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A defiant President Joe Biden called the Afghanistan evacuation effort a “success” on Tuesday, in a speech that marked the end of the United States’ 20-year engagement in the country.

“As we close 20 years of war and strife and pain and sacrifice, it’s time to look at the future, not the past,” Biden said. “I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America.”

His speech came almost exactly 24 hours after Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, announced that the last military flights out of Afghanistan had departed Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday there were between 100 and 200 American citizens who “wanted to leave” Afghanistan but remained in the country. Biden confirmed that estimate on Tuesday and said the U.S. and others would continue to work to evacuate people out of Afghanistan.

“For those remaining Americans, there is no deadline,” the president said. “We remain committed to get them out if they want to come out.”

Biden’s tone was remarkably similar to the one he displayed in his speech following the fall of Kabul a little more than two weeks ago. Both were marked with sharp criticisms for the deposed Afghan political leadership and Biden’s unwavering commitment to bring the war to a close.

“I was not going to extend this forever war,” Biden said on Tuesday, “and I was not extending a forever exit.”

Biden’s speech capped a tumultuous month in which the Afghan government and security forces collapsed with breathtaking speed, forcing the U.S. to cooperate with the Taliban in order to ensure that evacuations could continue as countless lives hung in the balance.

Administration officials have stressed that the operation was “the largest noncombatant” evacuation in U.S. military history. More than 123,000 people were evacuated, including 79,000 since Aug. 14.

But the withdrawal was marred by a terrorist attack last week that killed more than 180 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members, as well as by the government’s acknowledgement that tens of billions of dollars in military equipment had fallen into the Taliban’s hands.

On Tuesday, military officials tamped down reports that the U.S. had abandoned military dogs in Kabul, underscoring the government’s ongoing battle to counter perceptions that final stages of the drawdown were hasty and chaotic.

“To correct erroneous reports, the U.S. Military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, including the reported military working dogs,” John Kirby, the Pentagon’s top spokesman wrote on Twitter. “Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not dogs under our care.”

Throughout the process, the Biden administration remained adamant about meeting its self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline, even as doing so infuriated Republicans — some of whom have called for Biden’s removal from office — raised tensions between the White House and Democrats in Congress, and rankled some of the closest U.S. allies.

The president and his advisers have repeatedly said that they were determined to bring the war in Afghanistan to a close and did not want to extend the timeline for withdrawal — potentially upsetting the delicate balance with the Taliban and putting additional people in harm’s way.

“Leaving August the 31st is not due to an arbitrary deadline. It was designed to save American lives,” Biden said.

The White House is eager to put the Afghanistan saga behind it and refocus on pressing domestic concerns, even as the ramifications appear likely to stretch on for months, if not years.

There are tens of thousands of Afghans and their families who will need to be resettled in the U.S. and other countries — a formidable logistical challenge — and a raft of congressional committees are embarking upon investigations of the exit from Afghanistan.

The international community will also have to figure out its approach with regard to the Taliban now that they have seized control of Afghanistan. The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the Taliban to honor its humanitarian commitments, although China and Russia notably refused to sign on and argued that it was an attempt to distract from the United States’ handling of the withdrawal.

Blinken said on Monday that the U.S. was relocating its diplomatic presence for Afghanistan to Doha, Qatar, after shuttering its embassy in Kabul earlier this month as the situation deteriorated.

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/defiant-biden-calls-afghanistan-exit-151521841.html

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As Labor Day marks the traditional close to summer, President Biden’s poll numbers are taking a hit.

Facing a barrage of bipartisan criticism for weeks over his handling of the turbulent U.S. withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, and with a surge in new COVID cases due to the spread across the country this summer of the highly infectious delta variant, the president’s approval ratings are slipping.

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-apos-standing-among-americans-105217356.html

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FAST FACTS

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement about the bombing that claimed the lives of 12 U.S. service members in Kabul while issuing a warning to lawmakers not to travel to Afghanistan.

“Today, we suffered the loss of life of at least twelve U.S. servicemembers and dozens of civilians from the terrorist attack outside of the Kabul airport,” Pelosi said. “We mourn the loss of every innocent life taken, and we join every American in heartbreak over the deaths of the Americans and all killed.”

“Sadly, the gravity of the situation in Afghanistan necessitates reiterating that Members must not request or plan visits to the region,” the statement continued. ” The Departments of Defense and State have explicitly stated that Member travel to Afghanistan and surrounding countries would unnecessarily divert needed resources from the priority mission of safely and expeditiously evacuating Americans and Afghans at risk.  It should be clear that any Member presence presents a danger and an opportunity cost of resources, regardless of whatever value that Members consider they may add by such trips.”

Pelosi’s statement comes after Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton and GOP Rep. Peter Meijer, both veterans, made an unannounced trip to Kabul in a move that angered some lawmakers and Biden administrations officials.

Mike Pence@Mike_Pence

Karen and I are shocked and saddened by the loss of 11 Marines and a Navy corpsman in the terrorist attack at Kabul Airport. Our prayers are with the families of the fallen and also with the service members injured in the attack. God Bless Our Troops.

ISIS-K: What to know about Taliban rival seen as threat to Afghanistan evacuation

The United States has fought against the Taliban, al Qaeda and the Haqqani insurgent groups in Afghanistan for the last two decades, but counter-terrorism experts warn that the imminent threat ISIS-K poses could prove catastrophic. Following multiple attacks near the Kabul airport Thursday, Pentagon officials blamed ISIS, and the terror network claimed responsibility.

The group referred to as ISIS-K is the “Khorasan” branch of the Islamic State, located in Afghanistan. Khorasan is a historic name for the broader region.

The insurgent group formed after a faction within the Taliban splintered and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria – in October 2014.

Read more.

Americans likely to be left behind in Afghanistan after Kabul bombings: source

FIRST ON FOX: A source briefed on the situation in Kabul told Fox News that some Americans stranded in Afghanistan will likely be left behind after Thursday’s bombings.

The source told Fox News that “hundreds” of ISIS-K fighters remain in the vicinity of the Kabul airport and that the attacks are “likely to continue.”

“Military continues to retrograde and depart [the] airport,” the source told Fox News. “Almost a certainty that Americans will be left behind.”

Read more.

Leader McConnell@LeaderMcConnell

It is sickening and enraging to hear that at least 12 U.S. servicemembers have been killed at the hands of terrorists in Kabul. We need to redouble our global efforts to confront these barbarian enemies who want to kill Americans and attack our homeland. My full statement:

Trump issues statement on death of U.S. service members in Kabul

Former President Donald Trump issued a statement Thursday offering condolences to the families of U.S. service members who died in an explosion at Kabul’s airport.

“Melania and I send our deepest condolences to the families of our brilliant Service Members whose duty to the U.S.A. meant so much to them,” Trump said. “Our thoughts are also with the families of the innocent civilians who died today in the savage Kabul attack.”

“This tragedy should have never been allowed to happen, which makes our grief even deeper and more difficult to understand,” Trump continued.

“May God bless the U.S.A.”

Ben Shapiro@benshapiro

Hillary Clinton once wondered who Americans would want picking up the phone in a national crisis at 3 AM. With Joe Biden, nobody is picking up at 3 PM.

State confirms 500 Americans have been evacuated since yesterday, most that remain want to leave

“We have received confirmation that roughly 500 of the 1,500 Americans that we were tracking as potentially being in Afghanistan have been evacuated,” a State Department spokesperson said.

“Over the past 24 hours, we heard from an additional roughly 500 people purporting to be Americans in Afghanistan who want to leave,” the statement continued. “We immediately began attempting to reach these individuals by phone, text, and email. Based on our experience, many of these will not turn out to be U.S. citizens in need of our assistance.”

Gen. McKenzie: U.S. aircraft flying in and out of Kabul are getting shot at ‘on occasion’

McKenzie says evacuation flights will continue.

While acknowledging a “tough day,” Gen. McKenzie says the plans he has to evacuate Afghans and Americans is “designed to operate under stress.”

Gen. McKenzie just said since Aug. 14 the U.S. military has been sharing “information with the Taliban,” to prevent attacks since Aug. 14.

Gen. McKenzie: U.S. aircraft flying in and out of Kabul are getting shot at “on occasion.”

Lucas Tomlinson@LucasFoxNews

U.S. general says the threat of suicide car bomb attacks right now at Kabul airport is “high.” Gen. McKenzie says the pattern of attacks like this is for “multiple attacks.”

Lucas Tomlinson@LucasFoxNews

U.S. general: 2 ISIS suicide bombers carried out attack today outside Kabul airport. One struck Abbey Gate, another detonated outside Baron Hotel near gate. 12 U.S. military KIA, 15 wounded, but no American civilians or diplomats killed or hurt.

Harris cancels plans to campaign with Newsom, will return to D.C.

Vice President Kamala Harris has cancelled her scheduled campaign event with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and will instead return to Washington, Fox News has confirmed.

Harris was schedule to appear at a car rally with Newsom on Friday, but will instead return to the nation’s capital after her visit to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Thursday afternoon.

Top U.S. general: 12 U.S. KIA, 15 wounded in suicide attack at Kabul airport

The head of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Afghanistan says 12 U.S. service members were killed in the suicide attack outside the Kabul airport. 15 others were wounded.

Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command says two suicide bombers carried out the complex attack, which he attributed to ISIS.

McKenzie said ISIS gunmen also opened fire.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III@SecDef

On behalf of the men and women of the @deptofdefense, I express my deepest condolences to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and wounded in Kabul today. Full statement below:

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Doug Collins@RepDougCollins

“We made clear to the Taliban that any attack, any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with a swift and forceful response,” – Joe Biden, one week ago We are waiting…Mr. President, your move.

Number of US service members killed in Afghanistan rises to 12; most are Marines

Twelve U.S. service members were killed in action in the suicide attack, officials tell Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson. Eleven were Marines and one was a Navy medic, they said.

Note:  Many more updates at the source:  Click here

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Source: https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/live-updates-taliban-gain-more-ground-in-afghanistan-as-they-close-in-on-kabul?test=38861ea43380e1402f1c90f21546ad4b

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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack hit rural Deir Ezzor this morning

Seven fighters were wounded in the attack, a Syrian military spokesman said. AFP

Source: Israeli airstrikes kill 14 Iranian forces in eastern Syria – The National

Source: https://www.syriahr.com/en/178867/

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President Trump and U.S. officials had said earlier that no Americans were killed or injured in the Jan. 8 attack.

Several U.S. troops “were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed. As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate are transported to a higher level of care,” Capt. Bill Urban, the Central Command spokesman, said Thursday.

AERIAL IMAGES OF IRANIAN ATTACK ON IRAQ BASE

He said that although no U.S. service members were killed in the attack on Al Assad Air Base, “in the days following the attack, out of an abundance of caution, some service members were transported… to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, others were sent to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for follow-on screening. When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following the screening. The health and welfare of our personnel is a top priority and we will not discuss any individual’s medical status. At this time, eight individuals have been transported to Landstuhl, and three have been transported to Camp Arifjan.”

The explosions at the base, about 110 miles west of Baghdad, created large craters, knocked over concrete barriers and destroyed facilities that house dozens of soldiers.

The attack on the Al Assad base, where about 1,500 American and coalition forces are stationed, was carried out in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Iraq claimed its sovereignty had been violated by the killing and took swift action in calling for all U.S. armed forces to leave the country.

U.S. forces had first used the base after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. It later saw American troops stationed there amid the fight against the Islamic State terror network.

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