Retired Navy SEAL and author Jocko Willink went viral this week after he posted an Instagram video highlighting what he termed the “chaos and errors” of the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.
In the three-minute, black-and-white video, Willink pretends to be President Joe Biden.
“As we began the final drawdown, I made some critical errors,” he said, looking into the camera. “Namely, I underestimated the strength of the Taliban and I overestimated the strength and capability of the friendly Afghan forces. This was my fault.”
After nearly two decades of occupation, U.S. forces were expected to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of this month. Biden still plans to remove troops by an Aug. 31 deadline as the Taliban takes over the country from a U.S. backed government that did not fight back against the new regime.
According to the New York Times, the Taliban had demanded that U.S. troops leave by Aug. 31.
This situation in Afghanistan erupts close to the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, events that spurred the U.S. to send troops to the Middle East. At the time, the Taliban was in control of Afghanistan and enforced strict policies, such as not allowing women outside unless they were in a full burqa and in the company of a man.
In the two decades since, the presence of the militant Al Qaeda terrorist group in Afghanistan has been reduced, Biden said earlier this month.
Additionally, the Taliban were replaced by the U.S.-backed government.
“Due to my mistake, the Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan,” said Willink in his performance as the president. “There are reports now that ISIS and Al Qaeda are working alongside them.”
This week, The New Yorker reported that General Kenneth (Frank) McKenzie, Jr. of the U.S. Marines said it would be difficult for the Taliban to act against Al Qaeda, though not impossible. At least one terrorist group – Islamic State Khorasan (or ISIS-K) – is working against the Taliban, according to the New York Times.
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In the video, Willink also mentioned Americans and American allies “stranded” in Afghanistan as troops continue to pull out.
“I think it’s irresponsible to say Americans are stranded,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki of the situation Monday, per a New York Post report.
As of Wednesday, the number of Americans that still need to be evacuated from Afghanistan remains “elusive” according to the New York Times. So far, more than 70,000 have been evacuated from the country.
If he was president, Willink said he have America would take control of “most major airports in Afghanistan” for 48 hours and would destroy any resistance from the Taliban “without mercy.” America would then conduct “rapid strike rescue missions” until all American citizens, allies and friends are evacuated.
“Any person that interferes with these operations will be killed,” along with anyone using weapons and equipment left behind by the U.S. he added.
Willink said that equipment would be destroyed. After the evacuation, he said America would continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan with surveillance equipment and to help support human rights issues there with force.
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“THIS IS LEADERSHIP,” said a comment on the Instagram video from Royal Marines veteran and motivational speaker Mark Ormrod. Other veterans also posted supportive comments and the video has been viewed more than 1.7 million times since it was posted Monday.
Going forward, Biden said he believes the U.S and international community must put diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to uphold human rights rather than military force. Biden also said the legitimacy of the Taliban government in the eyes of the U.S. and its allies depends on how it upholds international obligations, including making sure the country is not a seat of terrorist operations.
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