Saturday marked Trump’s planned withdrawal date from Afghanistan, which the former US leader announced last year. With Biden pledging to withdraw American troops by September 11, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid declared that all bets are off between now and then. “As withdrawal of foreign forces from #Afghanistan by agreed upon …
Read More »US begins much-touted ‘withdrawal’ from Afghanistan… by sending MORE troops & gear for ‘temporary force protection’
The White House confirmed that the exit had begun on Thursday night, with deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters on Air Force One that “a drawdown is underway.” “Potential adversaries should know that if they attack us in our withdrawal, we will defend ourselves, [and] our partners, with all …
Read More »Is America hoping its withdrawal from Afghanistan makes that war-ravaged country China’s problem now?
On Wednesday evening a deadly blast struck a Pakistan hotel stemming from a car bomb, claiming four lives. The apparent target of the attack may have been China’s ambassador to the country, Nong Rong, who was staying in the city of Quetta to meet with an official in the volatile …
Read More »White House pushes for ‘orderly’ withdrawal from Afghanistan by 9/11 anniversary, US definitely missing May 1 deadline
The Biden administration “will begin an orderly drawdown of the remaining forces before May 1 and plan to have all US troops out of the country before the 20th anniversary of 9/11,” according to a senior official speaking to reporters on background Tuesday. President Joe Biden himself is scheduled to …
Read More »Top Democrat reveals US will miss Afghanistan withdrawal deadline, says Biden will ask Taliban for ‘more time’
“It’s a general feeling that May 1 is too soon, just logistically,” Smith said on Wednesday, during a virtual event hosted by Foreign Policy. “You cannot pull out ten thousand-plus troops in any sort of reasonable way in just six weeks.” “Job one is to try to get back in …
Read More »Russian withdrawal from Council of Europe over perceived Human Rights court bias would be a lose-lose situation for everyone
This is hardly unique to Moscow. The British government, for instance, has also displayed some decided annoyance with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). But Russia gets hit more often by the court than any other country, resulting in growing frustration at the highest levels. Two recent ECtHR verdicts …
Read More »Biden ‘accepts’ Neera Tanden’s withdrawal after toxic OMB nominee fails to win support, promises her administration ‘role’ anyway
“I have accepted Neera Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget,” Biden said in a statement on Tuesday. He offered no explanation for her decision but added “I look forward to having her serve a role in my administration” without specifying what that …
Read More »As troop withdrawal nears, police say militias aim to blow up Capitol, ‘kill as many members as possible’ during Biden’s SOTU
“We know that members of the militia groups that were present on January 6 have stated their desire that they want to blow up the Capitol and kill as many members as possible with a direct nexus to the State of the Union,” acting Capitol Police chief Yogananda Pittman said …
Read More »With mere months left till deadline for Trump-negotiated Afghanistan withdrawal, press prepares public to accept its likely breach
The agreement signed in Doha in late February 2020 sets May 1 as the deadline for a full withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. The Pentagon currently has 2,500 service personnel deployed in the country, with NATO allies fielding some 7,000 more. Under the agreement, the Taliban pledged to make …
Read More »‘There will be no full withdrawal’: Troops to remain in Afghanistan past Trump-set deadline – report
“There will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end,” one NATO official told Reuters. According to the source, “conditions have not been met” to justify a full-scale withdrawal, and the new administration will likely present “tweaks in policy.” “With the new US administration, there will be tweaks in the …
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