Biden sticks with Afghanistan deadline

With threats of Islamic State attacks looming at the Kabul airport, U.S. President Joe Biden said he would not extend the timeline for the evacuation of Afghanistan. Germany’s top military commander, Gen. Eberhard Zorn, said Tuesday the United States and Germany were particularly concerned about ISIS suicide bombers possibly slipping into crowds in Kabul. The Taliban has said it opposes any extension of the Aug. 31 deadline for the departure of U.S. troops from the country. At home, Biden faces criticism for bowing to Taliban demands. On Monday, CIA Director William Burns went to Kabul to meet with the Taliban’s top political leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, according to news reports.

Is that enough time to get everyone out? Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said the Aug. 31 date leaves enough time to get all Americans out, but he was less specific about completing the evacuation of all at-risk Afghans. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said earlier that no country would have time to complete evacuations by Aug. 31.

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