Corporate media fact checks Biden’s Afghanistan speech on multiple fronts
As operations at Kabul airport continue — the safety of the situation on the ground and the reputation of the White House are both in doubt.
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As operations at Kabul airport continue — the safety of the situation on the ground and the reputation of the White House are both in doubt.
ABC, Bloomberg, CBS, CNN, and Politico all had their people out in force to hold the Biden administration to account over the status of the Kabul situation this week.
Joe Biden was nearly an hour late for his scheduled 1 PM remarks about the status of the rescue operation in Afghanistan.
In it he claimed there was “no indication” that Taliban forces were preventing Americans from leaving. But earlier in the day reports pointed to Americans getting beaten by the Taliban throughout the night.
The reaction from the corporate media establishment, unilaterally opposing what President Biden said in his speech, shows the state of affairs in Afghanistan as of tonight.
"Simply not accurate" said Ian Pannell of ABC. He provided video evidence to back that statement up.
“No indication Americans can’t get to the airport” @POTUS
Simply not accurate https://t.co/zxfaehcENr
— Ian Pannell (@IanPannell)
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) had similar condemnation for Biden. "'Contact us' is not a plan" they told CNN in response to Biden’s remarks about the best approach for the people on the ground trying to escape Kabul.
IRAP, which has clients trying to evacuate Afghanistan who are facing harrowing conditions on the ground, on Biden's remarks: "‘Contact us’ is not a plan." pic.twitter.com/QCotpmWvT9
— Priscilla Alvarez (@priscialva)
A CBS journalist had this to add, about Biden urging people to get to the airport. It’s not that easy.
"We spoke with an interpreter today who was refused entry inside the airport despite holding legitimate documents. He tried 3 times & keeps trying."
While thousands of people waiting outside Kabul airport to get inside @POTUS ask more people to get themselves to the airport. We spoke with an interpreter today who was refused entry inside the airport despite holding legitimate documents. He tried 3 times & keeps trying.
— Ahmad Mukhtar (@AhMukhtar)
Within an hour after Biden told the nation that Americans should have an easy time getting to Kabul airport, Politico’s Andrew Desiderio reported the White House saying the opposite.
"Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a briefing call with House lawmakers just now said Americans have been beaten by the Taliban in Kabul, according to multiple people on the call."
NEW: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a briefing call with House lawmakers just now said Americans have been beaten by the Taliban in Kabul, according to multiple people on the call. Austin called it “unacceptable.”
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio)
"I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world," Biden said in his Friday speech. A remark completely oblivious to the very public condemnation of the White House by members of British parliament earlier this week.
This afternoon Bloomberg reported on a British diplomatic memo from June. In it it’s described that President Biden told allies at the G7 conference that he had Kabul under control.
A point of conflict between the US and British on the ground in Kabul is that Major General Christopher Donahue reportedly told the British army to stop rescuing people from the city, it’s making America look bad.
Even as the Biden administration claims that operations are being limited to the Kabul airport, strictly, there’s reporting that suggests the situation has evolved beyond that.
Per an Associated Press reporter: “US helicopters ferried 96 Afghans for evacuation, signaling military flights occurring outside Kabul airport. CIA/DIA/SOF collecting up U.S. and Afghans from outside Kabul Airport for sortie rescue."
I’ve been sitting on this, but can now report: WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials: US helicopters ferried 96 Afghans for evacuation, signaling military flights occurring outside Kabul airport. CIA/DIA/SOF collecting up U.S. and Afghans from outside Kabul Airport for sortie rescue.
— James LaPorta (@JimLaPorta)
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