White House Announces Final Decision on Extending Afghanistan Deadline After Taliban Threat
President Joe Biden has decided he will not extend the Aug. 31 deadline to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies from Afghanistan.
“Pentagon says number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will go to ‘zero’ at Aug. 31 deadline. Unclear who will protect last Americans leaving,” Fox News Pentagon correspondent Lucas Tomlinson tweeted.
“‘There’s no question,’ Taliban will help complete evacuation, Kirby says. Months ago, plan was to keep 650 U.S. troops at U.S. Embassy Kabul,” he added.
Pentagon says number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will go to ‘zero’ at Aug. 31 deadline. Unclear who will protect last Americans leaving. ‘There’s no question,’ Taliban will help complete evacuation, Kirby says. Months ago, plan was to keep 650 U.S. troops at U.S. Embassy Kabul.
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 24, 2021
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted the Biden administration following the meeting.
“Just left a classified briefing on the Afghanistan crisis, and here’s what I can tell you: The Biden admin does not have an accurate count of Americans stranded in the country—or a plan to get them out,” McCarthy tweeted.
Just left a classified briefing on the Afghanistan crisis, and here’s what I can tell you: The Biden admin does not have an accurate count of Americans stranded in the country—or a plan to get them out.
News conference with U.S. Afghan vets starts soon: https://t.co/Pk4jPUtJIS
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) August 24, 2021
Missouri Republican Rep. Vicky Hartzler called the decision “disgraceful.”
“Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal stranded Americans in Afghanistan,” Hartzler tweeted.
“After August 31, he’ll officially abandon them.
“Disgraceful,” she added.
Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal stranded Americans in Afghanistan.
After August 31, he’ll officially abandon them.
Disgraceful. https://t.co/ULKLDuWNlj
— Rep. Vicky Hartzler (@RepHartzler) August 24, 2021
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called the decision “completely unacceptable.”
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris never had a plan to get all Americans out, and they need to formulate one immediately,” Cruz added. “Leaving behind Americans is NOT an option.”
Completely unacceptable.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris never had a plan to get all Americans out, and they need to formulate one immediately.
Leaving behind Americans is NOT an option. https://t.co/pOri67TlvT
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 24, 2021
Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn also criticized Biden’s decision.
Biden has empowered the Taliban.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) August 24, 2021
“Biden has empowered the Taliban,” she tweeted after the announcement the president would not extend the date to evacuate Americans.
The Taliban on Monday warned of what would happen if the deadline was extended.
“It’s a red line. President Biden announced that on Aug. 31 they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it, that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News.
“If the U.S. or U.K. were to seek additional time to continue evacuations — the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.”
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