Biden speech LIVE today – President addressing end of Afghanistan war after Joe slammed for ‘calling black aide boy’

‘INITIAL PLAN’

The initial plan in Afghanistan had been to extinguish Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida, which had used Afghanistan as a staging base for its 9/11 attack on the United States.

The grander ambition was to fight a “Global War on Terrorism” based on the belief that military force could somehow defeat Islamic extremism.

George W Bush chose to make Iraq the next, invading in 2003.

Barack Obama pushed U.S. troop levels to 100,000, but the war dragged on though bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in 2011.

Donald Trump had wanted to withdraw but was persuaded not only to stay but to add several thousand U.S. troops and escalate attacks on the Taliban.

His administration later signed an agreement that called for a complete U.S. withdrawal by May 2021. In exchange, the Taliban made a number of promises including a pledge not to attack U.S. troops.

BIDEN WILL ADDRESS PUBLIC TODAY

Biden is going to address the nation today at 1:30pm to speak about evacuating troops from Afghanistan.

ON AFGHANISTAN

Biden released a statement following the evacuation on Monday.

LAST SOLDIER TO LEAVE

US Army Major General Chris Donahue, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, was pictured on a night-vision camera boarding a transport plane just before midnight on Monday.

The XVIII Airborne Corps called him the last soldier to leave Kabul following 20-year war that claimed more than 2,400 American lives.

The Taliban celebrated the withdrawal by firing weapons and fireworks into the skies and marched into Kabul’s international airport on Tuesday.

‘ABANDONING AMERICANS’

House Republicans tweeted on Monday: “Today, @POTUS abandoned hundreds of Americans behind enemy lines. Let that sink in.”

Republican congressman Jody Hice said “if Biden refuses to resign, he should be impeached.”

And Rep. Debbie Lesko also called for his resignation.

Following news that service dogs were also left behind American Humane president and CEO Robin Ganzert said he was “devastated”.

He added: “These brave dogs do the same dangerous, lifesaving work as our military working dogs, and deserved a far better fate than the one to which they have been condemned.”

AMERICANS LEFT BEHIND

Gen. Frank McKenzie had said the last planes took off from Kabul airport at 3:29 p.m. Washington time, or one minute before midnight in Kabul.

He acknowledged that some Americans – likely between 100 and 200 – were still in Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would work with Afghanistan’s neighbors to secure their departure either overland or by charter flight once the Kabul airport re-opens.

But the speed with which the Taliban captured Kabul caught the Biden administration by surprise and the president faces condemnation at home and abroad for his handling of an evacuation that unfolded in chaos.

CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT

And that news sparked fierce rebuke from a number of lawmakers who called on the president to resign or face impeachment.

Republican senator Lindsey Graham said his former friend had
“ignored sound advice” and has “been this way for 40 years..”

He said Biden had committed a “dereliction of duty” in leaving “hundreds of Americans behind enemy lines.”

Graham also said the move “abandoned” the “thousands of Afghans who fought honourably along our side.”

COMING TO AN END

America’s longest war came to an end late on Monday amid calls to impeach Joe Biden after a number of US citizens were left behind.

Officials had been forced to admit some Americans were still in the country after the last plane left just before midnight local time.

SPEEDING UP EVACUATION

On August 26, 2021, it was revealed by Biden that a group called Isis-K are the reason for speeding up evacuation.

Following America’s decision to pull troops out, Isis-K and the Taliban have been fighting for control of the country.

The group is allegedly responsible for a hundred attacks on civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan between 2015 and 2017 according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies [CSIS].

Isis-K is known as an enemy of the Taliban and Biden is looking to get troops home safely while preventing any more casualties.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN SIV?

Applicants must meet all required criteria in order to be approved.

The U.S. Department of states reports that those requirements include:

• Being a a national of Afghanistan
• Being employed in Afghanistan for a period of at least one year between October 7, 2001, and December 31, 2023 by, or on behalf of, the U.S. government; or by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), or a successor mission in a capacity that required you (1) to serve as an interpreter or translator for U.S. military personnel while traveling off-base with U.S. military personnel stationed at ISAF, or a successor mission, or (2) to perform activities for U.S. military personnel stationed at ISAF
• Must have provided faithful and valuable service to the U.S. government, or ISAF
•  Must have experienced or be experiencing an ongoing serious threat as a consequence of such employment

Those who wish to apply have until  December 31, 2023.

WHAT IS SIV IN AFGHANISTAN?

Enacted on July 30, as part of the 2009 Afghan Allies Protection Act, the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations has authorized 8,000 additional SIVs for Afghan principal applicants.

According to the U.S. Department of State, SIV’s “authorizes the issuance of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to Afghan nationals who meet certain requirements.”

Those requirements include those who were employed in Afghanistan:

• by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan
• by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), or a successor mission, in a capacity that required the applicant to serve as an interpreter or translator for U.S. military personnel while traveling off-base with U.S. military personnel stationed at ISAF or to perform activities for the U.S. military personnel stationed at ISAF.

The 2021 enactment also “amended the eligibility requirements for the program, including by reducing the minimum time in service requirement from two years to one year.”

TURNING HIS BACK

Earlier this week, on August 23, Biden had once again ignored questions about the Afghanistan crisis after his aide claimed he “never shies away” from reporters.

The president was seen turning his back on a room full of journalists as he ended a Covid-19 press conference on August 23.

As Biden left, reporters could be heard yelling at him about the devastating crisis underway in the Middle East.

SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER

Following the events, Biden cleared his schedule and, according to the White House, will address the public at 5pm EST.

Biden was scheduled to meet with the Israeli prime minister on August 26, but rescheduled in light of the attacks.

TWO EXPLOSIONS

On August 26, two explosions occurred outside the Kabul airport at the Abbey Gate and the Barons Hotel.

So far, at least 60 have been confirmed dead, including 12 US army personnel.