Biden Claims Taliban ‘Going Through Sort Of An Existential Crisis’

In his interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, President Biden stated that the Taliban was “going through sort of an existential crisis” as to whether they wanted to be recognized by the world as a legitimate government.

Stephanopoulos asked, “What happens now in Afghanistan? Do you believe the Taliban have changed?”

“No. I think — let me put it this way,” Biden answered. “I think they’re going through sort of an existential crisis about do they want to be recognized by the international community as being a legitimate government. I’m not sure they do. But look, they have —”

“They care about their beliefs more?” Stephanopoulos suggested.

“Well, they do,” Biden allowed. “But they also care about whether they have food to eat, whether they have an income that can make any money and run an economy. They care about whether or not they can hold together the society that they, in fact, say they care so much about. I’m not counting on any of that, but that is part of what I think is going on right now in terms of I– I’m not sure I would’ve predicted, George, nor would you or anyone else, that when we decided to leave, that they’d provide safe passage for Americans to get out.”

The American Psychological Association defines an “existential crisis” as variously “a crucial stage or turning point at which an individual is faced with finding meaning and purpose in life and taking responsibility for his or her choices” and “any psychological or moral crisis that causes an individual to ask fundamental questions about human existence.” – READ MORE