Joe Biden’s cruel summer

With the Taliban’s sudden reconquest of Afghanistan, US president Joe Biden is learning how quickly 'inbox problems' can derail other objectives. Whether he will recover and salvage his legislative agenda remains to be seen; history offers conflicting lessons

US president Joe Biden's honeymoon has clearly ended with the disastrous decision to withdraw the last US forces from Afghanistan. Picture: Susan Walsh/AP

A political leader’s performance and legacy are usually defined more by how he handles his inbox than by whether he delivers on hyperbolic campaign promises or visions of the promised land. 

US president Joe Biden is learning this lesson during his first summer on the job. Reality is rudely intruding on his plans.