Leaked notes from a meeting held the day before Kabul fell to the Taliban show the Biden administration was still discussing basic actions involved in a mass civilian evacuation.
Officials had only just decided to notify local Afghan staff to begin registering their interest in relocating to the US.
The Biden administration failed to establish an exit strategy and ignored warnings that Taliban takeover was imminent. It was more concerned about public image than protecting Americans and their allies, many of whom are still trapped in Afghanistan.
Biden has dismissed responsibility towards cooperative Afghan nationals and they deserve better. But he inherited a Trump-era negotiation with the Taliban and acted diplomatically to protect American troops from any unnecessary attacks.