Changes

Britain stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States following the [[September 11, 2001]] terrorist attacks in the U.S., and its military forces were part of the coalition force in Afghanistan. The British force in [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] were at 9,000 in late 2009 and rose by an extra 500 troops in 2010. British forces were primarily based in the Helmand region, where they were on the front line in the war against continued [[Taliban]] operations. In addition, Britain contributed more than £500 million to Afghan reconstruction—the second-largest donor after the U.S.

Britain stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States following the [[September 11, 2001]] terrorist attacks in the U.S., and its military forces were part of the coalition force in Afghanistan. The British force in [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] were at 9,000 in late 2009 and rose by an extra 500 troops in 2010. British forces were primarily based in the Helmand region, where they were on the front line in the war against continued [[Taliban]] operations. In addition, Britain contributed more than £500 million to Afghan reconstruction—the second-largest donor after the U.S.

Democrat socialist leader [[Joe Biden]] of the United States assured key allies at the June 2021 [[G7]] Summit in [[Cornwall]] that he would maintain enough of a security presence in Afghanistan to ensure they could continue to operate in the capital following the main U.S. withdrawal.  Biden promised Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] and other leaders that “critical U.S. enablers” would remain in place to keep Kabul safe following the drawdown of NATO forces.  British officials determined the U.S. would provide enough personnel to ensure that the U.K. embassy in Kabul could continue operating.

Democrat socialist leader [[Joe Biden]] of the United States assured key allies at the June 2021 [[G7]] Summit in [[Cornwall]] that he would maintain enough of a security presence in Afghanistan to ensure they could continue to operate in the capital following the main U.S. withdrawal.  Biden promised Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other leaders that “critical U.S. enablers” would remain in place to keep Kabul safe following the drawdown of NATO forces.  British officials determined the U.S. would provide enough personnel to ensure that the U.K. embassy in Kabul could continue operating.

But the withdrawal of U.S. forces saw the Afghan government collapse as Taliban fighters raced across the country, culminating in scenes of chaos at Kabul’s airport. The British embassy was evacuated.  The UK foreign minister faced calls to resign over the inability to extract people on the ground, ''Bloomberg'' reported.<ref> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-20/biden-assured-allies-in-june-u-s-would-ensure-kabul-s-stability?sref=MTy2GeXk</ref>

But the withdrawal of U.S. forces saw the Afghan government collapse as Taliban fighters raced across the country, culminating in scenes of chaos at Kabul’s airport. The British embassy was evacuated.  The UK foreign minister faced calls to resign over the inability to extract people on the ground, ''Bloomberg'' reported.<ref> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-20/biden-assured-allies-in-june-u-s-would-ensure-kabul-s-stability?sref=MTy2GeXk</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 the [[2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton campaign]] and 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.  According to the U.K . ''Telegraph'',  

The circumstances surrounding the U.S. withdrawal served as a wake-up call to the anti-Trump elements in Great Britain who colluded with the [[2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton campaign]], [[mainstream media]] outlets, 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.  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.

[…] Labour MP Chris Bryant called Mr Biden’s remarks about Afghan soldiers “some of the most shameful comments ever from an American president”.  Khalid Mahmood, a Labour MP and former defence minister, said: “The Biden government have just come in and, without looking at what is happening on the ground, have taken a unilateral decision, throwing us and everybody else to the fire.” <ref>[https://archive.is/YkOPb#selection-517.0-535.24 Parliament holds Joe Biden in contempt over Afghanistan], By Ben Riley-Smith, ''The Telegraph'', 18 August 2021.</ref>}}

[…] Labour MP Chris Bryant called Mr Biden’s remarks about Afghan soldiers “some of the most shameful comments ever from an American president”.  Khalid Mahmood, a Labour MP and former defence minister, said: “The Biden government have just come in and, without looking at what is happening on the ground, have taken a unilateral decision, throwing us and everybody else to the fire.” <ref>[https://archive.is/YkOPb#selection-517.0-535.24 Parliament holds Joe Biden in contempt over Afghanistan], By Ben Riley-Smith, ''The Telegraph'', 18 August 2021.</ref>}}