Tony Blair brands Joe Biden an ‘Imbecile’.

TONY Blair branded President Joe Biden an “imbecile” yesterday over his decision to quit Afghanistan.

The former PM — who first ordered Brit troops in 20 years ago — said jihadist groups would be cheering the retreat.

His astonishing intervention came amid reports of people being crushed to death in scorching heat outside Kabul airport as desperate Afghans tried to flee the Taliban.

It was also reported last night the Government may end evacuation flights to the UK on Tuesday — although ministers are understood to be discussing an extension.


Mr Blair said: “It is so obvious the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics.

"We didn’t need to do it. We chose to do it.

“We did it in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending ‘the forever wars’, as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even ten years ago.”

His scathing comments were a reference to President Biden ordering US troops to withdraw after promising Americans at home he would “end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East”.

Mr Blair added: “We did it (withdrew) when the sacrifices of our troops had made those fragile gains our duty to preserve.

“We did it when the February 2020 agreement, itself replete with concession to the Taliban, had been violated daily and derisively.

“We did it with every jihadist group round the world cheering.”

At Kabul airport yesterday four women were reported to be among those who died in the crush and from heat exhaustion as temperatures hit 31C (88F).

Unconscious people were carried away on stretchers with at least three bodies covered in white sheets.

British troops also plucked babies to safety and hosed water over the scrum to try to cool people as thousands fought to get on evacuation flights while Taliban executioners swept the city.

Nato officials said at least 12 people died at the airport in a week.