Trump’s White House Ballroom Project Draws Criticism Amid Rising Gas Prices 
World Bank Emergency Funding Demand Surges as 27 Countries Seek Crisis Support Amid Iran Conflict 
U.S.-Iran Talks Advance as Trump Signals Tough Stance on Hormuz and Nuclear Deal 
Trump-Taiwan Call Could Reshape U.S.-China Relations, Says Taiwan Foreign Minister 
China Coal Mine Explosion Death Toll Revised to 82 in Shanxi 
Turkey Opposition Crisis Deepens as Police Storm CHP Headquarters 
Japan Plans $19 Billion Extra Budget as Bond Market Faces Pressure 
U.S. Military Drill Over Caracas Raises Tensions in Venezuela 
White House Shooting Reports Prompt Major Security Response in Washington, D.C. 
Xi Jinping Orders Full Rescue After Shanxi Coal Mine Gas Explosion Kills Eight 
Mexico-EU Free Trade Deal Signals Strategic Shift Away From U.S. Dependence 
Rubio Says NATO Must Benefit All Members Ahead of Sweden Meeting 
Wang Yi to Lead UN Security Council Meeting and Visit Canada Amid Improving China-Canada Relations 
US-Iran Framework Deal Raises Hopes for Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
Rubio, Jaishankar Discuss Iran Crisis, Trade, and Energy Security During Key U.S.-India Talks 
First Trump, now Putin – all roads lead to Xi Jinping 
Trump Sends 5,000 Additional U.S. Troops to Poland Ahead of NATO Talks on Iran War 
The US is looking into the details that played a part in what was an initially chaotic evacuation of US military personnel, Afghans, and allies from Afghanistan as the Taliban took control. In the midst of the hearing for Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu called out the role disgraced former President Donald Trump played in the withdrawal efforts.
Rep. Lieu, who is an air force colonel that serves in the reserves, reminded his Republican colleagues of the role the former president played in making the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan much worse than it seemed. During the hearing, Lieu cited the document from Trump and Blinken’s predecessor Mike Pompeo dated Feb 29, 2020, that committed the withdrawal by the US from Afghanistan.
The California Congressman noted that the first page of the document stated the US’s commitment to removing all military personnel including non-diplomatic civilian personnel, “private security, contractors, advisers, and supporting services within 14 months following announcement of this agreement. That is a very specific timeline,” said Lieu in which Blinken agreed. Lieu also specified the details in the agreement, including withdrawing troops from five military bases, which Blinken also confirmed.
“When you read this document, let’s be clear, this is a surrender document. Donald Trump surrendered to the Taliban. He said, we are leaving Afghanistan, we are not coming back, and we will not fight you anymore. Now, our Republican colleagues want to say it is conditions-based. Did you notice earlier that they didn’t want you to talk about the conditions? Because the main condition is that the Taliban was going to stop attacking US forces,” added Lieu, who cited the number of soldiers that died in Afghanistan during Trump’s one-term presidency.
Lieu went on to note that the insurgent group did not attack the US soldiers because of the said agreement, and added that had the Biden administration walked back on the agreement and chose to remain in Afghanistan, the insurgent group would attack US troops again.
Previously, the Taliban announced last week the names of officials who will take key positions in the new government of the war-torn country. The insurgent group announced that UN-sanctioned member Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund as the leader of the new government. Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar would be serving as Akhund’s deputy.
