It took a day, but President Biden finally got it right. When he addressed the nation, he was pretty direct.

While he could have acknowledged the chaos is Kabul earlier or more forthrightly, he looked the situation in the eye and reiterated the basis of his decision.

What is happening in Kabul is embarrassing in its images and its implications for the Afghan people.  A more orderly withdrawal would have had the same result without the awful pictures we see on television.

Let us all be clear. Joe Biden thought we should be out of Afghanistan a long time ago. As President he could make it happen and he did. What was most refreshing in this unsettling time was, when in the midst of the chaotic airlift and criticism, he said, “The buck stops here.”  It was absolutely Truman-esque and boy we haven’t seen much of that for a while. It is what is called “grown up leadership,” which is in very short supply, especially in Washington.