According to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan offered to resign from President Biden’s administration following the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Ignatius spoke to Sullivan and some of his colleagues as the Biden administration comes to a close, with several of them revealing that Sullivan had offered to resign, but President Biden insisted he stay on.
Ignatius mentioned that the Afghanistan withdrawal caused tension within the Biden administration’s national security team, leading to disagreements between Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
BIDEN WHITE HOUSE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ‘CHAOS’ in AFGHANISTAN, SAYS IT IS ‘VIGILANT’ ON TERROR THREAT
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The withdrawal in 2021 resulted in the deaths of several American service members and allowed the Taliban to regain control in Afghanistan.
Sullivan explained to Ignatius, “You cannot end a war like Afghanistan without facing complex challenges. The choice was to leave, which was not easy, or stay indefinitely.”
“Leaving Kabul enabled the U.S. to focus on addressing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which might have been difficult if we had stayed,” Sullivan added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura (Reuters//Violeta Santos Moura)
Ignatius noted that the Pentagon opposed Biden’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and advocated for leaving a residual force of 2,500 in Kabul.
According to two close advisers cited by Ignatius, Sullivan initially shared the Pentagon’s concerns but ultimately supported Biden’s complete withdrawal plan.
Journalist Alex Ward, author of “The Internationalists,” shared that the advisers he spoke to for his book denied any resignation offers.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The White House and the National Security Council have not responded to requests for comment.
Sullivan reflected on his performance towards the end of the interview with Ignatius, highlighting achievements in strengthening alliances, weakening enemies, avoiding war, enhancing the U.S. position against China, and boosting American economic and technological power.
