Category: Afghanistan

Vulnerable Democrats in Congress Distance Themselves From Biden

As the 2022 midterm elections loom nearer, Democrats in vulnerable House and Senate seats are distancing themselves from President Joe Biden over his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. This is unsurprising: surveys since the beginning of the situation in Afghanistan have consistently shown that most American voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the situation….


Last American Military Plane Leaves Afghanistan, Ending 20-year War: General

The United States officially ended its military presence with the final U.S. military flight out of Kabul, concluding 20 years of American involvement in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Gen. Frank McKenzie said during a televised address that the last C-17 military plane cleared Afghan airspace after lifting…


Wounded War Veteran Becomes First American to Win Gold in Paralympic Triathlon

A seven-time Paralympic medalist who was permanently blinded while serving the U.S. military in Afghanistan clinched the first-ever gold medal for the United States on Aug. 28 in the men’s PTVI race at the Olympics Games in Tokyo, Japan. “I’m incredibly proud to be a gold medalist for Team USA in the sport of triathlon,”…


Left Behind: Afghans in Peril

Commentary A recent episode of the current affairs show “The Nation Speaks” examines the evacuation of Afghanistan and the grim possibility that some may be left behind, compares the similarities between the fall of Saigon and South Vietnam and current events in Afghanistan; and at the end, features a song written for veterans who served in…


Blinken: US Likely Will Not Have Physical ‘Diplomatic Presence’ in Afghanistan on Sept. 1

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States won’t have a physical diplomatic presence in Kabul by Sept. 1 when the United States fully withdraws from Afghanistan. In an interview on Sunday, the Biden administration’s top diplomat said an “on-the-ground diplomatic presence” is not likely after the Taliban took over Kabul just over two…


Hundreds of Afghan Evacuees Arrive in Philadelphia

Philadelphia International Airport has been transformed into a welcome center For Afghan evacuees, processing hundreds of men, women, and children fleeing the country as U.S. troops leave. The city of Philadelphia is providing updates on the effort, dubbed “Operation Allies Refuge PHL.” On Saturday, the city reported 505 total evacuees came through the airport on…


Pentagon Confirms ‘Particularly Dangerous Time’ Ahead for Afghanistan Withdrawal

A spokesperson for the Department of Defense (DOD) on Monday warned there is an “active threat” at the Kabul airport that is still high, while confirming that American soldiers who were deployed to Afghanistan to assist with an evacuation will leave by the Biden administration’s Aug. 31 deadline. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a…


Hundreds of Americans Remain in Afghanistan as Deadline Looms

Some 600 are still in Afghanistan on Aug. 30, one day ahead of the U.S. withdrawal deadline, according to U.S. military officials. Roughly 5,400 of the 122,000 people who the U.S. military has evacuated, or facilitated the evacuation of, in recent weeks, were Americans, Pentagon officials told reporters on Monday. Some 6,000 U.S. citizens were…


US Officials: Lists of Names Were Shared With Taliban

The United States shared lists of names with the Taliban, U.S. officials confirmed on Sunday, as they disputed accusations that the terrorist group was given the identity of many Americans and Afghans trying to flee Afghanistan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, appearing on Sunday cable shows, confirmed the information…


Scottish Afghan Charity Says Its Trapped Workers Are Still to Be Evacuated

A Scottish Afghan charity has said its staff trapped in Kabul have been forced to return to their homes after a “relentless 46 hours” facing gunfire at the city’s airport. The Linda Norgrove Foundation was set up in memory of a Scots aid worker who was killed after being kidnapped by the Taliban. Norgrove’s parents,…