Sep 14 Watch 9:31 Sen. Barrasso on ‘epic failure’ of Afghanistan exit, ‘reckless’ $3.5T spending bill By PBS NewsHour Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on Capitol Hill Tuesday, appearing again before a congressional oversight panel about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Blinken was peppered by both Democrats and Republicans about the Biden White House strategy and planning. Republican… Continue watching
Sep 14 Watch 5:10 Former Afghan police women being killed, forced into hiding after Taliban takeover By Lindsey Hilsum, Independent Television News Over the past two decades, tens of thousands of Afghans rose to the occasion and took jobs in the public sector to help their country and their livelihoods. Now that the U.S. has pulled out, many feel abandoned. One particular… Continue watching
Sep 14 WATCH: Blinken testifies before Senate committee about Afghanistan withdrawal By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Even lawmakers sympathetic to Biden's decision to end the war expressed concern about the large number of Americans, green card holders and at-risk Afghans left behind in last month's chaotic evacuation from Kabul. Continue reading
Sep 13 Watch 8:21 Afghanistan’s economy, emergency services suffer as U.S. debates Taliban diplomacy By Nick Schifrin It has been four weeks since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. As the militant group cements control in the absence of U.S. military forces — restricting the rights of women and minorities — the lives of millions more afghans… Continue watching
Sep 13 Study says nearly half of defense spending for 9/11 wars went to private contractors By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press In the post-9/11 wars, U.S. corporations contracted by the Defense Department not only handled logistics like running fuel convoys and staffing chow lines but performed mission-crucial work like training and equipping Afghan security forces. Continue reading
Sep 13 WATCH: Blinken testifies on U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday defended the Biden administration’s much-criticized handling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan in a contentious congressional hearing. Continue reading
Sep 12 Watch 5:19 Taliban raises flag, get ready to form government, 20 years after 9/11 By PBS NewsHour As the globe marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban formally raised their flag over the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul, officially marking the beginning of their governance in the conflict-torn nation. Several of their key officials… Continue watching
Sep 12 Qatar sends high-level delegation to Afghanistan By Associated Press Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted Sunday about the high-level delegation, saying it included Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdur Rahman Al-Thani, the deputy prime minister who is also Qatar’s foreign minister. Continue reading
Sep 12 Taliban: Women can study in gender-segregated universities By Kathy Gannon, Associated Press Women in Afghanistan can continue to study in universities, including at post-graduate levels, but classrooms will be gender-segregated and Islamic dress is compulsory, the Taliban government’s new higher education minister said Sunday. Continue reading
Sep 11 As world marks 9/11, Taliban flag raised over seat of power By Kathy Gannon, Associated Press The Taliban raised their iconic white flag over the Afghan presidential palace Saturday, a spokesman said, as the U.S. and the world marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Continue reading