President Joe Biden walks away after a speech on Afghanistan, White House, August 16, 2021 (AP)

I joined China Radio International on Tuesday to discuss the Biden Administration’s latest tactic over the withdrawal from Afghanistan: blaming the Trump Administration for giving it no alternative to the timing and manner of the departure.

We discuss Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and turn to wider questions about the future of American foreign policy and for the idea of an “international community”.

Listen to Discussion from 0:48

For the domestic audience, Blinken was trying to hold the line. By pointing to the Trump Administration and saying we were in an impossible situation because of their agreement with the Taliban, he was trying to spread the blame.

It’s a sign that the Biden Administration is not going to get away from criticism, but they hope that if they can play for time, Americans will look to other issues like the economy or Coronavirus.

See also From Afghanistan: “Even If They Threaten to Shut Our Schools, We Will Fight for Education”