Harry Winks joins Leicester City from Tottenham
Harry Winks has joined Leicester from Tottenham on a permanent deal.
2023-07-01 20:15
Schooled for success: Munich academy recalls 'extraordinary' Djokovic
Even when Novak Djokovic was a teenager, his coaches were sure that there was "just one objective in his head --...
2023-07-01 20:15
Big Tobacco posts warning signs at 220,000 US stores, wrapping up ongoing lawsuit since 1999
The largest tobacco manufacturers will have to post eye-catching warning signs about cigarette smoking in over 200,000 stores across America beginning Saturday, one of the final major steps in a lawsuit the Justice Department filed against Big Tobacco in 1999.
2023-07-01 20:00
Where is Jamie Farr now? 'M*A*S*H' actor settled down for simple life after collapsing during show rehearsal
'M*A*S*H' actor Jamie Farr gave his wife an engagement ring 13 years after first proposing to her
2023-07-01 19:59
Andrew Tate once took aim at 'crybaby' Eminem over his daughter Hailie Jade's references in songs, trolls say 'he doesn't know you even exist'
Andrew Tate provoked Eminem fans by criticizing the rapper after a fan asked for his opinion on a clip featuring his music
2023-07-01 19:57
Damning report criticises Trump and Biden for ‘dangerous and chaotic’ US withdrawal from Afghanistan
The US State Department released its Afghanistan After Action Review report, detailing the failures of both the Trump and Biden administrations during the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021. The long-awaited report found that the decision by both administrations had detrimental consequences and laid out the shortcomings of a “chaotic and dangerous environment” during the pullout after nearly two decades of war in Afghanistan. “The decisions of both President (Donald) Trump and President (Joe) Biden to end the US military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,” said the unclassified report. “Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the AAR (After Action Review) team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow,” it added. Out of the 85-page After Action Report, the department made only 24 pages public, keeping the remainder classified. The details emerged more than a year following a 90-day long review of the handling of the evacuation operation and include details of what happened in the final days of US presence in Afghanistan and recommendations to prepare for future events. The finding of the reports also highlighted the shortcomings of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, without naming him. It included the state department’s failure in expanding its crisis management task force as the Taliban advanced on Kabul in August 2021 and the lack of a senior diplomat “to oversee all elements of the crisis response”. Referring to the State Department’s top floor where Mr Blinken and other top diplomats have their office, it said: “Naming a 7th floor principal ... would have improved coordination across different lines of effort.” The report stated that senior Biden administration officials had “not made clear decisions” regarding at-risk Afghans. There were no clear instructions about who would be included in the evacuation operation or about where they would be taken. “That added significantly to the challenges the Department and DoD faced during the evacuation,” it said. The State Department’s noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) “was hindered by the fact that it was unclear who in the Department had the lead”, it said. The review also stated the concerns about signalling and maintaining confidence in the Afghan government hindered crisis preparation and planning. This inhibition ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Afghan government in mid-August 2021. The report comes as the Biden administration was criticised for its chaotic pullout of US troops and its officials from Kabul after the takeover of the Taliban, toppling president Ashraf Ghani’s government. The unprecedented scenes showed hundreds of thousands of Afghans and other citizens trying to flee Taliban rule and attempting to enter Kabul airport. Videos showed men clinging onto aircraft as they taxied down runways and others trying to climb the big walls of the airport. During the evacuations, an Islamic State suicide bomber killed 13 US servicemembers and more than 150 Afghans outside an airport gate. According to the report, approximately 125,000 individuals, including nearly 6,000 Americans, were evacuated from Kabul prior to the departure of the last US soldiers from Afghanistan on 20 August. Defending Mr Biden’s handling of evacuations, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the decisions were made to end the war. “He had to make a decision,” she told reporters on Friday. The US had poured “billions of dollars into a war with no end in sight” and that “he wanted to stop that, he wanted to end that,” she said. A Trump spokesperson said: “There’s only one person responsible for the disastrous pullout of Afghanistan — Joe Biden.” The State Department’s critical review was not reflected in the White House report which was released in April. Read More Over 1,000 Afghan civilians killed in violence under Taliban rule, says UN Xi undecided on whether to order military unification with Taiwan by 2027, top US official claims Ukraine Russia – live: CIA director William Burns ‘called Kremlin’ after Wagner mutiny Who are Isis-K? Al-Qaeda ‘could regroup in Afghanistan in two years and threaten US’ Biden overruled Blinken and Austin on Afghanistan pullout, book says
2023-07-01 19:56
Khawaja becomes Australia's quiet driving force
Usman Khawaja has persevered through racism and a career crisis to emerge as the understated driving force behind Australia's bid...
2023-07-01 19:56
Verstappen tops sprint qualifying, Mercedes suffer double blow
World champion and series leader Max Verstappen dominated a damp 'sprint shootout' qualifying for Saturday's sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix as Red Bull...
2023-07-01 19:55
Seoul celebrates pride despite LGBTQ backlash
Tens of thousands of South Koreans brought rainbow pride to the streets of Seoul on Saturday for an annual celebration of LGBTQ rights, while demonstrators against them snagged a prime...
2023-07-01 19:55
What happened to Derrick Burton? Missing boy, 4, matched to human skull found by hunter in 1991
Derrick Burton identity was discovered with the help of DNA sequencing and genealogy
2023-07-01 19:53
Andrew Tate called out for proclaiming man's delight lies in pleasing woman, Internet says 'don't think they smile when you force them'
Andrew Tate said, 'Seeing the huge smile that YOU put on a womans face is one of the most beautiful things in the world'
2023-07-01 19:52
Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed's address leak stream triggers overwhelming response as fans swarm to meet them: 'Security panicking'
Scores of fans converged at the leaked address to meet Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed
2023-07-01 19:52
You Might Like...
Baseball legend Steve Garvey considering US Senate bid in California, energizing beleaguered GOP
Bengals' Burrow had to change his game because of calf injury. Titans D presents another challenge
Tesla to expand Europe's biggest car plant, cell production
Liverpool see late Jarell Quansah goal ruled out and slip to defeat in Toulouse
Hines Ward loves seeing former teammates having great success on Kirby Smart's staff
Morocco earthquake: British tourists describe 'terrifying' moment quake hit
Investors expect ECB rate-hike pause in September after dismal PMIs
Singapore's Aug exports fall 20% y/y, more than forecast
