Establishment Media Attempt to Clean Up Biden Afghan Mess

“Last troops exit Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war,” the Associated Press’ (AP) upbeat headline read Tuesday.

“Hours before President Joe Biden’s Tuesday deadline for shutting down a final airlift, and thus ending the U.S. war, Air Force transport planes carried a remaining contingent of troops from Kabul airport late Monday,” the AP wrote, ignoring that Biden capitulated to the Taliban-enforced deadline of August 31. The AP did not note the United States’ spy chief flew to Afghanistan and met with the Taliban to reportedly extend the deadline past August 31, but the Taliban ultimately said no, and Biden relented.

The AP’s paragraph continued, “Thousands of troops had spent a harrowing two weeks protecting the airlift of tens of thousands of Afghans, Americans and others seeking to escape a country once again ruled by Taliban militants.” The AP failed to mention Biden had placed the military in the position that demanded a “harrowing” evacuation.

With the last U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan, here's a by-the-numbers look at the war that began nearly 20 years ago. Generations of Americans to come will be paying off its cost, in the trillions of dollars. https://t.co/0KBIyygVaM

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 31, 2021

Late Monday night, USA Today published a title which suggested a successful withdrawal, “With last plane out of Kabul, America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan is over.”

On today's #frontpage:
America's longest war ends
–The final U.S. troops in Afghanistan flew out of Kabul Monday afternoon, ending a 20-year occupation that started after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
–Analysis from @SusanPage: Afghanistan defied
four presidents. What comes next? pic.twitter.com/TPv9H0mQzr

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 31, 2021

The Washington Post followed the AP and USA Today‘s lead, publishing the glowing title, “America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan ends as last U.S. military cargo plane lumbers into the sky over Kabul.”