Grim Afghan news raises risk for Biden of Taliban takeover
By Rebecca Kheel - 08/09/21 05:41 PM EDT
A rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan weeks before the official end of the U.S. military mission is putting pressure on President Biden as he sticks to his plan to pull America out of its longest war.
Over the weekend, the Taliban seized a string of provincial capitals, including the strategically and economically important city of Kunduz.
The fall of several provincial capitals was the latest grim news out of Afghanistan after reports of skyrocketing civilian deaths, targeted killings of senior Afghan officials and other atrocities.
With fears spiking of a total Taliban takeover, opponents of the withdrawal on Monday sharpened their recriminations of Biden and called on him to reverse course.
“President Biden’s legacy will be stained with the bloodshed of innocent Afghan women and children who have been left at the mercy of a merciless terrorist organization,” House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said in a statement. “President Biden cannot hide from this catastrophe. It’s happening on his watch because of his actions. He must change course or be held accountable for his decision.”
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https://thehill.com/policy/defense/567049-grim-afghan-news-raises-risk-for-biden-of-taliban-takeover
