Biden speech: Pentagon contradicts president and reveals Taliban beating Americans en route to airport
Follow the latest updates
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
US President Joe Biden delivered an address to the nation for the second time this week, as the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan continues.
Mr Biden, who said this week “chaos” was unavoidable with his country's withdrawal from Afghanistan, addressed concerns about the evacuation of Americans, allies, and Afghan refugees, amid reports that the effort is falling behind.
The president vowed to Americans in Kabul “we will get you home”, but is being criticised for saying that there were no reports of people being stopped from reaching the airport by the Taliban who took control of the city on Sunday.
Reporters on the ground have many examples of people held back from accessing the airport by Taliban fighters and there are reports of physical violence and intimidation. The Pentagon then appeared to contradict the president’s statement.
Senator Lindsey Graham has threatened the president with impeachment if one American or Afghan ally is left behind in Kabul.
It remains unclear exactly how many people are awaiting airlifts from the country before an agreed deadline of 31 August, after Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban last weekend.
The US military has evacuated 13,000 people since 14 August, and 18,000 since late July. In the past 24 hours 5,700 people have been airlifted as the operation begins to meet capacity levels of 5,000 to 9,000 per day as detailed by the Pentagon.
Biden congratulates new president of AFL-CIO
President Biden has congratulated Liz Shuler on being elected president of the AFL-CIO following the passing of Richard Trumka earlier this month.
“Congratulations to Liz Shuler on being elected President of the AFL-CIO — I know Rich would be proud of the historic new team. I look forward to working alongside them to strengthen America’s unions and ensure every worker is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
One more month: US extends border restrictions with Mexico and Canada
The United States will keep its land borders with Canada and Mexico closed to non-essential travel until September 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday.
The move to extend the ban on land and ferry crossings for an extra 30 days comes after Canada said it would allow in fully vaccinated US tourists from 9 August.
Bevan Hurley reports.
US extends border restrictions with Mexico and Canada another month
New York Congressman calls decision to extend border closures with Canada and Mexico a ‘huge mistake’
Pentagon appears to contradict White House on Americans in Afghanistan unable to leave
The Pentagon seemed to contradict the White House on whether Americans currently in Afghanistan are able to leave the country.
Politico’s Andrew Desiderio reported that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told members of Congress that Americans in Afghanistan were being beaten by the Taliban and that the secretary called it “unacceptable”.
Eric Garcia reports.
Pentagon seems to contradict White House on Americans in Afghanistan unable to leave
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says reports of Americans being beaten by the Taliban are ‘unacceptable’
Taliban fighter physically attacks photographer for Los Angeles Times
A Taliban fighter physically attacked a photographer and foreign correspondent for The Los Angeles Times, according to the newspaper.
Marcus Yam was taking pictures of several Afghans who were attempting to raise their national flag on Thursday when a fighter hit him in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground, where the Taliban militant continued to hit the journalist, with another fighter demanding that he delete his photos.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Taliban physically attacks photographer for Los Angeles Times
‘I realized this was the kind of confrontation that could get ugly fast,’ reporter recalls
State Department task force focused on contacting Americans in Afghanistan
The team is establishing whether they want to be repatriated.
More details on the helicopter sorties to bring people to Kabul airport
From the Associated Press:
US helicopters have ferried 96 Afghans to the Kabul airport for evacuation, signaling that U.S. military flights are taking place beyond the airport perimeters in the Afghan capital.
Senior American military officials told The Associated Press that an American CH-47 Chinook helicopter picked up the Afghans, mostly women and children, and ferried them to Hamid Karzai International Airport on Friday. US Army’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division airlifted the Afghans from Camp Sullivan, near the Kabul airport.
The officials say sorties like this one have been underway for days as Afghans seek to flee the country taken over by the Taliban. Intelligence teams inside Kabul are helping guide both Americans and Afghans and their families to the airport or are arranging for them to be rescued by other means.
For those living in other cities and provinces outside Kabul, CIA case officers, special operation forces, and agents from the Defense Intelligence Agency on the ground are gathering U.S. citizens and Afghan nationals who worked for the US at pre-determined pick-up sites.
The officials would not detail where these airlift sites were for security reasons. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss ongoing operations.
In the chaotic US withdrawal, were American weapons left behind in Afghanistan?
Black Hawk helicopters, A-29 Super Tocano bombers, armoured Humvees, drones and night vision goggles are among the billions of dollars worth of US military weaponry that has reportedly been seized by the Taliban.
Bevan Hurley explains what happened.
Were American weapons left behind in Afghanistan amid chaotic withdrawal?
Black Hawk helicopters, A-29 Super Tocano bombers, armoured Humvees, drones and night vision goggles are among the billions of dollars worth of US military weaponry that has reportedly been seized by the Taliban.
Capitol Police officer that shot Ashli Babbit exonerated by internal probe
The Capitol Police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Capitol riot has been formally exonerated after an internal investigation found the shooting was justified.
NBC News reported the development after obtaining a memo from the Capitol Police.
The officer has not been named.
Capitol Police officer that shot Ashli Babbit exonerated after internal probe
The conclusion of the internal probe brings closes the official investigation into the shooting
Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejects bid to stop Obama library being built
An attempt to stop the construction of an Obama Foundation library in a park in Chicago was rejected by conservative US Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
Ms Barrett rejected a complaint from Chicago-based organisations and individuals that opposed the construction on the grounds that it would disrupt a local park.
The conservative Supreme Court handles emergency issues arising from Illinois.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Trump-appointed Supreme Court judge rejects bid to stop Obama library being built
The opposition group wants the library moved to protect a local park
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies