Good morning,
Afghanistan
How could American troops be left holding a tiny sliver of territory in Afghanistan, surrounded by Taliban and unable to properly protect the Afghan airport from an attack? And yet that’s exactly what happened in a pullout that brought about a total collapse of the Afghan government and its army and left vulnerable Americans and other nations stranded.
The bloody attack by ISIS-K which killed 13 U.S. troops and wounded another 15 was inevitable and even forecast by American intelligence. The double suicide bombing left 72 Afghans dead, who were lined up trying to flee their Country, and likely ushers in a more violent period in Afghanistan, if thats even possible.
Former U.S. President Trump laid the ground work for this impossible situation, engaging the Taliban in direct negotiations, which undermined the Afghan Government and Army NATO Countries spent 20 years trying to build. And President Biden’s determination to withdraw the last American forces there, seemed to go forward with bungled planning and drastically short sighted vision.
Last night Biden said the U.S. will hunt down the terrorists responsible, and vowed to continue the evacuations of Americans despite the obvious threats.
On Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast a new episode discusses how Biden seems to have little empathy for Afghanistan, and why the pullout was so badly handled. I discuss this with guest Peter Baker of the New York Times. And I talk to U.S. Army vets about their time in Afghanistan.
Please listen to Back Story podcast here or wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/9090922
Europe
Headlines in European newspapers focus on the Afghan bombings, and each nation now is rushing to leave Afghanistan fearing another attack is imminent.
France has announced its airlift ends tonight.
All embassies aim for 30 Aug evacuation
All foreign forces in Afghanistan are aiming to evacuate their citizens and embassy employees by 30 Aug, a Nato diplomat told news agency Reuters.
The latest statement comes as the US and its allies earlier said they were hurrying to evacuate as many people as possible before the Aug 31 deadline.
There are still about 1,500 US citizens in Afghanistan
The UK has said 400 people were still in the country
Germany said it estimated 200 citizens remained in Kabul but says its last military flight has departed
It's not clear if any French citizens still remain but France has said they expect to complete their evacuation flights by Friday evening
Covid Surge
The Delta variant is surging as many families prepared to send children and teens back to school for September. Our kids in London have so far received no direction on school reentry for the first week of the month. But as we travel from France to the UK this weekend everyone must be tested before the flight, and another Covid tests 2 days after landing must be booked in advance.
Florida on Thursday reported 21,765 more COVID-19 cases and 901 deaths to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the largest single-day increase to the death total in the state’s COVID pandemic history. Florida Governor Ron Desantis continues to fight mask mandates, in a reckless play for politics over health.
In sharp contrast, I was in Monaco yesterday which has police stationed at entry points mandating masks and vaccinations for adults. And on the street people are fined if they are caught with no masks. In France everywhere we go we must show proof of vaccines or a negative covid test within 3 days.
Trump Lawsuit
Capitol police officers attacked and beaten during the Jan. 6 insurrection have filed a lawsuit naming Donald Trump and his ally Roger Stone, accusing them of intentionally sending an angry mob.
The suit in Federal Court alleges Trump “worked with white supremacists, violent extremist groups, and campaign supporters to violate the Ku Klux Klan Act, and commit acts of domestic terrorism in an unlawful effort to stay in power”.
Hurricane Ida
Hurricane watches were issued for several Gulf Coast states late Thursday as Tropical Storm Ida, which formed in the Caribbean Sea, headed toward the southern U.S. Forecasters are warning it could rapidly strengthen into one of the strongest storms of the Atlantic hurricane season.
That’s a start to a busy Friday, and hope you all have a good weekend.
(News sources are listed below and links provided).
Dana
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/26/tropical-depression-9-could-become-hurricane-ida/5598203001/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/26/donald-trump-capitol-attack-police-officers-lawsuit-far-right-roger-stone
https://www.dw.com/en/afghanistan-final-german-evacuation-flight-leaves-kabul-airport/a-58978041
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/world/asia/kabul-airport-bombing.html
https://www.france24.com/fr/asie-pacifique/20210826-afghanistan-les-%C3%A9vacuations-militaires-fran%C3%A7aises-prendront-fin-vendredi-soir-annonce-jean-castex
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article253766203.html