By David Amaya

Walk the streets of Manhattan, and you will see the bustling of determined faces getting from one skyscraper to another. The only conspicuous worrisome sign is the face masks they wear for the health of ourselves and others. The most solemn period of mourning a change in New York City's population and the skyline is behind us. The Nation has grieved past the need for anger and vengeance from the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center by al-Qaida. President Biden is justified in bringing back home our military men from Afghanistan because as commander-in-chief, he acknowledges that the reason America went into the country 20 years ago is not the same as the reason we are in Afghanistan 20 years later. 

Former President Donald Trump agreed with the Taliban to pull U.S. forces out of Afghanistan beginning May 1, 2021. If we are to show deference to American governance, we as Americans must accept the diplomatic decisions made by our head of state with others of the same status. Americans should not change diplomatic agreements retroactively, nor should they be thought to be null with foresight. 

As the president of one of the most salient times in American history, Biden's decision to pull out of Afghanistan shows a seminal shift of our nation's priorities regarding international relations (IR). Biden IR respects the outcomes of the previous Presidential term. Still, he also is not committed to an "America First" ideology that neglects the obligation to our allies and neighbors who seek U.S. assistance. Diplomatic and humanitarian aid will remain in Afghanistan, but they will be there without the "boots and straps" of armed U.S. forces.

Although the past 20 years of U.S. presence in Afghanistan has come to shape our foreign policy attitudes, no desired outcome is manifest other than the termination of Osama Bin Laden a decade ago. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan troops have been trained by the United States since then – more than enough to combat Afghanistan's domestic terrorism. As President Biden addressed the nation regarding his decision to remove our troops, Afghanistan has the right and responsibility to lead its own country. U.S. military presence will not create a durable and sustaining Afghan government. President Biden's decision is a welcomed return to Wilsonian foreign policy after four years of reckless "America First" policy.