Defense Secretary Austin looks completely stunned when a reporter asks "It sounds like you're saying this depends on diplomacy with the Taliban. That's it."
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 18, 2021
General Milley interrupts, noting that the State Department has sent messages urging people to go to the airport. pic.twitter.com/xXs4zSipcl
Meanwhile, multiple sources, including @RespectIsVital are saying UK forces are leaving the airport and escorting UK and other allies back. Also UK paratroopers and American troops are in shouting matches at the airport.
— matt dooley (@mdooley) August 18, 2021
TexasScientist said:How do you like China's system of governance?GoldMind said:I made no error, those little ****-splat incidents are no more than us killing Soleimani cause he got in the way. Using them as any indication of some big threat to world peace is laughable.Oldbear83 said:I simply pointed out an error you made in a statement. An obvious one.GoldMind said:Mildly surprised I was wrong, could have sworn you'd thought this out.Oldbear83 said:Elect me, then I will tell you.GoldMind said:Oldbear83 said:
"We talk **** about you behind your back all the time, you're just a hateful old man still living in the 60s, arguing for the sake of arguing."
In this case, the "we" only applies to you and those voices in your head.
Solid comeback, gramps.
Tell us what you'd do about China? Surely you have some kind of plan layed out.
After all, that works for Democrats!
Why should that mean I have some detailed plan for what I would do, since I am neither a General nor a Politician?
You fancy yourself incredibly smart, so I just figured you had something to offer other than abrasive drive-bys.
A delicious word salad I'm sure with a hint of spice in the dressing. Too bad the Taliban are carnivores.Jacques Strap said:🇺🇸 Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says U.S. expressed "in no uncertain terms" at the United Nations through "a very strongly worded press statement" from the Security Council that "we expect the Taliban to respect women's rights" and "to be respectful of humanitarian law." pic.twitter.com/32TEyRFu4O
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 18, 2021
ATL Bear said:A delicious word salad I'm sure with a hint of spice in the dressing. Too bad the Taliban are carnivores.Jacques Strap said:🇺🇸 Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says U.S. expressed "in no uncertain terms" at the United Nations through "a very strongly worded press statement" from the Security Council that "we expect the Taliban to respect women's rights" and "to be respectful of humanitarian law." pic.twitter.com/32TEyRFu4O
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 18, 2021
Britain fears US forces may pull out of Kabul airport within days.
— Alex Tiffin (@RespectIsVital) August 18, 2021
This goes towards corroborating what I said about 2 Para being worried US may exit quickly.
Indicates US not keeping UK forces in loop, as I previously said and was called a liar.https://t.co/pZaXjvYeb4
NEW - Taliban militants nearby the North Gate of Kabul Airport, #Afghanishtan firing and using stun and smoke grenades on crowds attempting to escape the country.
— Alex Tiffin (@RespectIsVital) August 18, 2021
This contradicts recent US Cent Comm claim Taliban are allowing safe & unhindered passage. pic.twitter.com/9RQMQDibMO
From early afternoon outside Kabul Airport, #Afghanistan.
— Alex Tiffin (@RespectIsVital) August 18, 2021
People are so desperate they are trying to hand over their children so they can at least escape the country.
No words. pic.twitter.com/CnyPgka8bl
Oldbear83 said:
General Milley should be left, alone, in the middle of Kabul, and told to find his way back on foot.
I am furious that such a man as him should ever have been trusted with command of troops.
Milley could, with years of hard work, make his way up to 'stunningly incompetent' at best.
As long as he's wearing drag and full makeup and not his dress uniform.....Oldbear83 said:
General Milley should be left, alone, in the middle of Kabul, and told to find his way back on foot.
I am furious that such a man as him should ever have been trusted with command of troops.
Milley could, with years of hard work, make his way up to 'stunningly incompetent' at best.
Taliban policy towards Trans is importantGoldMind said:
For someone who screamed and yelled and cried about innocent lives being lost in Bosnia, he sure isn't making the same fuss now.
President @JoeBiden now says he doesn't know how the U.S. could have withdrawn from Afghanistan "without chaos ensuing." But on July 8th, he said "the likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely."
— Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) August 18, 2021
Biden, today: "The idea that somehow, there's a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don't know how that happens."
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) August 18, 2021
Reporter to Biden, July 8: "Your own intelligence community has assessed that the Afghan government will likely collapse."
Biden: "That is not true."
Audible scoffs from some in the press pool as the President once again delivers remarks, but takes no questions.
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) August 18, 2021
Biden has not taken any reporter questions since the Taliban took Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/dKuYf7JRip
NEW, video of the North Gate at #hkia via colleague @alanacbs from Americans trying to access the airport. pic.twitter.com/VX3WjHUZ1H
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) August 18, 2021
It's as if Ol' Joe has the same imaginary friends as Billy, Jeffy and Dolly.Jacques Strap said:President @JoeBiden now says he doesn't know how the U.S. could have withdrawn from Afghanistan "without chaos ensuing." But on July 8th, he said "the likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely."
— Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) August 18, 2021Biden, today: "The idea that somehow, there's a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don't know how that happens."
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) August 18, 2021
Reporter to Biden, July 8: "Your own intelligence community has assessed that the Afghan government will likely collapse."
Biden: "That is not true."Audible scoffs from some in the press pool as the President once again delivers remarks, but takes no questions.
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) August 18, 2021
Biden has not taken any reporter questions since the Taliban took Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/dKuYf7JRip
Just got off phone with Sen @BillHagertyTN.
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) August 18, 2021
His office is getting reports of Americans in safe houses near the Karzai airport "who are trying to figure out when they can run for it."
"This is what we're expecting Americans to do?"
Sullivan yesterday:
pic.twitter.com/CTe3YkXTS0
Senate aide tells me that at a briefing for Senate aides this afternoon, the administration said that they are currently “thinking about and discussing air bridges” (presumably helicopters) to get to Americans who are outside of Kabul to the airport. https://t.co/x2XPkjrvwR
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 18, 2021
Quote:
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's pledge to evacuate thousands more at-risk Afghans who worked for the U.S. government will run into the cold reality of a fast-closing window of time, insecurity all over Afghanistan and major logistical hurdles.
As one U.S. official told Reuters "too many things have to go 100 percent correctly" to execute the plan to move out those going through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process. The Pentagon is aiming to evacuate up to 22,000 SIV applicants, their families and other at-risk people.
But officials and refugee resettlement groups said that number, while admirable, will be much more difficult to reach now that the Taliban have seized the capital Kabul and most of the country.
Groups that work with refugees vigorously disputed Biden's assertion in a speech on Monday that many applicants had not wanted to leave Afghanistan earlier.
Jacques Strap said:Just got off phone with Sen @BillHagertyTN.
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) August 18, 2021
His office is getting reports of Americans in safe houses near the Karzai airport "who are trying to figure out when they can run for it."
"This is what we're expecting Americans to do?"
Sullivan yesterday:
pic.twitter.com/CTe3YkXTS0Senate aide tells me that at a briefing for Senate aides this afternoon, the administration said that they are currently “thinking about and discussing air bridges” (presumably helicopters) to get to Americans who are outside of Kabul to the airport. https://t.co/x2XPkjrvwR
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 18, 2021
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bidens-vow-airlift-afghan-allies-meets-ticking-clock-risky-rescue-2021-08-17/Quote:
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's pledge to evacuate thousands more at-risk Afghans who worked for the U.S. government will run into the cold reality of a fast-closing window of time, insecurity all over Afghanistan and major logistical hurdles.
As one U.S. official told Reuters "too many things have to go 100 percent correctly" to execute the plan to move out those going through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process. The Pentagon is aiming to evacuate up to 22,000 SIV applicants, their families and other at-risk people.
But officials and refugee resettlement groups said that number, while admirable, will be much more difficult to reach now that the Taliban have seized the capital Kabul and most of the country.
Groups that work with refugees vigorously disputed Biden's assertion in a speech on Monday that many applicants had not wanted to leave Afghanistan earlier.
my Grandad's next door neighbor was one of the hostages in Iran. This has the possibility of being Saigon/Iran/Mogadishu/Benghazi all rolled into one. What a disaster.Oldbear83 said:
The Iran Hostage Crisis involved 52 Americans. With thousands of Americans stuck in Afghanistan and at the mercy of the Taliban, just imagine the potential scale of this crisis.
The next two days will decide the course of more than three nations.
One of the minimum thresholds of adulthood is understanding the concept "hope for the best; prepare for the worst." These numbskulls only got the wrong half of that that right.nein51 said:
It's arguably worse. We sort of willingly walked in to this. There was no pressure being applied from outside forces. 2,500 US soldiers could have half Afghanistan ad infinitum. All of those other events had precursors. In this case we just sort of asked for this to happen and it was 100% avoidable.
President Biden, who has spent the last few days traveling between the White House and Camp David, is scheduled to head to Delaware for a long weekend.
— WMAL News (@wmalnews) August 18, 2021
That’s according to the FAA's website pic.twitter.com/q9lWpHxbeG
Jacques Strap said:🇺🇸 Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says U.S. expressed "in no uncertain terms" at the United Nations through "a very strongly worded press statement" from the Security Council that "we expect the Taliban to respect women's rights" and "to be respectful of humanitarian law." pic.twitter.com/32TEyRFu4O
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 18, 2021
In the absence of clear orders, in moments of chaos - revert to fundamentals.
— cdrsalamander (@cdrsalamander) August 19, 2021
Just do the right thing. https://t.co/rowoAScdyW
Comedy cannot keep up with real life...NeonBU said:Jacques Strap said:🇺🇸 Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says U.S. expressed "in no uncertain terms" at the United Nations through "a very strongly worded press statement" from the Security Council that "we expect the Taliban to respect women's rights" and "to be respectful of humanitarian law." pic.twitter.com/32TEyRFu4O
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 18, 2021
Quote:
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The Taliban has told the United States it will provide safe passage for civilians to reach the airport in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.
Taliban are still trying to clear people from the roads around Kabul Airport, #Afghanistan with warning shotaand smoke.
— Alex Tiffin (@RespectIsVital) August 19, 2021
They're ordered everyone to go home.
Footage from approximately 3:15pm local time, 11:45 BST. pic.twitter.com/7U0w6P9bA8
Two remarkable lines in today’s papers from @Steven_Swinford @benrileysmith
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) August 19, 2021
— UK military left in the dark by the US about timings and pace of their withdrawal… UK official confirms this is the case
— Biden ignored Boris Johnson’s attempts to speak on the phone for 36+ hours pic.twitter.com/HSBqBhfeGh
After several harrowing days, NYT employees and their families in Afghanistan have made it to safety.
— Cliff Levy (@cliffordlevy) August 19, 2021
“We can all breathe a bit easier, knowing that 65 families -- 128 men, women and children -- are headed to freedom,” assistant managing editor @meslackman tells the newsroom. pic.twitter.com/xynVfrh46D
thats because he has something wrong with him. His camp david photo is fake. The clocks are set wrong and Joe has alot more hair on his head in camp david photo than he did during public address before and after camp david photo.Jacques Strap said:Two remarkable lines in today’s papers from @Steven_Swinford @benrileysmith
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) August 19, 2021
— UK military left in the dark by the US about timings and pace of their withdrawal… UK official confirms this is the case
— Biden ignored Boris Johnson’s attempts to speak on the phone for 36+ hours pic.twitter.com/HSBqBhfeGh
EXCLUSIVE: @GStephanopoulos: “Do you believe the Taliban have changed?”
— ABC News (@ABC) August 19, 2021
Pres. Biden: “I think they’re going through sort of an existential crisis about do they want to be recognized by the int’l community as being a legitimate government.” https://t.co/zgMVDKleiv pic.twitter.com/Bgxenaydap
CNN reporter on situation in Afghanistan:
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) August 19, 2021
"If this isn't failure then what does failure look like?" pic.twitter.com/qg7uk7neQD
Quote:
The Taliban are intensifying their search for Afghans who assisted U.S. and British forces in the country and are threatening to kill or arrest their family members, according to a United Nations document seen by The New York Times.
Directly contradicting the Taliban's own assurances that those who fought against them or aided foreign forces would be granted amnesty, the Times reports that the U.N. has found the militant group has a list of people they are seeking to question and punish.
The militant group is reportedly "arresting and/or threatening to kill or arrest family members of target individuals unless they surrender themselves to the Taliban."
Afghan military and police officials, as well as those who worked for the investigative units of the Afghan government, are of particular interest, the Times reports.
The Hill has reached out to the U.N. for comment.
The Taliban have so far sought to indicate publicly that they plan on being more moderate than when they previously ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s.
On Tuesday, the group said it would grant amnesty to all Afghans who opposed them and assisted foreign forces. A Taliban spokesperson also said the group was prepared to allow women opportunities to work and study, inviting them to join their government.