In a forthcoming book titled "The Last Politician" by journalist Franklin Foer, the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 is detailed, shedding light on President Biden's first two years in office. One of the most significant revelations from the book is President Biden's explosive reaction when he learned that the then-president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, had fled Kabul ahead of the Taliban's takeover of the city.

According to the book, on August 12, 2021, Biden left Washington, D.C., for what was supposed to be a mid-August vacation at Camp David. However, just three days later, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan delivered the shocking news to Biden that Ghani had fled as the Taliban was poised to march into the capital. The book describes Biden's reaction as him exploding in frustration and exclaiming, "Give me a break!"

What unfolded in the following weeks was far more chaotic than the administration had expected. The Biden White House had anticipated a gradual handover of responsibility to the Afghan government until August 31, 2021, when the Taliban would begin to take an active role in governing the country. However, the Taliban rapidly took over territories as the U.S. military moved out of various bases, and it became evident that the American withdrawal would not proceed as planned.

Adding to the turmoil, multiple high-ranking White House officials were on vacation during this critical period. Biden himself was at Camp David, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the Hamptons, and then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki was at the beach with her family. It wasn't until August 16, 2021, the day after Ghani fled Kabul, that the world witnessed the harrowing scenes of Afghans desperately trying to cling to a U.S. military transport aircraft as it took off from Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The book reveals that Psaki, upon seeing those heart-wrenching images, felt compelled to cut her vacation short and return to the White House. She wrote to then-White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, expressing her contemplation of coming back, to which Klain responded firmly, "I'm sorry. I think you need to."

Foer's book also highlights President Biden's active interest in the evacuation effort. He was involved in generating ideas to expedite the process and frequently requested updates on the safe evacuation of individuals from Afghanistan. Ultimately, the administration managed to evacuate over 120,000 people from the country but faced criticism for what was perceived as a slow response.

The book notes that the administration was particularly stung by the fact that criticism wasn't solely coming from conservative media but also from respected columnists and reporters whom Biden's inner circle respected and heeded. Biden himself acknowledged the tough coverage, admitting, "We're getting killed." This frustration stemmed from the administration's belief that despite the logistical feat of evacuating so many people, the perception of a slow response persisted.

However, the criticism did not sway Biden's determination to withdraw from Afghanistan, nor did it change his aversion to what Foer describes as "the conventional wisdom of the foreign policy elites." Foer asserts that Biden had defied their delusional predictions of progress for so long that he was resolute in his decision to exit a war without hope.

Foer's book, set to be released by Penguin Random House on Tuesday, provides an in-depth account of Biden's first two years as president, from his inauguration to the 2022 midterm elections. It offers valuable insights into the inner workings of the White House during a time of significant turmoil and will undoubtedly fuel the ongoing discussions surrounding the Afghanistan withdrawal.