Biden speech: Pentagon contradicts president and reveals Taliban beating Americans en route to airport
Follow the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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.
Photo of US marine calming infant during Afghanistan evacuation goes viral
Biden says 13,000 evacuated from Afghanistan and tells Americans: ‘We will get you home’
Biden says he’s seen no ‘questioning’ of Afghan policy by allies – despite angry scenes in UK parliament
Were American weapons left behind in Afghanistan amid chaotic withdrawal?
Briton and wife beaten at Taliban checkpoint
After being beaten by Taliban guards while trying to get to the British evacuation centre, man in hiding tells Holly Bancroft he is now pleading for help from Foreign Office
Briton and wife beaten at Taliban checkpoint while trying to flee Afghanistan
After being beaten by Taliban guards while trying to get to the British evacuation centre, man in hiding tells Holly Bancroft he is now pleading for help from Foreign Office
Trump supporter who sparked Capitol Hill security charged with use of weapon of mass destruction
A man suspected of threatening to detonate explosives in the nation’s capital on 19 August before an hours-long standoff with US Capitol Police has been charged with threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction, which could carry a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Floyd Ray Roseberry, 51, was also charged with the use or attempted use of an explosive device.
Alex Woodward reports for The Independent.
Floyd Ray Roseberry charged with use of weapon of mass destruction
A man suspected of threatening to detonate explosives in the nation’s capital on 19 August before an hours-long standoff with US Capitol Police has been charged with threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction, which could carry a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Angry scenes in British parliament, but Biden says he’s seen no ‘questioning’ of Afghan policy by allies
President Joe Biden said he has seen no questioning of the United States’ credibility amid the chaos unfolding in Afghanistan despite numerous elected officials throughout Europe voicing objections.
“I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world,” Mr Biden said in a news conference on Friday. “Matter of fact, the exact opposite I’ve gotten.”
But despite Mr Biden’s words, plenty of European politicians have objected.
Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.
Biden says he’s seen no ‘questioning’ of Afghan policy from US allies
President’s approach has been criticised by senior political figures in the UK and Germany
More from on the ground at Kabul’s airport
CNN’s Clarissa Ward tweets: “The fourth bird we were supposed to get on just got pulled. Going to be a long night here, especially for those we are talking to who have been here since yesterday evening. A woman just asked me for a blanket so I gave her my scarf.”
Biden nominates Rahm Emanuel as ambassador to Japan
President Joe Biden will nominate former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve as ambassador to Japan, and R Nicholas Burns to serve as ambassador to China, the White House announced on Friday.
Mr Emanuel was previously White House chief of staff in the Obama administration and served in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009.
The president’s choice of Mr Emanuel for one of the top diplomatic posts is despite strong reservations from liberal Democrats who criticised his time as Chicago mayor. Specifically, how he handled the death of Laquan McDonald, a Black teenager, who was shot by a White police officer
Mr Burns is a professor at Harvard University. He has previously served as ambassador to Nato and to Greece and worked at the State Department as undersecretary of state for political affairs.
US and Germany agree use of Ramstein Air Base for Afghanistan evacuations
The US and Germany have agreed that the US will use Ramstein Air Base in Germany as a transit hub for evacuations from Afghanistan to the US, according to the German Foreign Office.
The flights will also be used to evacuate Germans and others deemed eligible by German authorities.
Texas lieutenant governor blames ‘unvaccinated Black people’ amid Covid spikes
Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick is facing criticism for pointing the finger at Black Americans, who he claimed were more “unvaccinated” than other populations, for a spike in Covid.
One scientist has called him a “lying racist”.
Gino Spocchia reports.
Texas lieutenant governor points to ‘unvaccinated Black people’ amid Covid spikes
Scientists calls Republican a ‘lying racist’ as data shows inaccuracy of claims
AP: US helicopters collecting US and Afghans from outside airport
Officials tell the Associated Press that US helicopters ferried 96 Afghans for evacuation, signaling military flights occurring outside Kabul airport.
Report: Lloyd Austin did not meet with outgoing secretary of defense
Politico reports that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declined to meet with outgoing secretary Chris Miller to discuss the handover.
Mr Miller texted him to congratulate him, offering to meet.
In response, Mr Austin texted Miller “thanks,” but did not follow up about arranging a meeting, Politico reports.
In contrast with Mr Austin, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken held one face-to-face meeting in which Afghanistan was touched upon, according to a person close to Mr Pompeo.
Robert O’Brien, President Trump’s last national security adviser, held more than half a dozen calls or in-person meetings with his successor, Jake Sullivan, two people familiar with the matter told Politico’s Daniel Lippman.
List of countries through which evacuation flights can transit grows
State Department spokesperson Ned Price announced: “Bahrain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the UAE, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan have been or will soon be transiting Americans or in some circumstances, others, through their territories to safety.”
“Albania, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Ukraine, and Uganda have also made generous offers regarding the relocation efforts for at-risk Afghans,” he adds.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments