On the anniversary of September 11, Biden called for unity in the United States: “We must show that democracies work”

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, said on Saturday that his country can “demonstrate that democracies work” and he again defended the withdrawal from Afghanistan, on the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Biden did not speak at the 9/11 events he participated in, both in New York City and Shanksville, Pa., But did make some comments in statements to reporters after visiting a fire station in this second place. .

The president called the speech former Republican President George W. Bush had given in Shanksville not long before as “really good”. (2001-2009), who compared the “infamous spirit” of the 9/11 terrorists to that of the violent extremists who stormed the Capitol last January.

Biden stressed the importance of moving towards unity at a time of latent tensions in the country following Donald Trump’s tenure (2017-2021), and revealed that, during his visit to the Shanksville fire station , he had taken photos with volunteers who wore hats in support of this controversial former president.

“In the next four, five, six or ten years, are we going to show that democracies can work or not?” Biden asked.

He ensured that authoritarian leaders believe they are the only ones who can succeed, and said he had verified this in his conversations with Chinese presidents Xi Jinping; and Russia, Vladimir Putin.

“I think we can really, indeed, lead again by the power of our example,” Biden continued.

He felt that the rest of the world thought Americans “were not talking to each other” and is now surprised by the approval in the United States of economic stimulus packages that “show real respect” for the middle class.

He also criticized Trump for claiming that if former Confederate general – on the losing side and defender of slavery – in the American Civil War Robert Lee had fought in the war in Afghanistan, the Americans would have won.

Biden lamented the bitter tone of the political debate on the issue and again defended the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, completed shortly before the twentieth anniversary of September 11 and which led to chaos and violence after the Taliban took control of Kabul.

“Could Al Qaeda come back? Yes, but guess what: he’s already been back elsewhere. What is the strategy then? Are we going to invade and keep our troops in all the places where there is an Al Qaeda presence? Come on, now, ”he arranged.

And he insisted that the chaos of the withdrawal at Kabul airport was inevitable: “If we were in Tajikistan and we were carrying a C-130 (plane) and we said we were going to let those who supported us get on that plane, there would also be people hanging on the landing gear. “

He was also not worried about his slight decline in popularity in the United States, where 49% of the population approves of his management, according to Gallup: “I’m a big boy. I’ve been doing this for a long time, ”he replied.

With information from EFE

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