CNN anchor Brianna Keilar pressed Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, on his plans for the Middle East following the answer he gave during Thursday’s Democratic debate.
Biden said he will pull American troops out of Afghanistan and instead establish bases in neighboring Pakistan to use and strike from.
“So when you have people who are experts on this region, they say this does not make sense because Pakistan, the military, the intelligence services there actually support the Taliban. Why would you be looking to them as an ally to have bases?” Keilar asked.
“Well look, in the Obama-Biden administration, as you know, this was a key issue, bringing our troops home, getting our folks out of Afghanistan,” Sanders explained, saying Biden has been to the region multiple times.
Keilar said that while Biden has been to the region, experts are insistent his plan does not make sense.
“Well, Brianna, I think it does make sense,” Sanders replied. “There’s a lot going on in the region right now. We have to be willing to do some innovative things. We have to be willing to be creative, but we also have to be practical.”
Sanders accused Keilar of being personally against the issue, which the host took offense to. Sanders then pivoted to criticizing the Trump administration.
“And Vice President Biden on day one will put a plan together to lead, not just at home but abroad. He’s proven he can do this time and time again. He knows these world leaders,” she said.
“To get to the heart of this, I don’t hear you making sense and even explaining U.S. bases in Pakistan,” Keilar said.
Sanders shot back that Keilar was using “folks who don’t agree” with Biden’s plan.
