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Hey, good morning, playbookers. I'm Rogumnevolo, and on this Wednesday, returning the page to

September, this is your Politico Playbook Daily Briefing.

President Joe Biden ended August on Tuesday, with the competitive speech in which he defended his decision-making in Afghanistan,

which has become by far the most controversial turn of his short presidency.

He criticized Afghan National Security Forces for melting away in the face of the Taliban.

He insisted that Americans in Afghanistan had multiple warnings and offers to help them leave.

But Politico colleague Alex Ward had this takeaway.

Biden is fighting the blob.

That seems to be the messaging here, both in and out of DC.

The blob was a term popularized by progressive critics of foreign policy ideas, generally

embraced by the center left and right during the last two decades. Especially concerning American military interventions, which the blob loves,

while also frowning upon engagement with prior regimes such as Iran and North Korea.

And after the president's speech yesterday, the blob quickly struck back.

President of the Council in Foreign Relations, Richard Haas, tweeted this.

Most debatable claim in POTIS remarks as U.S. choice in Afghanistan was to leave, or, quote,

commit tens of thousands of more troops going back to war.

There was a third choice.

To stay as we were, as costs of military presence had gone down because of previous troop

productions and end of combat-combat operations.

The National Review had this to say as well.

After disastrously underestimating the gathering Taliban offensive and drawing down troops

...