Last American Military Plane Leaves Afghanistan, Ending 20-year War: General

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Logo

The United States officially ended its military presence with the final U.S. military flight out of Kabul, concluding 20 years of American involvement in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Gen. Frank McKenzie said during a televised address that the last C-17 military plane cleared Afghan airspace after lifting off at around 3:29 p.m. ET Monday. That came hours before President Joe Biden’s Tuesday deadline for shutting down the final airlift.

“I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan and the end of the military mission to evacuation American citizens, third-country nationals, and vulnerable Afghans,” he said on Monday afternoon.

There are still Americans who remain in Afghanistan “in the low hundreds,” said McKenzie in a response to a reporter’s question, adding that the military and State Department will work to evacuate those individuals. A Pentagon spokesman earlier on Monday said that around 600 still remain in the country.

“We didn’t get out everyone that we wanted to get out,” the general said, adding that it is a “tough situation.”

The U.S. pullout from Afghanistan ended with a rushed evacuation that extracted more than 100,000 people since Aug. 14 as the Taliban took over Kabul following a blistering military offensive that lasted only a few days. Last week, ISIS terrorists carried out a bombing at the Kabul airport, killing scores of Afghan civilians and 13 American soldiers.

Biden now faces condemnation at home and abroad, not so much for ending the war as for his handling of a final evacuation that unfolded in chaos and raised doubts about U.S. credibility. Biden has repeatedly defended his administration’s handling of the evacuation, although he and other administration officials provided conflicting details about the situation on the ground in Kabul.

There were also questions raised about the intelligence reports used by the Pentagon and top military leaders regarding the speed at which the Taliban took over the country and the fall of the U.S.-backed Afghan government and army. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and other generals said they received no intelligence suggesting the country’s government would collapse in just 11 days to the Taliban, designated by some federal agencies as a terrorist group.

Meanwhile, the administration received blowback over the billions of dollars in American weapons, vehicles, aircraft, and other equipment that were seized by the Taliban.

The final U.S. exit included the withdrawal of its diplomats, although the State Department has left open the possibility of resuming some level of diplomacy with the Taliban depending on how they conduct themselves in establishing a government and adhering to international pleas for the protection of human rights.

Previously, the Trump administration negotiated with the Taliban over the course of months, setting a withdrawal date for May 1. Biden pushed back the withdrawal date to coincide with the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

A new threat posed by the Afghan pullout and Taliban takeover is the ISIS terrorist group. When the Taliban took over, its members released numerous ISIS members from prisons across the country.

McKenzie made note of the threat posed by ISIS, saying the Taliban—an enemy of ISIS—will now have to deal with the group.

By Jack Phillips

Read Original Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

America is facing what could be described as “disorganized troubles,” born of a feeling of powerlessness.

The US is seeing a pattern of consistent, politically motivated lone-wolf attacks, evident in events like the murder of Charlie Kirk on a campus in Utah.

A Bullet Is No Argument

Charlie Kirk’s sharp intellect and joyful debate style dismantled challengers’ arguments, making him a target for those opposed to truth and goodness.

24 Years Later and NEW 9/11 Information is Still Coming Out

New info from journalist Catherine Herridge reveals the 9/11 plot traces back to 1998, following the first failed terrorist mission in 1993.

The Reported Russian Drone Incursions Into Poland Might Have Been Due To NATO Jamming

Poland says it shot down Russian drones entering its airspace amid NATO drills, sparking debate over provocation, botched recon, or NATO jamming.

Charlie Kirk Assassin Spotted Before Shooting!

Charlie Kirk incident mirrors Trump attempt: shooter spotted on rooftop beforehand, echoing July attack’s circumstances.

FBI Releases Images of ‘Person of Interest’ in Charlie Kirk Assassination

Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot during an event in Utah on Sept. 10, and he has died.

Chris Pratt, Jason Aldean Among Celebrities Paying Tribute to Charlie Kirk

Actor Chris Pratt and singer Jason Aldean join many celebrities posting online tributes mourning the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Police Respond to Bomb Threat at DNC Headquarters

Law enforcement officers rushed to the DNC headquarters after learning of a potential bomb threat, a U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson said in an email.

Conservative Influencers Mourn the Loss of Charlie Kirk

One day after the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, tributes and condolences are pouring in from his colleagues on social media.

Trump Signs Memo Targeting Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising

President Trump signed a memo to ensure drug ads give fair, balanced, and complete information to protect and inform American consumers.

Trump Runs out of Patience With China, Sharpens His Words

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks targeting China and its allies mark a noticeable shift in tone.

Trump Signs Order Renaming Department of Defense as Department of War

President Donald Trump on Sept. 5 signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Countries That Unlawfully Detain Americans

President Trump signed an EO on targeting the unlawful detention of American citizens around the world and to facilitate the release of hostages.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central