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The war on Afghanistan was waged by US President George W. Bush that continued on for almost 20 years since the 9/11 attacks. Following the chaos that resulted from the withdrawal of the US from the country and the advance of the Taliban, Bush was criticized for his statement reflecting on the withdrawal.
This week, the former president issued a joint statement on behalf of himself and former first lady Laura Bush, on the chaos that ensued from the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan. The Taliban had advanced on Kabul in a span of 10 days after taking over many of the country’s provincial capitals. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had also fled the country following the advancing of the insurgent group.
“Laura and I have been watching the tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan with deep sadness. Our hearts are heavy for both the Afghan people who have suffered so much and for the Americans and NATO allies who have sacrificed so much,” said Bush.
However, his statement was met with criticism from netizens on social media, noting that the former president’s administration in 2001 started the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
“And here I was expecting a half-hearted apology from Bush for embarking on a nation-building experiment that led to a costly and unwinnable quagmire. Silly me. No contrition or self-awareness at all,” said one commenter.
“Former US President Bush expresses ‘deep sadness’ over Afghan situation that he is almost entirely responsible for. There I fixed it for you,” said another commenter.
“Sadness. I’m sorry his fee-fees are hurt by the intentional and generational catastrophe he is responsible for,” said a third commenter.
Meanwhile, during an interview with Sean Hannity, disgraced former President Donald Trump was pressed on his successor Joe Biden’s approach to the Afghanistan crisis. Trump had also said that Bush is also responsible for the Afghanistan crisis that is currently ongoing while boasting that the war-torn country was at peace under his presidency.
The former president said that the US going into the Middle East was “the worst mistake in our history,” in a swipe towards his Republican predecessor.
