![]() ![]() “It’s a volatile situation on the ground,” the official said. And hours after Biden claimed there was “no indication” of Americans being unable to get to the airport, a White House official acknowledged that there have been reports of Americans facing “challenge and chaos at the airport.” Still, some of his comments did not square with conditions witnessed by CNN on the ground – or some of what his own administration has since said.Īfter the President’s remarks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told House lawmakers in a call that Americans in Kabul have been beaten by the Taliban, according to multiple sources on the call. He took on criticism about how America’s longest war is ending and injected more empathy for the suffering of Afghans into his remarks than he’d shown in two previous appearances. In remarks at the White House, Biden sought to project calm at the end of what has been a trying week for his administration. ![]() 31 deadline.President Joe Biden on Friday tried to put an optimistic face on the chaotic evacuations taking place at Kabul’s airport as American forces scramble to remove US citizens and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan. But other reports from people in Afghanistan described shootings, violence and Taliban moves to block desperate Afghans from getting through the gates.īiden in an address to the nation Tuesday defended his decision to end America’s longest war and withdraw all U.S. relationship with the Taliban during the evacuation as “very pragmatic and very businesslike,” saying they helped secure the airport. He has tasked Secretary of State Antony Blinken with coordinating with international partners to hold the Taliban to their promise of safe passage for Americans and others who want to leave in the days ahead. involvement in the war over and all American military out of the country, Biden is grappling with the prospects of a new relationship with the Taliban. When we see what has unfolded over the last 20 years and over the last 20 days, that creates pain and anger.” Milley and Austin urged war veterans to view their service as worthwhile and appreciated by the American public, while acknowledging that the memories can be painful. They also thanked all who contributed to the final airlift, which Austin called the largest evacuation of civilians in American history. “I would not make any leaps of logic to broader issues,” said Austin.īoth Austin and Milley commanded troops in Afghanistan during the 20-year war and their comments at Wednesday’s news conference largely focused on tributes to those who served in Afghanistan, including those who died or were wounded. Milley has recent experience with Taliban leaders twice last year, most recently in December, he met face-to-face with them in an attempt to slow their attacks on the U.S.-backed Afghan government, which collapsed in mid-August, triggering the frantic U.S.-led evacuation.Īustin sounded at least as skeptical as Milley regarding the possibility that the coordination in recent days at the Kabul airport suggests a future relationship with the Taliban. military or the Central Intelligence Agency now that they have regained power in Kabul. But the Biden administration asserts that it can contain these groups by monitoring and potentially striking with assets based elsewhere in the region.Īlthough the Taliban oppose IS, it’s far from clear that they will be inclined to work with the U.S. military forces on the ground and no friendly government forces with which to share intelligence on extremist networks. Targeting Islamic State militants or other extremist groups, such as al-Qaida, will be more difficult with no U.S. ![]()
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