The sheer number of Biden’s disgraceful decisions and their immediate impact are staggering. While we watch these events unfold each day, we are missing the prolonged repercussions that will adversely impact our country for decades.
Biden’s failure to think beyond his myopic views has proved a major liability for him and his administration.
Let’s start with Afghanistan.
The consequences from Biden’s horrific decision to withdraw from the country are just beginning. Multiple times he has claimed the mission in Afghanistan has been completed. Biden could not be more wrong.
The obvious damage is widely reported. We know Americans remain trapped in Kabul.
Despite strong rhetoric from Biden claiming the Taliban will be held accountable, our citizens are being used as bargaining chips.
The Taliban continue to invoke fear daily among Afghans and trample their human rights.
Images of 13 American military members murdered needlessly because Biden unilaterally surrendered are seared in the minds of Americans. This will be his legacy.
In the case of Afghanistan, these depictions being streamed across the world media are just the first glimpses of the consequences caused by Biden’s malfeasance. Yet they fail to capture the deeper implications looming from his poor judgment.
His ignorance and miscalculations have blinded him from recognizing the spiraling threat to global security for which he bears full responsibility.
In Afghanistan he sacrificed American lives and security for political expediency. As the U.S. disgracefully exited Afghanistan on his orders, Russia, China and Pakistan stepped in with offers of formal recognition, economic development and financial aid.
Added insult now comes from some of our closest allies.
Germany and others are plotting to build diplomatic and economic relations with the Taliban. They no longer trust Biden nor deem him credible.
Biden started a disastrous chain reaction with each and every decision he has made so far in his presidency. Here is just a sliver of what he failed to see in the midst of his self-inflicted chaos.
Afghanistan is estimated to harbor over 1.6 billion barrels of crude oil, 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 500 million barrels of natural gas liquids. The country also holds massive deposits of copper, gold, uranium, bauxite and coal.
All in, these resources could be worth more than $3 trillion according to the former Afghan minister of mines.
These are prime sources for energy-hungry countries like Russia and China to exploit. Controlling expanded energy sources equates to rising power and relevancy.
The Taliban were acutely aware of these resources. Mostly located in the northern provinces, the last stronghold of the Afghan national resistance, the Taliban quickly attacked and captured the territory and the energy assets.
The news of the Afghans' defeat was quietly reported. The impact of these lucrative resources now under Taliban control was ignored.
Pipelines to transport these resources are already underway with Turkmenistan, Pakistan and India. The oil and gas revenues alone will provide a formidable financial infusion for the Taliban to solidify its presence in the region for decades to come.
Biden’s ineptness does not stop at Afghanistan. Other errant decisions made by him, both domestically and internationally, are contributing to America’s demise. While the Taliban are gaining power through energy resources, Biden has handicapped the U.S. with his anti-energy policies.
His resistance to America’s energy independence is now burdening every American who must pay more for gasoline. It has also jeopardized our national security.
We must now rely on other countries to provide critical energy resources. Economically, the soaring costs of energy will impede America’s ability to drive growth.
The Taliban, on the other hand, will profit vastly by increasing oil and gas prices. Under President Trump the cost of oil hovered around $35 per barrel.
Currently under Biden oil is trading at $73 largely due to the soaring inflation propagated by his “blank check” economic plan.
Which countries benefit from higher oil prices? Any country exporting oil.
Petrochemical nations including Russia, Saudi Arabia and now Afghanistan will see increases in revenue and expanded economies. Just as Russia has gained considerable influence in Europe with the approval of its Nord Stream pipeline, so too will the Taliban exert more influence in the Middle East.
Imagine for a moment if Biden had maintained the strategic plan under his predecessor to continue developing the Keystone XL Pipeline — and simultaneously invoked the same resistance as every U.S. president since George W. Bush in opposing Russia’s completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
America would be leading from a place of strength — not beholden to negotiating with an illegitimate body of radical terrorists.
Rightfully, all eyes have been focused on the appalling atrocities in Afghanistan. Watching the Taliban gloatingly place its flag on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul was utterly humiliating for our nation.
The measures taken by Biden and his administration in Afghanistan have resulted in profound pain and sadness for our country.
However, Afghanistan is but one irresponsible decision by Biden. There are many more. And the world is a much more dangerous place because of him.
Our adversaries are emboldened by his mistakes and will take advantage of his vulnerability at great cost to the U.S.
Undoubtedly there will be additional mistakes to come. Each flawed move by Biden weakens our nation and dilutes our values.
He is blind to the ripple effect of his actions and does not consider the prolonged impact to our country.
Biden may believe his efforts related to Afghanistan are winding down. Yet he has failed to see that the consequences of his actions, abroad and at home, are connected and yield much destruction.
It is his blindness to this fact that will haunt and burden our country long after he disappears.
Rick Gates has worked on U.S. and international political campaigns over a span of 25 years. He is a frequent political commentator and opinion contributor. Rick is the author of "Wicked Game: An Insider's Story on How Trump Won, Mueller Failed and America Lost." Read Rick Gates' Reports — More Here
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