The book provides an inside look at the White House during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Foer reveals that on August 12, 2021, Biden left Washington D.C. for what was supposed to be a mid-August vacation at Camp David.
Three days later, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan informed him that Ashraf Ghani had fled as the Taliban prepared to seize control of the capital. Upon hearing the news, Biden expressed frustration, exclaiming, "Give me a break!"
The Biden administration had anticipated a gradual transfer of power to the Afghan government until August 31, 2021, when the Taliban would assume a more active role in governing the country. However, the Taliban quickly gained control of territories as the U.S. withdrew from various bases, and Ghani fled out of fear for his life. The situation in Afghanistan became far more chaotic than the administration had anticipated.
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Interestingly, Biden was not the only one on vacation when Ghani escaped and the extent of the turmoil became apparent. Several high-ranking White House officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki, were also on vacation.
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Psaki, upon witnessing the distressing images of Afghans clinging to a U.S. military transport aircraft as it took off from Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 16, 2021, decided to cut her family vacation short. She wrote to then-White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, stating, "I'm contemplating coming back," to which Klain responded, "I'm sorry. I think you need to."
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Foer's book highlights Biden's active involvement in the evacuation efforts. He constantly sought updates on the progress of individual evacuees and proposed ideas to expedite the process. Despite evacuating over 120,000 people from Afghanistan, the Biden administration was criticized for its perceived slow response. The criticism came not only from conservative media but also from respected columnists and reporters whom Biden's inner circle valued and listened to.
Biden acknowledged the tough coverage and expressed frustration, admitting, "We're getting killed." However, the criticism did not sway his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan or alter his disdain for the conventional wisdom of foreign policy elites. Foer explains that Biden had defied their optimistic predictions for progress in Afghanistan for a long time and was not about to back down now. He firmly believed that exiting a war without hope was the best and only course of action.
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Foer's book covers the first two years of Biden's presidency, from his inauguration to the 2022 midterm elections. It provides insights into the President's mindset and decision-making process during critical moments, such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan. "The Last Politician" is set to be released on Tuesday by Penguin Random House.
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