The decision made by President Joe Biden to withdraw troops from Afghanistan earlier this year is being criticized by former President George W. Bush. In an interview with a German broadcaster released Wednesday, he spoke of the fear he has for Afghan women and girls who will “suffer unspeakable harm.”
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Bush spoke with the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and was asked if the withdrawal was a mistake or not, the AP reported. Bush replied by saying, “You know, I think it is, yeah, because I think the consequences are going to be unbelievably bad.”
After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on the United States, the war began, while Bush was in his first term in office. The leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, was given the option to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and stop their militant training camps, or the U.S. would attack.
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The refusal of Omar led to an invasion of the middle-east country that October. Now, almost two decades later, Biden’s plan to remove U.S. and NATO troops is nearing its completion.
On Monday, Gen. Scott Miller stepped down as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, signifying another step to the end of the invasion.
Bush had worked with Afghan women to understand what they had gone through living in the country, and now he finds himself despondent with the news of troops being removed.
“I’m sad,” Bush said. “Laura (Bush) and I spent a lot of time with Afghan women, and they’re scared. And I think about all the interpreters and people that helped not only U.S. troops but NATO troops, and it seems like they’re just going to be left behind to be slaughtered by these very brutal people. And it breaks my heart.”
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In the late 90s, when the Taliban was in rule, women were primarily confined to their homes, and girls had no access to education. In addition, the Taliban enforced its extreme version of Islamic Shariah law, despite the protest of the U.S and Europe.
“It’s unbelievable how that society changed from the brutality of the Taliban, and all of a sudden — sadly — I’m afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm,” Bush said.
Since troops began their evacuation from the country, Taliban fighters have been surging through district after district taking control of large swaths of the country.
Forbes reported that the Taliban reported it now controls 85% of the country with the U.S. occupation leaving.
Bush also spoke with Welle about German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who made her final official visit to the U.S., saying that she had supported the war in Afghanistan.
“She saw the progress that could be made for young girls and women in Afghanistan,” Bush said.
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Now, the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan is almost over as the last remaining troops are expected to leave the country soon. Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby told Politico that the withdrawal is 90% complete.