimed the debacle over the withdrawal risked Britain being relegated to the "second division" of global powers.