If the United States were simply handing off responsibility to the Afghan security forces, as Biden has said, there would be no need for thousands of armed U.S. troops to guarantee the safe departure of Americans and vulnerable Afghans, said Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.

“You can’t rewind this film,” Crocker said, suggesting that Americans will see a botched effort and question Biden’s abilities.

“Of course the Republicans will have a field day with it,” Crocker said. “But for a whole lot of other Americans, you have to look at what’s happening and think, ‘This is the commander in chief, this is the guy who’s responsible for the security of the nation, and what an incredible mess he’s made of it in his first time out of the blocks.’ ”…

Crocker had his own pithy summation of the risk, saying, “This may make Saigon look good.”