Informational Materials

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08/17/21 Tuesday

Biden Admitted US War in Afghanistan Isn’t Really Ending - It’s Becoming a Somalia-Like Drone War by Morgan Artvukhina

Pakistani President Imran Khan bluntly rebuffed requests by the CIA to use his country for future operations across the Afghan border after the US withdrawal, leaving the US with few options for basing combat drones or other air assets after its bases in Afghanistan were handed over. The US plans to continue military operations in Afghanistan after the final withdrawal on August 31,2021, US President Joe Biden said in his speech on Monday following the surrender of Kabul to the Taliban over the weekend. In a Monday televised speech in which he defended his adherence to the withdrawal negotiated with the Taliban by his predecessor, Donald Trump, Biden said he’d always believed the US mission “should be narrowly focused on counterterrorism, not counterinsurgency or nation-building,” and that the US wasn’t giving up on that mission in pulling its roughly 12,000 troops out of Afghanistan. “Today a terrorist threat has metastasized well beyond Afghanistan: al-Shabaab in Somalia, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQQP), al-Nusra in Syria, ISIS [Daesh] attempting to create a caliphate in Syria and Iraq and establishing affiliates in multiple countries in Africa and Asia,” Biden said. “These threats warrant our attention and our resources. We conduct effective counterterrorism missions against terrorist groups in multiple countries where we don’t have permanent military presence. If necessary, we’ll do the same in Afghanistan,” he added. “We’ve developed counterterrorism over-the-horizon capability that will allow us to keep our eyes firmly fixed on the direct threats to the United States in the region, and act quickly and decisively if needed.” The war in Afghanistan rested on the same legal basis as the rest of the US War on Terror: the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed by Congress on September 18, 2001, a week after the terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda that destroyed the World Trade Center skyscrapers in New York and damaged the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing roughly 3,000 Americans. The US invasion of Afghanistan followed just weeks later, and while the Taliban government that had harbored al-Qaeda was quickly overthrown, it regrouped in the countryside and launched a new insurgency the following year, which on Sunday finally succeeded after 18 years in seizing Kabul and dispersing the US-backed Afghan government. Drone War on Terror The 2001 AUMF gave the Pentagon authorization under US law to strike targets in countries other than Afghanistan, as well, if they were operated by al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda affiliates, without a more formal declaration of hostilities, but also without the permission of the host nation. The first of these was a drone strike on Marib, Yemen, in November 2002, which the Pentagon

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claimed killed six suspected members of AQAP, one of whom was a US citizen. The program expanded to include airstrikes in Pakistan and Somalia, as well. However, for years the program operated without a clear set of rules, based largely on the authorization of the US president. In 2011, civil rights advocates were infuriated by another drone strike outside Marib that killed two American citizens who had joined al-Qaeda, and the following year it was revealed that then-US President Barack Obama maintained a physical “kill list” that included at least three other US citizens. In 2013, Obama introduced a codified set of procedures “for approving direct action against terrorist targets located outside the United States and areas of active hostilities.” The document importantly stated that, “absent extraordinary circumstances,” a strike could only be authorized “when there is near certainty that the individual being targeted is in fact the lawful target and located at the place where the action will occur” and only if “there is near certainty that the action can be taken without injuring or killing non-combatant.” However, after Trump became president in 2017, these rules were revised to give commanders in the field extensive leeway, although ostensibly still maintaining the requirement of “near certainty that noncombatants will not be injured or killed.” As a consequence, the use of drone strikes soared under Trump, with 197 airstrikes in Somalia and 190 airstrikes in Yemen during Trump’s four-year tenure - more than in both Obama and George W. Bush’s administrations combined. In Afghanistan airstrikes continued as well, with an average of two Afghan civilians being killed by US airstrikes every day, for a total of more than 700 civilians killed in 2019. Biden Reviews Protocols The new directions were suspended after Biden took office in 2021 and a review of the Trump-era actions was undertaken in March. According to a New York Times report in May, officials had found that exceptions were regularly made to the “near-certainty” requirement and that “noncombatants” was typically used as a euphemism for “women and children,” leaving all men and boys of a certain age to be classified as combatants at will. Indeed, that’s what National Security Agency analyst Daniel Hale reported when he blew the whistle about the US drone program in Afghanistan, for which he was sentenced last month to more than three-and-a-half years in prison. “If you can say we’re not gonna have any civilian casualties, then the senior leader, a senior general officer, can say ‘OK, take the shot,”’ Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc, who commanded US special operations forces in Africa from April 2015 to June 2017, told the Daily Beast in 2018. “The only assessment we have is we continue to fly over the objective post-strike to get a sense of the environment from the air.” Bolduc noted that the standing policy was not to investigate civilian casualties until concerns were raised by journalists, other governments, or nongovernmental organizations. Unfortunately for US Africa Command, one such NGO, Amnesty International, did just that in 2020. Amnesty compelled the Pentagon to admit to killing civilians in Somalia during a period it had previously claimed there were no civilian deaths. After that, AFRICOM agreed to publish quarterly reviews of potential civilian casualties and deaths. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN that the US “could recognize” the Taliban government if it respects human rights and doesn’t harbor terrorists. However, if the Talbian doesn’t do those things, sanctions will remain in place and international aid would dry

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up. Thus, the stage is set for a continuation of the Afghanistan war in a different, yet familiar form.

‘Pick-Up Game’: After Afghanistan Failure, US Watchdog Doubts Possibility of Nation-Building Success by Morgan Artvukhina

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed on Tuesday that a “fair amount” of US equipment supplied to Afghan security forces has fallen into the hands of the Taliban as they quickly surrendered over the last week, including helicopters, MRAPs, and ScanEagle drones. A day after the Taliban overthrew the US-backed Afghan government, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has issued a major report summing up the failures of 20 years of nation-building in the Central Asian country. Titled “What We Need to Learn: Lessons from Twenty Years of Afghanistan Reconstruction,” the report is the 11th in the watchdog’s “Lessons Learned” series, a group of frank summaries of various aspects of the reconstruction effort, based heavily on documents and interviews with experts. However, this report is more reflective than the rest, coming just weeks before the US occupation of Afghanistan was slated to end, after nearly all US military forces had been transferred out of the country and after the Afghan government crumbled before a nine-day blitzkrieg that has returned to power the Taliban, whose government the US overthrew in the 2001 invasion that started the war. Confused Goals "Twenty years later, much has improved, and much has not," SIGAR chief John Sopko writes in the report. "If the goal was to rebuild and leave behind a country that can sustain itself and pose little threat to US national security interests, the overall picture is bleak." Indeed, that’s what US President Joe Biden claimed in a speech the same day the SIGAR report was released. “Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building," Biden said in a televised speech from the White House on Monday. "It was never supposed to be creating a unified, centralized democracy. Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been: preventing a terrorist attack on [the] American homeland.” During the 20-year-long war, 2,443 American troops were killed alongside 3,846 security contractors in the country, many of whom were mercenaries hired to buttress the US occupation force. The US also spent $2.26 trillion on the war, $143 billion of which went toward reconstruction efforts. However, on the Afghan side the costs were much steeper. More than 5 million Afghans have been displaced either internally or externally, and 241,000 have been killed in combat operations, with the US and Taliban often trading off who had killed more civilians in a given

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year. In addition, as many as 360,000 people have died as a result of indirect causes of the war, such as shortages of food, medicine, adequate drinking water, or the additional stressors created by living in a warzone or becoming refugees. "The extraordinary costs were meant to serve a purpose - though the definition of that purpose evolved over time," SIGAR said, noting that at various times, the mission included defeating al-Qaeda, destroying its bases and training camps and capturing leader Osama bin Laden; crippling the Taliban; denying other terrorist groups, such as Daesh, the opportunity to set up a base in Afghanistan; and helping to set up and support a new Afghan government, which was built largely on the American model, albeit with far greater authority for the executive branch. ‘20 One-Year Reconstruction Efforts’ "After conducting more than 760 interviews and reviewing thousands of government documents, our lessons learned analysis has revealed a troubled reconstruction effort that has yielded some success, but has also been marked by too many failures,” SIGAR said. Some of those failures included struggling to develop and implement a coherent strategy for what the US hoped to achieve and to draw up a realistic timeline for doing so. “The US reconstruction effort in Afghanistan could be described as 20 one-year reconstruction efforts, rather than one 20-year effort,” Sopko wrote. “US officials often underestimated the time and resources needed to rebuild Afghanistan, leading to short-term solutions like the surge of troops, money, and resources from 2009-2011. US officials also prioritized their own political preferences for what they wanted reconstruction to look like, rather than what they could realistically achieve, given the constraints and conditions on the ground,” he said. Sopko said that “US officials created explicit timelines” that painted over the huge political, social and military complexities of the country, “creating perverse incentives to spend quickly and focus on short-term, unsustainable goals that could not create the conditions to allow a victorious US withdrawal.” "Rather than reform and improve, Afghan institutions and power brokers found ways to co-opt the funds for their own purposes, which only worsened the problems these programs were meant to address. When US officials eventually recognized this dynamic, they simply found new ways to ignore conditions on the ground. Troops and resources continued to draw down in full view of the Afghan government’s inability to address instability or prevent it from worsening,” he said. The SIGAR report also said the US treated reconstruction like it was a drop-off item like humanitarian aid, rather than sustainable institutions that must serve the country and its inhabitants indefinitely. “Billions of reconstruction dollars were wasted as projects went unused or fell into disrepair. Demands to make fast progress incentivized US officials to identify and implement short-term projects with little consideration for host government capacity and long-term sustainability,” the report notes. “US agencies were seldom judged by their projects’ continued utility, but by the number of projects completed and dollars spent.”

One of SIGAR’s main criticisms is that in drawing up reconstruction plans, US officials fundamentally failed to understand the country they were to occur in and the people for whom institutions were being built.

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“The absence of violence was a critical precondition for everything US officials tried to do in Afghanistan - yet the US effort to rebuild the country took place while it was being torn apart,” Sopko noted. This frustrated everything from setting up elections in contested districts to attracting businesses and even simply convincing people, whether they were simply locals or former fighters looking to be reintegrated, that the Afghan government was legitimate and could keep them safe from Taliban attacks. The report also notes the US “clumsily forced Western technocratic models onto Afghan economic institutions; trained security forces in advanced weapon systems they could not understand, much less maintain; imposed formal rule of law on a country that addressed 80 to 90 percent of its disputes through informal means; and often struggled to understand or mitigate the cultural and social barriers to supporting women and girls.” As a result, US officials often got played by the “power-brokers” they were depending on to help advance their agenda and even helped to arm and enrich enemy militias, including the Taliban. ‘Next-War-ltis’ The report concludes not by hoping to give advice on how to better reconstruct the next country the US invades, but by calling into question whether such a mission is even possible to accomplish. “We just don’t have a post-conflict stabilization model that works,” Stephen Hadley, who served as US national security adviser from 2005 to 2009, told SIGAR. “Every time we have one of these things, it is a pick-up game. I don’t have confidence that if we did it again, we would do any better.” The report also quotes Robert Gates, who headed the Pentagon from 2006 until 2011: “I have noticed too much of a tendency towards what might be called ‘Next-War-itis,’ the propensity of much of the defense establishment to be in favor of what might be needed in a future conflict... Overall, the kinds of capabilities we will most likely need in the years ahead will often resemble the kinds of capabilities we need today.” However, noting that both the Pentagon and the US Agency for International Development do see such conflicts as likely in the future, SIGAR says it’s still vitally important for US officials to draw the necessary lessons from the Afghan reconstruction effort and implement real changes of approach if they don’t want to repeat the same mistakes of the last 20 years.

Western Investors Salivate at Future IMF Deal After Businessman Hichilema Wins Zambia Elections by Morgan Artvukhina

Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, who died in June, was an avid believer in African socialism and used the independent Zambian state to help the nation recover from nearly 80 years of British colonial rule. However, many of his policies were reversed by neoliberal economic reforms after he was overthrown in 1991.

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Zambian opposition politician Hakainde Hichilema won an upset victory in Monday’s presidential elections, defeating incumbent President Edgar Lungu by almost 1 million votes out of about 5 million cast. Hichilema is one of the country’s richest men and is likely to steer the country on a course closer to the West, with investors already making plans for after the country’s expected International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. In the Monday vote, 59-year-old Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) won 60% of the vote, or 2.8 million ballots, triumphing over 64-year-old Lungu’s 1.8 million votes. Because of the wide margin, there was no need for a runoff election, and while Lungu initially claimed there had been irregularities in the election, he soon conceded defeat and said he would “comply with the constitutional provisions for a peaceful transfer of power.” Speaking later on Monday, Hichilema told Zambians, "it is in no doubt what the instruction is to all of us [that you] ... elect us to office at a very difficult time.” According to Al Jazeera. Hichilema benefited from a large “protest vote” over Lungu’s perceived poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn the pandemic has brought. At 70%, turnout was its highest since multiparty elections began in 1991. Hichilema, who has run for president six times, is one of Zambia’s richest men. According to a profile of him by Deutsche Welle on Monday, he obtained advanced degrees in economics and business administration from the University of Zambia and the United Kingdom’s University of Birmingham before becoming head of the Zambian operations of accounting firm Coopers and Lybrand, which later became part of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton. He owns one of Zambia’s biggest cattle herds and has used his wealth to bankroll the UPND, which he founded in 2006. Copper and Debt Zambia, according to the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, “is a rich country with a poor population.” With a poverty rate of between 40 and 60%, the country also holds enormous mineral wealth, making it the second-largest copper producer in Africa after the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, much of that wealth flows out of the country. According to data collected by the Observatory of Economic Complexity, in 2019, 53.4% of Zambia’s exports were raw copper and another 19% were refined copper, and 28.7% of its exports went to Switzerland, while another 15.9% went to China. However, Lungu’s government made a major move toward control over its own resources earlier this year when Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines, the state-owned mining firm, acguired a 90% stake in the Mopani Copper Mines for $1.5 billion from Glencore, an Anglo-Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining company that owns mineral extraction facilities across Africa. In addition, the country is heavily indebted, including $2.2 billion owed to China, $3 billion in Eurobonds, $3.5 billion in bilateral debt, $2.1 billion to multilaterals and $2.9 billion to commercial lenders. Despite being a minority of its debt, Lusaka’s debt to China has been extensively attacked by the Western press as proof of Beijing’s “neocolonialism” in Africa and even called “debt slavery.” In fact, Zambia owes more to the European Union than to China. In November 2020, Zambia became the first African nation to default in the COVID-19 pandemic, bailing on payments on a $1 billion Eurobond. As a result, Lungu’s government

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began talks with the IMF for a bailout, but his government’s refusal to accept the kind of stiff austerity measures the IMF demands of its borrowers has so far kept the deal off the table. Looming IMF Deal However, with the victory of a Western-oriented businessman, investors are salivating at the possibility of such a deal in the near future. “Post-inauguration, an IMF program is on the cards for Zambia,” Gregory Smith, emerging markets strategist at M&G Investments in London, told Bloomberg on Tuesday. “Once an economic plan is in place the IMF negotiations can finally step up a gear. An IMF program is feasible ahead of the April 2022 meetings.” Aleix Montana, Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, told the outlet that “Hichilema’s first priority as president will be to implement economic reforms and to work towards an agreement with the IMF for financial assistance, which has become more likely following his victory.” “An IMF bailout would facilitate the restructuring of Zambia’s debt and increase the likelihood of it being accepted in other debt assistance programs. Zambia’s commitment to reforming its public finances will be judged on the outcome of the negotiations with the IMF,” Montana added. “Given his history in the private sector, we expect that a Hichilema presidency will implement more business-friendly policies, as opposed to Mr. Lungu, who has a track record of intimidating foreign mining companies,” Zaynab Mohamed, an analyst at South Africa-based NKC African Economics, told the Wall Street Journal after Hichilema’s victory. Zambian analyst Neo Simutanyi told DW that Hichilema “will be in a better position to negotiate terms with international creditors and investors in mining operations and the economy,” adding that "until now, there has been a lack of confidence in the economy." At an IMF press briefing in May, communications director Gerry Rice noted that talks on an extended credit facility had yielded “broad agreement on the macroeconomic framework” and they had made “notable progress” in outlining the “key policy measures to address the imbalances currently facing Zambia and to enable a return to sustained growth with - and this is important for us, enhanced fiscal space for social and development spending.” In other words, the Brussels-based lender has prepared the ground for Lusaka to accept austerity measures and limit its control over banking and investment as its economic situation worsens.

‘Fair Amount’ of US Defense Equipment Has ‘Fallen’ Into Hands of Taliban, White House Adviser Admits by Gaby Arancibia

Following the announcement that the US would be withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Taliban made several advances within the war-torn nation, eventually going on to take control of the country's capital over a matter of days. The development came just months after US intel suggested it could take years before the group would be able to do so.

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A trove of US defense equipment that was given to Afghan security forces has indeed been confiscated by the Taliban, a White House national security adviser has confirmed. Jake Sullivan, who serves as a national security adviser to the Biden White House, confirmed during a Tuesday briefing that Taliban forces had managed to get their hands on "a fair amount" of US military equipment that was left behind by Afghan security forces since the militant group managed to gain control of Afghanistan. "We don’t have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defense materials has gone, but certainly a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban," Sullivan told reporters. "Obviously, we don't have a sense that they are going to readily hand it over to us at the airport." Sullivan's remarks came as the official offered the American public the latest update on the developing situation in Afghanistan. Moments prior, Sullivan had refused to comment on the status of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, saying that "at this point [Ghani] is no longer a factor" after the leader abandoned his post and fled the country amid the Taliban's arrival to the capital. Other topics Sullivan weighed in on included the ties between the Taliban and the Daesh terrorist group, which he stressed are not likely to develop any kind of "symbiotic relationship" on account of the pair having a "fairly well-documented" history of fighting one another in the past. "I do not foresee a symbiotic relationship there, though these are dynamic scenarios, so we will have to see how it plays [out]," he told reporters. The briefing had also seen the adviser sidestep questions on whether US troops would remain past the August 31 deadline to ensure that all American civilians and visa-carrying Afghan nationals would be airlifted from Hamid Karzai International Airport. "I'm not going to comment on hypothetical," he stated. The latest White House acknowledgement came after reports detailed that the Taliban had managed to confiscate an "enormous" load of American military hardware that included Humvees and even Black Hawk choppers. Since the US invasion of Afghanistan, the American government pumped hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild the war-torn nation.

‘Everything Else is Just Talk’: Cristiano Ronaldo Squashes ‘Frivolous’ Transfer Rumors by Gaby Arancibia

A bevy of reports recently began to surface online detailing claims that famed footballer Cristiano Ronaldo would be parting ways with Italy’s Juventus and potentially switch back to either the English or Spanish leagues. Fed up with the allegations, the champion forward has opted to set the record straight. International football sensation Cristiano Ronaldo came forward on Tuesday to clear the air and blast the incessant reports that have alleged he may be ditching the Juventus Football Club after not having as much success with the team as of late.

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Ronaldo took to Instagram to address the transfer rumors, writing in a post that “the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.” “Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of everything that’s been said and written recently, I have to set out my position,” he wrote as part of a caption to a photo that shows him urging the public to remain silent. “My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines,” he continued. “It’s in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club.” “And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for ‘merengue aficion’, an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.” And then just like that, the famed Portuguese star brought down the hammer and laid into his critics and folks giving more to the rumor mills. “As well as this most recent episode in Spain, there have been frequent news and stories associating me with a number of clubs in many different Leagues, with nobody ever being concerned about trying to find out the actual truth,” he stated. “I’m breaking my silence now to say that I can’t allow people to keep playing around with my name. I remain focused on my career and in my work, committed and prepared for all the challenges that I have to face. Everything else? Everything else is just talk.” The post, which has garnered a multitude of comments and over 2.8 million likes at the time of publishing, comes after various reports have detailed that Ronaldo could soon transfer back to Real Madrid or hitch a ride over to Manchester City. With a hectic transfer season that saw Lionel Messi jump ship for France’s Paris Saint-Germain and the UK’s Jack Grealish in favor of Manchester City, the 36-year-old player was inevitably bound to be tossed into the line-up of footballers eying a new club, especially considering Ronaldo’s Juventus contract expires in mid-2022. Rumors of Ronaldo’s potential return to Los Merengues were put to bed earlier Tuesday by team manager Carlo Ancelotti, who acknowledged that while the player was a “legend” for the club, there are no talks about a comeback. “I never considered signing him,” he admitted on Twitter. As for Manchester City, reports indicate the British club is more interested in securing Tottenham Hotspur FC’s Harry Kane before the transfer window closes at the end of August. Ronaldo is reportedly being considered as a second pick if the Kane switch falls apart. Prior to joining Juventus in 2018 in a €100 million transfer agreement, Ronaldo spent nearly 10 years playing for Spain’s Real Madrid, and before that period, he spent another six years with Manchester United. He scored a combined total of 395 goals and won five Ballon d’Or titles during his time with Real Madrid and Man U.

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‘Our Hearts Are Heavy’: Former US President Bush Expresses ‘Deep Sadness’ Over Taliban Takeover by Gaby Arancibia

Under the orders of former US President George W. Bush, American forces invaded Afghanistan in late 2001 on the grounds of eradicating al-Qaeda, capturing Osama bin Laden, and removing the Taliban from power after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The invasion marked the start of the US’ “War on Terror.” Former US President George W. Bush has weighed in on the Taliban’s recent takeover of Afghanistan, noting in a recent statement that he feels “deep sadness” over the weekend developments in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Bush, who ordered the 2001 US-led invasion that pushed the Taliban from power, took the opportunity in his late Monday statement to both defend his decision to sign off on the military occupation of Afghan territory, as well as offer his assistance to Afghans still remaining in the Central Asian nation. “Laura and I have been watching the tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan with deep sadness,” Bush said, referring to his wife of 43 years. “Our hearts are heavy for both the Afghan people who have suffered so much, and for the Americans and NATO allies who have sacrificed so much.” “The Afghans now at the greatest risk are the same ones who have been on the forefront of progress inside their nation,” he continued, adding that both he and his wife are “confident that the evacuation efforts will be effective because they are being carried out by the remarkable men and women of the United States Armed Forces, diplomatic corps, and intelligence community.” “Many of you deal with wounds of war, both visible and invisible. And some of your brothers and sisters in arms made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror,” the former president admitted, touching on the thousands of US service members who died as a result of the occupation. “You took out a brutal enemy and denied Al Qaeda a safe haven while building schools, sending supplies, and providing medical care. You kept America safe from further terror attacks, provided two decades of security and opportunity for millions, and made America proud.” The two-term commander-in-chief went on to state that he along with the former first lady would “stand ready as Americans to lend our support and assistance,” calling on all to “resolve to be united in saving lives and praying for the people of Afghanistan.” Bush’s comments came after the former president told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle in July that he was “sad” and “scared” about the events unfolding in Afghanistan, especially in regards to the treatment of Afghan women. The invasion of Afghanistan, which began after Afghan leaders refused to turn over Osama bin Laden and end the use of al-Qaeda training camps, marked the US’ longest war to date and saw more than 110,000 US troops stationed within the country at the height of the occupation. It also became one of the deadliest occupations after exchanges prompted the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, journalists, aid workers, US and allied service members and Afghan security forces.

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Although the US launched its operation shortly after the 9/11 attacks and swiftly managed to gain control after Taliban officials fled into the mountainous landscape, the militant group eventually managed to regroup after US attention was diverted to the invasion on Iraq. It finally succeeded in regaining control of Kabul on Sunday, nearly 18 years later. While withdrawal efforts had previously been hinted at under past administrations, it was ultimately the Trump White House that brokered a deal to begin the pullout of US troops with a May 1 deadline that was later delayed by US President Joe Biden. However, a troop withdrawal does not necessarily mean that the US intends to fully part ways with Afghanistan. In fact, Biden noted in his Monday speech that he envisions an American presence in the region “narrowly focused on counterterrorism” that would be similar to the ongoing drone offensive in Somalia.

Crocodile Tears - Cartoon

Earlier, former US President George W. Bush told reporters that he felt “sad” about the evolving situation in Afghanistan, noting during a July interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle that he felt especially concerned about the future of Afghan women. Former US President George W. Bush made his very first remarks about the chaotic turn of events in Afghanistan late on Monday, telling the American public that he was once again “deeply” saddened by the Taliban’s swift successes. In a joint statement issued with former first lady Laura Bush, the former president acknowledged the sacrifices of service members who were stationed in the Central Asian country, as well as pointing out the success troops marked with the effort to build schools and establish medical centers. “Our hearts are heavy for both the Afghan people who have suffered so much, and for the Americans and NATO allies who have sacrificed so much,” the statement reads. The US presence in Afghanistan, which marked the longest American war to date, was ordered by Bush after Taliban officials refused to turn over Osama bin Laden and cease the use of al-Qaeda training camps in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The death toll for the operation has ranged in the tens of thousands.

Gorbachev Blasts US’Afghanistan Campaign as Being a ‘Failure’ From the Get-Go by Gabv Arancibia

With the Taliban having successfully regained control of Afghanistan after spending years fighting against the government, many politicians are coming forward to give their take on the

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developing situation in the Central Asian country. Now, a Soviet-era leader who oversaw his own withdrawal from the war-torn nation is speaking out. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has become the latest politician to address the ongoing US withdrawal efforts in Afghanistan, underscoring that lessons must be learned from the drastic turn of events. Gorbachev told Sputnik on Tuesday that the US mission in Afghanistan was doomed from the start as he recalled the Soviet Union's missteps with its 1989 withdrawal from the Central Asian nation. "The failure should have been admitted earlier,” the Soviet-era leader remarked. “Now it is important to learn lessons, and to at least avoid repetition of such mistakes. ...This idea was unsuccessful from the very beginning, although Russia supported it at the first stage.” “Like many similar projects, it was based on threat exaggeration and some not quite clear geopolitical plans, which was followed by unrealistic attempts to democratize a multi-tribal society," he added. The Soviet Union undertook its own military efforts in Afghanistan over a period of 10 years as part of a larger effort to back the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan. The operation largely became part of a Cold War-era proxy war as the US maintained firm support for the rebels opposing the Soviet-backed government. The mission eventually came to an end in October 1989, with the government managing to stay in power for an additional three years after Soviet troops left. The Afghan government at the time never fully recovered after the Soviet collapse in 1992. Gorbachev further noted that the Soviet presence in Afghanistan was a political mistake, but that he oversaw the move to pull troops back after having engaged in several rounds with ministry heads. The former Soviet president underscored that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was fully backed by the Soviet political and military leadership, as well as by the people. As for the US, it ultimately chose to invade Afghanistan in October 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in response to the Taliban-led government's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden and remove all al-Qaeda training bases. The invasion went on to become the US’ longest war to date and one of the deadliest occupations.

This material is distributed by Ghebi LLC on behalf of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia. US Forces Reportedly Discover Body of Afghan Lodged in Landing Gear of C-17 Transport Aircraft by Evan Craighead

On Monday, hundreds of individuals were seen running alongside a Boeing C-17 Globemaster that was evacuating US personnel and Afghans from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The US has said it remains committed to a full evacuation of Americans and Afghans with special immigration visas.

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The landing gear of an American C-17 military transport aircraft has been rendered inoperable after the body of an individual believed to be an Afghan was discovered in the section of the plane, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing two sources with knowledge of the US military matter. The individual's body was said to be found when the C-17 made emergency landing hours after taking off from the international airport in Kabul on Monday. Sources believe the person attempted to stow away in the landing gear, which was unable to retract during the unplanned landing. Discovery of the person's body comes hours after an extremely graphic video reportedly showed an individual's legs wildly flailing under the aircraft during transit. It was also reported that at least two individuals were seen falling from the C-17 not long after takeoff. Additional viral videos depicted the grim scene at the airport as hundreds of Afghans swarming around the large military transport aircraft as it traveled down the tarmac. A number of Afghans were seen holding onto the sides of the C-17, including one man who recorded him and other gripping to the aircraft's fuselage. On Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed to reporters that, despite the previous scene, the airport in Kabul was now secure. "The airfield is secure, as I said earlier those folks that were there on the southern part are no longer inside the airfield. And there is nobody no longer in there," said US Army Mai. Gen- Henry "Hank" Tavlor. joint staff director of current operations. "And as you saw we were able to get those -- some passengers out the day before. But right now, I don't have the number of those waiting for [a] flight right now, but I'll be able to get that later on." Taylor claimed the US intends to evacuate around 5,000 to 9,000 individuals per day, but these estimates are dependent on "a number of factors" and "circumstances could change" in the near future. By Monday, August 23, the US is expected to have around 3,000 troops on the ground. John F. Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary, underscored that US forces have an "awful lot" to do to ensure the Kabul-based airport remains "safe and secure." On Monday, Kirby informed reporters that the Department of Defense would be looking into reports of civilian-related deaths associated with military transport aircraft takeoffs.

This material is distributed by Ghebi LLC on behalf of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia. Texas Governor Greg Abbott Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Attending Maskless GOP Event by Evan Craighead

Last night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) tweeted photos of himself addressing attendees of a GOP event in Collin County, Texas. Neither Abbott, nor the majority of the individuals pictured, were wearing face masks. Additional photos tweeted hours before his public diagnosis showed the Texas governor posing near guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. Abbott's office confirmed in a Tuesday news release that the Republican governor of Texas tested positive for COVID-19 amid daily testing.

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"Governor Abbott is in constant communication with his staff, agency heads, and government officials to ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently," the memo read. "The Governor will isolate in the Governor's Mansion and continue to test daily." The announcement comes as Abbott's first known case of COVID-19. The Texas governor, who is reportedly fully vaccinated, is said to be receiving Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment. The treatment has only been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use, and is not authorized for the treatment of individuals who have been hospitalized, or require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19. Mark Miner, communications director for the office of the governor, detailed that Abbott "remains in good health" and is not experiencing symptoms at this time. Those who were in "close contact" with the governor on Tuesday were notified of his diagnosis. Abbott's wife, First Lady Cecilia Abbott, tested negative for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, Abbott met with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, older brother of late Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Additionally, he was seen speaking at a maskless event in Collin County, which has one of the highest rates of hospitalization for patients confirmed to have COVID-19, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Abbott previously endured a COVID-19 scare back in July, shortly after meeting with a number of Florida officials, including Ashley Moody, the state's attorney general. Moody later confirmed that she tested positive for the contagious disease, but Abbott's test returned a negative result.

Ex-US Naval Petty Officer Confesses to Distributing Child Pornography, Faces 40 Years by Evan Craighead

Last year, then-US Navy petty officer Anthony Gabriel Ortiz was indicted on federal charges related to both the distribution and possession of child pornography. US authorities claimed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police tipped off US Homeland Security Investigations after they discovered images of child pornography being shared via a messaging app. Ortiz, 23, now awaits sentencing after admitting to the distribution of child pornography - a federal charge that carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a maximum sentence of 40 years behind bars. The 23-year-old will not be eligible for parole, as early releases are prohibited in the federal system. "The distribution of child pornography endlessly perpetuates the victimization of innocent children," said David H. Estes, acting US Attorney General for the Southern District of Georgia. "By admitting to this charge, Anthony Ortiz will be held accountable for his despicable contributions to this exploitive trade." Court documents related to the case detailed that Ortiz was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, South Carolina, in early 2019,

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around the same time Canadian authorities alerted Homeland Security's Cyber Crimes Center to online images of child pornography that were shared by the now-23-year-old. Ortiz had risen to the rank of petty officer third class around the time he was transferred in April 2019 to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kings Bay, Georgia. The base is home to the Atlantic Fleet of the US Fleet Forces Command. The petty officer was stationed at the Georgia-based military installation for a little over a year before he was officially indicted on charges of possession, and the distribution of child pornography. Charges against Ortiz came about after the Cyber Crimes Center contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) regarding the allegations. Authorities detailed that the petty officer was taken into custody after ultimately confessing to the crimes. Several images and video files containing scenes of child sexual exploitation were also found on electronic devices owned by Ortiz. "Mr. Ortiz deserves to be held fully accountable for these truly reprehensible crimes," said Thomas Cannizzo, special agent in charge of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. "NCIS exists to protect Department of the Navy personnel and their families from harm. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to root out and fully investigate sexual predators who prey on and exploit vulnerable children." In addition to the maximum sentence of four decades behind bars, the 23-year-old stands to face "substantial financial penalties and restitution," per the US attorney. The former petty officer will also have to register as a sex offender and may receive up to life on supervised release.

Biden, National Security Team Discuss Potential Terror Threats in Afghanistan- White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - President Joe Biden and the national security team discussed the issue of monitoring any potential terrorist threats in Afghanistan, the White House said on Wednesday. "The President, Vice President, and their team also discussed their focus on monitoring for any potential terrorist threats in Afghanistan, including from ISIS-K [Islamic State-Khorasan terror group, banned in Russia]," the statement said. Biden and the national security team also discussed efforts to speed up the evacuations of the US citizens, special immigrant visa applicants and other vulnerable Afghans, as well as the facilitation of the safe passage to the Kabul airport.

Trudeau Promises Major Wildfire Prevention Efforts Should Canadians Reelect Liberals

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TORONTO, August 17 (Sputnik) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that if the Liberal Party retains control in the upcoming elections, it will invest almost $400 million into wildfire prevention efforts before the next fire season. "A re-elected Liberal government will invest CA$500 million [US$395 million] ahead of the next fire season for the firefighters and equipment provinces need," Trudeau said in a speech during an event in the province of British Columbia. The Prime Minister explained the funds would be put toward training at least 1,000 more firefighters across Canada who could be mobilized immediately in the event of a major fire as well as for supporting indigenous-led fire crews and investing in equipment. British Columbia experienced a more intense wildfire season than usual this year, having declared a state of emergency in late July after 299 separate wildfires were registered across the province.

UN Receiving Reports Afghanistan Slowly Returning to Normal, Markets Reopening - UNHCR

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The United Nations is receiving reports that life in Afghanistan is slowly returning to normal, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Caroline Van Buren told reporters on Wednesday. "According to the reports that we are receiving, including from our staff members, things are slowly returning to normal," Van Buren, said. "Afemale staff member told me she went outside today to see the situation and she was able to walk around, look around and some markets are opening as well."

Identifying Persons Who Wish to Leave Afghanistan Could Endanger Them - Trudeau

TORONTO, August 17 (Sputnik) - The Canadian government must be careful about how it identifies potential evacuees from Afghanistan because being too specific could put them at risk of retaliation by the Taliban (banned in Russia), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during an event in British Columbia on Wednesday. “There is a very real concern that identifying people, putting out lists, sending very specific tweets on certain factors could actually endanger people on the ground because the Taliban, of course, are using all the different ways they can to track down people who they see as problematic or opponents or adversaries,” Trudeau said. "We have to be continuing to be extremely thoughtful and careful in how we support people.” Trudeau said Canada plans to take in about 21,000 Afghan refugees but noted that the Taliban is putting up barriers and is targeting political opponents who may be seeking to leave

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Afghanistan. The prime minister added that 92 Afghan refugees arrived in Canada on Tuesday night. The Canadian government continues to push for the Taliban to agree to the free movement of Afghans who wish to leave their country to reach the airport in Kabul, which is currently being protected by US and other international forces.

UN Personnel Move From Kabul to Kazakhstan to Reduce Risk - Spokesperson

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Agroup of UN personnel is traveling from Kabul to Kazakhstan as a temporary measure to reduce the existing risk to the staff, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday. "As we speak a group of UN personnel is traveling today from Kabul to Almaty in Kazakhstan where they will continue their work remotely," Dujarric said. "This is a temporary measure intended to enable the UN to keep delivering assistance to the people of Afghanistan with a minimum disruption while at the same time reducing the risk to UN personnel."

US Court Reschedules Sentencing for Russia’s Grichishkin to August 20 - Judge

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan decided on Wednesday to postpone sentencing for Russian national Aleksandr Grichishkin, who pleaded guilty to charges related to cybercrime, until August 20. "I will give you my ruling on the sentence at 4 pm on Friday,’’ District Judge Denise Page Hood said during the hearing, which streamed online. For his turn, Grichishkin expressed remorse for his crimes. He also asked the court to allow him early deportation in order to reunite with the family as soon as possible. “I would like to ask the court to consider a lenient sentence,” Grichishkin said, adding that he learned his major lesson in a hard way. Grichishkin previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide hosting services to cybercriminal clients who attacked US companies and financial institutions. Grichishkin and Andrei Skvortsov from Russia, Aleksandr Skorodumov from Lithuania, and Pavel Stassi from Estonia were members of a hosting organization that allegedly helped a number of cybercriminals evade detection by US law enforcement after they caused millions of dollars in losses to victims in the United States, the Justice Department had claimed. All four pleaded guilty in May and face up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to engage in a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization and other related charges, the department said.

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Studies Show Vaccine Effectiveness \Afening in Context of Delta Variant - US Health Agency

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Two studies have shown that effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines is waning in the context of the the virus' Delta variant, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said on Wednesday. "Preliminary data through August 6 from two of our vaccine effectiveness COVID-19 studies that included more than 4,000 health-care personnel, first responders and other front line workers in eight locations across the country show waning effectiveness against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection in the context of the Delta variant from 92 percent prior to Delta to 64 percent with Delta," Walensky said. Earlier on Wednesday, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced that all Americans will be able to receive booster shots starting on September 20. However, the World Health Organization said there is no need for booster shots at present and added that further research in the matter was needed.

Americans Wbrmto Calls For Gov’t Limits on False Information Posted On-Line - Poll

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Agrowing number of US adults now express willingness for the government to restrict posts of false information online, a poll by the Pew Research Center said on Wednesday, "Roughly half of U.S. adults (48%) now say the government should take steps to restrict false information, even if it means losing some freedom to access and publish content, according to the survey of 11,178 adults conducted July 26-Aug. 8, 2021,” a press release explaining the poll said. “That is up from 39% in 2018.” A majority of adults, 59 percent, continue to say technology companies should take steps to restrict misinformation online, even if it puts some restrictions on Americans’ ability to access and publish content, the release said. Around four-in-ten (39%) take the opposite view that protecting freedom of information should take precedence, even if it means false claims can spread. The balance of opinion on this question has changed little since 2018, the release added. Partisan divisions on the role of government in policing online content have emerged since 2018, with 60 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now saying freedom to publish should be protected, even if it means some false information circulates. Nearly as many Democrats (65%) instead say the government should take steps to restrict false information according to the release.

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In 2018, 60 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 57 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners - agreed that freedom of information should be prioritized over the government taking steps to restrict false information online, the release said. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1.4 percentage points.

Pentagon Defies Court Order to Expedite Citizenship for Foreign-Born Soldiers - ACLU

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Amotion filed in US federal court accuses the Defense Department of failure to comply with a court order to restore an expedited path to citizenship for non-citizen members of the United States' armed forces, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said on Wednesday. "We’ve repeatedly presented the Pentagon with evidence of its non-compliance and proposed reasonable solutions, like identifying an official to assist service members whose chains of command refuse to help them obtain the military certification necessary for the citizenship process," ACLU National Security Project staff attorney Scarlet Kim said in a press release. Instead, the Defense Department has done virtually nothing and "subjected service members to Kafkaesque ordeals" that have further delayed their attempts to become US citizens as Congress promised, Kim said. In August 2020, in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of thousands of US military service members, a federal court struck down a Trump administration policy requiring them to serve for six months or a year before obtaining a military certification required to apply for naturalization. The court also ordered military officials to process class member requests for this certification within 30 days, the release said. However, at four out of five of the US Army’s basic training bases, service members have been repeatedly told they need to complete the Trump administration’s requirements in order to be eligible for naturalization. Service members at other US Army installations have also been told they need to meet the unlawful requirements, the release added. In its motion on behalf of service members, the ACLU is asking the court to demand an explanation for the Defense Department’s failures and order it to ensure compliance with the court order and federal law, according to the release.

Afghan Troops Fled to Uzbekistan as Taliban Advanced in About 46 US Aircraft - Reports

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Afghan military personnel fled to Uzbekistan amid the Taliban terror group’s (banned in Russia) takeover in at least 46 US-supplied aircraft, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday citing US officials.

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Some 585 Afghan service members fled in the aircraft to Uzbekistan, the report said. The report said the 46 aircraft that flew into Uzbekistan account for a large portion of the Afghan Air Force. A handful of aircraft also flew to Tajikistan, the report added. On Sunday, the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul. Ghani resigned and fled abroad, escorted by cars filled with cash, the Russian embassy told Sputnik on Monday.

US Adults to Be Eligible for Booster Shot 8 Months After Second Dose - Surgeon General

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Fully vaccinated US adults will be eligible for a third booster shot 8 months after they received a second dose against the novel coronavirus, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on Wednesday. “Today, we are announcing our plan to stay ahead of this [COVID-19] virus by being prepared to offer COVI D-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated adults, 18 years and older,” Murthy said at a press briefing. “They would be eligible for their booster shot eight months after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine." Murthy has also clarified that the new plan is still pending as the US Food and Drug Administration is conducting an independent evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of a third dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is in the midst of issuing booster dose recommendations based on a thorough review of the evidence. The Surgeon General underscored that while he doesn’t recommend getting a booster shot today he encourages everyone to do it in a timely manner starting in the week of September 20 when all fully vaccinated Americans will become eligible for the third vaccine shot. Earlier in August, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a moratorium on booster COVI D-19 vaccine shots until the end of September to ensure equitable access to vaccines around the globe. This material is distributed by Ghebi LLC on behalf of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia.

US Reaches Milestone 200Mln Americans With at Least 1 COVID-19 Vaccine Shot-White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US will reach a milestone of 200 million Americans vaccinated with at least one shot against the coronavirus once today’s data is published, White House COVI D-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients said on Wednesday. "Once the numbers from today are reported, we will have reached two hundred million Americans with at least their first shot. That's a major milestone,” Zients said at a press briefing.

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Zients added that over the last two weeks nearly 7 million Americans got their first vaccine shot making it the highest two-week total since the beginning of June. The past month has also seen a 75 percent increase in the average daily number of 12-15 year-olds vaccinated, Zients said. The US started to report higher vaccination rates after the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 became the predominant strain across the country in July resulting in the number of cases reaching over 100,000 cases per day in August.

COVI D-19 Booster Shots to Be Free in US Regardless of Immigration Status - White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Coronavirus booster shots will be offered at no cost to everyone in the United States regardless of their immigration or health insurance status, White House COVI D-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients said. "Importantly, boosters will be free regardless immigration or health insurance status. No ID or insurance required," Zients said on Wednesday.

US Public Support for Afghan Withdrawal Tumbles Amid Taliban Resurgence - Poll

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Backing among Americans for the United States’ exit from Afghanistan plunged by 20 percentage points as the Taliban seized control, with declines among Democrats, Republicans and Independents, a new Morning Consult poll revealed on Wednesday. "The latest survey found 49 percent of voters support [President Joe] Biden's decision to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan, down 20 percentage points since mid-April, while 37 percent oppose it, up by a similar amount," a press release explaining the poll said. Support for withdrawal fell 15 points among Democrats, 21 points among Republicans and 25 points among independents, the release said. A51 percent majority disapprove of Biden’s handling of Afghanistan with a 45 percent plurality saying they should not withdraw its military presence in Afghanistan if it means the Taliban regains control of most of the country, the release added. The poll of 1,999 registered voters was conducted August 13-16 (Friday through Monday) and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent. During the four-day period, the Taliban consolidated control over much of the country including the capital Kabul, triggering a panic illustrated by televised images of thousands of Afghans storming the airport seeking seats on US evacuation flights.

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UN Adopts Resolution to Hold Peacemakers' Killers Accountable - Security Council

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution calling on member states to hold the killers and perpetrators of violence against the world body's peacekeepers around the world accountable, the global body announced on Wednesday. "The [resolution] calls upon Member States hosting or having hosted United Nations peacekeeping operations, to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with their national law, and international law ...to bring to justice perpetrators of the killing of, and all acts of violence against United Nations personnel,” it said. The resolution also calls on host states to work with peacekeeping missions to enhance the safety and security of mission personnel and to take all necessary measures to investigate such acts, and arrest and prosecute perpetrators of such acts in line with their national law, the UN said. The resolution further calls upon “the Member States hosting or having hosted United Nations peacekeeping operations to promote accountability for the killing of, and all acts of violence against United Nations personnel serving in peacekeeping operations, including... their detention and abduction.” The Security Council also called on member states to strengthen their police, justice and corrections institutions to implement effective and efficient investigation and prosecution measures, including technical and logistical support, to address impunity and ensure accountability for such acts, the resolution said.

This material is distributed by Ghebi LLC on behalf of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia. 'Several Fatalities' as US Plane Flew From Kabul With Afghans Clinging to Side - Pentagon

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US Defense Department is aware of several fatalities after a US military transport aircraft departed Kabul international airport with Afghan civilians clinging to its side, spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday. "Clearly, we know just by visual evidence and by the Air Force’s statement that there were at least several fatalities involved in that, but I don’t want to get ahead of the Air Force’s review in terms of hard numbers of what the total toll was," Kirby told reporters in an off-camera briefing.

US Homeland Secretary Discusses Afghan Relocation Efforts With 5 Eyes Counterparts - DHS

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WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas discussed Afghan relocation efforts with his counterparts from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Wednesday. "Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas participated in a call with Five Eyes counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan," DHS said in a press release. "Secretary Mayorkas and the Ministers discussed efforts to facilitate the relocation of our citizens and their families, Afghan nationals who have worked for and on behalf of the United States and our allies, and other eligible vulnerable Afghans."

Blinken Speaks with Canadian Counterpart About Afghanistan Evacuation - State Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau about the countries’ efforts to evacuate people out of Afghanistan, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Wsdnesday. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau last night about the situation in Afghanistan, including our efforts to bring American and Canadian citizens to safety and to assist vulnerable Afghans,” Price said. Blinken also expressed his “profound appreciation” to the Canadian government for helping to resettle 20,000 Afghans, as well as for their ongoing coordination with other international efforts to address the situation in Afghanistan. A joint statement issued by 20 independent countries and the European Union, including the US and Canada, on Wednesday expressed deep concern for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. It called on the Taliban to guarantee their protection across the country.

ACLU Suing US Military for Blocking Path to Citizenship for Foreign-Born Soldiers

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said on Wednesday that it us suing the US Department of Defense for violating a federal court order that blocked a minimum service time requirement for foreign soldiers seeking citizenship. "The Department of Defense is violating a federal court order by blocking a path to citizenship for our military service members. We’re suing. Again,” the ACLU said via Twitter. The previous Trump administration attempted to enact a policy in 2017 that would require foreigners in the US military to serve between six months and a year before becoming eligible for an expedited path to obtaining US citizenship.

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A federal district court sided with the ACLU in a class action lawsuit they filed on behalf of the military service members four months later. The court ruled that the Defense Department cannot impose such minimum service requirements and is required to process the citizenship paperwork within 30 days. The ACLU said in a statement that the new court filings come after negotiations between them and the Biden administration reached an impasse because the Defense Department has failed to take actions necessary to fix the issues that service members seeking expedited citizenship are facing.

US Deputy Secretary of State to Speak on Afghanistan Wednesday Afternoon - State Dept.

*WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will speak to the press about the current situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday afternoon, according to the schedule published by the State Department. The Taliban (banned in Russia) completed its takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul on Sunday, with President Ashraf Ghani stepping down and fleeing the country. At least 10,000 US citizens have remained in Afghanistan awaiting to be evacuated as well as thousands of Afghans who assisted the US war effort in the country.

At Least 37 Civilians Killed in Attack on Village in Western Niger - UNICEF

UNITED NATIONS, August 17 (Sputnik) - At least 37 civilians were killed in the latest attack in western Niger on Monday, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa Marie-Pierre Poirier said in a statement. "UNICEF is deeply shocked and outraged by the terrible attacks against children and families by unidentified armed groups in the village of Darey-dey... in western Niger that took place on 16 August 2021. We are saddened to confirm that at least 37 civilians - including thirteen children aged 15 to 17 and four women - were killed and several others were injured," Poirier said on Wednesday. Poirier pointed out this was the third attack on this village this year and the conditions on the ground remain extremely dangerous for children. "Insecurity is spreading at a rapid pace in Niger. Attacks in the region of Tillabery, and along the borders with Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria have led to significant displacement and continue to wreak havoc on the lives of hundreds of thousands of children," Poirier said.

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UNICEF remains committed to take all measures to ensure the safety of children and their families and to reduce the suffering of the victims and strongly urges all parties to stop attacks on children and their families and keep them out of harm's way, Poirier added.

US Authorizes COVID-19 Booster for All Americans Starting Sept 20 - Health Dept

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday that all Americans will be able to receive booster shots starting September 20. "We are prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individual’s second dose," the HHS said in a statement. "At that time, the individuals who were fully vaccinated earliest in the vaccination rollout, including many health care providers, nursing home residents, and other seniors, will likely be eligible for a booster." At the same time, the We rid Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said that there is no need in booster shots right now and added that further research into the matter was needed.

Pentagon Spokesman Confirms US Troops Fired Weapons Near Kabul Airport Overnight - Reports WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) ~ US troops had to fire weapons near Kabul airport overnight as control crowd measures, reporters quoted Pentagon spokesman John Kirby as saying during an off-camera briefing on Wednesday. "@PentagonPresSec confirms that overnight US troops fired weapons on the airport side of the perimeter 'as crowd control measures,"' one of the reporters said on Twitter. Another reporter quoted Kirby that the Pentagon had no indication of injuries or fatalities.

US Sets Up New Health Advisory Policy Assessment Body - Centers for Disease Control

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The Biden administration is creating a new organization to improve forecasting and analysis on public health policy decision-making, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday,

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"Today, the CDC is announcing a new center designed to advance the use of forecasting and outbreak analytics in public health decision making,” the organization said in a press release. The new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics will bring together next-generation public health data, expert disease modelers, public health emergency responders, and high-quality communications, to meet the needs of decision makers, the release said. "The new center will accelerate access to and use of data for public health decision-makers who need information to mitigate the effects of disease threats, such as social and economic disruption ...while serving as a hub for innovation and research on disease modeling,” the release said. The center will undertake modeling and forecasting, support research and innovation in outbreak analytics and science for real-time action, improve capability for data sharing and integration, maximize interoperability with data, expand standards and improve software and interface capabilities, the release added.

Half of US Workers Favor Employer Vaccine Mandates, One-Third Oppose - Poll

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Employer mandates for that all workers be vaccinated provoke strong reactions for and against, despite approval by a slim majority of 52 percent, a new Gallup revealed on Wednesday. "US workers hold strong opinions on employer vaccination requirements, with two-thirds saying they either strongly favor (36percent) or strongly oppose (29 percent) these. Overall, employees are more likely to favor such mandates, with 52 percent saying they are in favor, 38 percent opposed and 10 percent neutral," a press release explaining the poll said. Gallup first asked about employee vaccination requirements in May. Since then, there has been an increase in the percentage who "strongly favor" them, from 29 percent to 36 percent. The total percentage of employees who either strongly favor or simply favor vaccination requirements is up from 46 percent to 52 percent, the release said. Over this time, the percentage opposed has held steady while the percentage claiming neutrality has declined five points to 10 percent, the release added. The results are based on a July 19-26 COVID-19 tracking survey of a representative sample of US adults. The survey was issued before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance in response to the spread of the coronavirus' Delta variant, according to the release.

US Officials \Afern It Will Be ’Challenging’ to Meet Biden’s August 31 Deadline - Reports

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WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US officials say it will be "challenging” to meet Biden’s deadline to completely withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31 deadline as the American troops continue arriving in the country to facilitate the evacuation effort, Fox News reported on Wednesday citing unnamed government officials. "We are still ramping up," one official said as cited by the report. There are currently more than 4,000 US troops on the ground in Kabul with several thousand more scheduled to arrive over the next few days.

US Defense Secretary, Joint Chiefs Chair to Brief Media on Afghanistan Wednesday Afternoon

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley will give a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, the Defense Department announced. "The Secretary and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief the media at 3 p.m. EDT in the Pentagon Briefing Room," the Defense Department said.

US Invests $19Mln to Expand Telemedicine in Rural Communities - Health Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US government has awarded $19 million to 36 recipients in a bid to improve health in rural and other underserved communities by expanding access to and the quality of telemedicine, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Wednesday, "Telehealth expands access to care and is a vital tool for improving health equity by providing timely clinical assessment and treatment for our most vulnerable populations,” the HHS said in a press release. “This funding will help drive the innovation necessary to build clinical networks, educational opportunities, and trusted resources to further advance telehealth." Projects funded with the $19 million include $4.55 awarded to 12 regional and 2 national telehealth resource centers. In addition, nine health organizations will receive $4.28 million to build telehealth networks and train primary care providers to use the technology in treating patients with complex conditions such as drug addiction and long-lasting symptoms of COVID-19, the release said. The program also includes $6.5 million earmarked for two organizations to establish units in academic medical centers that will serve as incubators to pilot new telehealth services, the release added.

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Biden Administration Proposes Overhaul to Speed Up Asylum Processing at US Borders - DHS

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The Biden administration has proposed a plan to make the asylum processing at the US borders swifter and more efficient, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Wednesday. "in a key step toward implementing the administration's blueprint for a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would amend current regulations to improve the processing of asylum claims," the statement said. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement that the proposed changes will significantly improve the US government’ ability to more promptly and efficiently consider asylum claims. "Individuals who are eligible will receive relief more swiftly, while those who are not eligible will be expeditiously removed. We are building an immigration system that is designed to ensure due process, respect human dignity, and promote equity," he said. US Attorney General Merrick Garland added the move is a step closer to making the asylum process fairer. "This rule will both reduce the caseload in our immigration courts and protect the rights of those fleeing persecution and violence," Garland said. Illegal crossings on the US southern border have hit a 20-year high under the Joe Biden administration, with another record-setting month in July, which saw about 212,000 migrant encounters, according to the Customers and Border Patrol. The total number of apprehensions in the region since October - the beginning of the US government’s fiscal year - has now surpassed 1.3 million.

US, Allied Countries ‘Deeply Worried’ Over Rights of Afghan We men, Girls - Joint Statement

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US and allied countries, including the United Kingdom and European Union, in a joint statement expressed deep concern over the situation with women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan and urged the authorities to guarantee their protection, State Department said on Wednesday. "We are deeply worried about Afghan women and girls, their rights to education, work and freedom of movement. We call on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to guarantee their protection,” the statement said. Besides the US, the statement was signed by Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, European Union, Honduras, Guatemala,

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North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Senegal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The signatories of the statement promise to closely monitor the future Afghan government actions to ensure the rights and freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan which they acquired over the last twenty years. On Tuesday, the Taliban (banned in Russia) spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that the movement "pledges to provide women of the country with all the rights granted to them by the Sharia and the law," adding that the Taliban "appreciates the role of women" in the society. The Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul on Sunday, with President Ashraf Ghani stepping down and fleeing the country. The radical group declared an end to the 20-year war in Afghanistan.

US, Allied Countries ‘Deeply Worried’ Over Rights of Afghan V\fomen, Girls - Joint Statement

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US and allied countries, including the United Kingdom and European Union, in a joint statement expressed deep concern over the situation with women's and girls’ rights in Afghanistan and urged the authorities to guarantee their protection, State Department said on Wednesday. ‘‘We are deeply worried about Afghan women and girls, their rights to education, work and freedom of movement. We call on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to guarantee their protection,” the statement said. Besides the US, the statement was signed by Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, European Union, Honduras, Guatemala, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Senegal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Kabul's Saigon-Style Collapse Blindsided Biden Due to Intel Failure - Ex-US Colonel

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) Barrington M. Salmon - The lightning seizure of Kabul by the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) surprised the Biden administration because of yet another US intelligence failure, retired Army Colonel and former State Department official, Ann Wright, told Sputnik. President Joe Biden came under fire this week after footage went viral depicting chaos at the Kabul airport as the US tried to evacuate civilians amid the Taliban takeover. On Monday, Biden - after blaming the collapse on Afghan forces' lack of willingness to fight - admitted the Taliban moved faster than the US expected.

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"The administration was blindsided by the Taliban's rapid movement towards Kabul and was not prepared for the chaos," Wright said. "The fact that the Biden administration wasn’t prepared for what happened is another failure of the intelligence community from Vietnam forward." In the wake of the Taliban's ouster in 2001, Wright was part of the State Department team that reopened the US Embassy in Kabul. Two decades later, the very same embassy was evacuated as the very same militant group took over the city on Sunday. "This is similar to the Fall of Saigon in a way with the peace agreement between the US and Vietnam and the rapid movement to Saigon of the Vietcong and the Vietnamese military. That is reminiscent of the Taliban sweep to Kabul," Wright said. "In this case, deals had already been made, people surrendered, accepted the new power and chose not to resist." Biden announced the withdrawal in July after delaying implementation of the exit agreement the Trump administration negotiated with the Taliban in February 2020. However, according to the Pentagon, some 100,000 Americans and 300,000 Afghans seeking evacuation are still on the ground in Kabul. Wright, who resigned from the State Department in 2003 in protest of the US invasion of Iraq, said she supported Biden’s decision to withdraw troops but she believes the US embassy should remain open because it would be beneficial to the Afghan people. The former military officer said she has been calling for the US to exit Afghanistan for decades. The number of Afghan people killed over the past 20 years and the destruction of rural areas and cities is unacceptable, she added. Moreover, Wright said US special forces should have pursued al-Qaeda (a terrorist group banned in Russia), not the regular military. Meanwhile, she hopes the Taliban rules moderately and the gains that have been made are not lost. "The scenes have been horrific. Everyone is very concerned with what the Taliban might do," Wright said soberly. "I don’t fully believe them but they have not taken retribution yet, have been telling people to go back to work and are saying girls can go to school." Wright said although she appreciates the role of veterans, more action is needed to prevent future conflicts. "Vets need, as a community, to hold politicians accountable for getting us into wars that are not totally in defense of this country," Wright said. Wright served in the US Army and army reserve for 29 years, is a prominent antiwar activist and co-author of "Dissent: Voices of Conscience." She was arrested numerous times during nonviolent protests of the Bush administration's policies, particularly the war on Iraq.

Huawei CFO Did Not Hide Any Risk of Loss to Bank, Fraud Allegations ‘Unprovable’ - Lawyer

TORONTO, August 17 (Sputnik) - Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou did not attempt to hide any information that would have put HSBC at a risk of loss during her meeting with the bank’s top brass, the executive’s lawyer told a Canadian court.

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Defense attorney Scott Fenton argued on Tuesday that the absence of a ‘quantifiable’ risk of loss to HSBC precludes deprivation, a key component of the fraud charges the executive is facing in the United States. The US Justice Department alleges that Meng committed fraud by misleading HSBC into approving more than $100 million in transactions that contravened US sanctions on Iran from 2010 to 2014 through a Tehran-based shell company, Skycom. At the heart of the case is a PowerPoint presentation delivered to HSBC executives by Meng, in which she assured the bank that Huawei and all its partners, including Skycom, are in compliance with US sanctions. The high-level meeting was spurred by a Reuters article, which claimed Skycom was selling prohibited US equipment to Iran. Fenton told the court that the Canadian Justice Department’s inability to quantify the risk of fraud HSBC faced, renders the deprivation component "speculative," without which fraud cannot be proved. "Our position is that there is no identifiable, concrete risk of loss to HSBC... and, certainly, no conduct by Ms. Meng having the further effect of masking or hiding a risk of loss that existed, such that prevented the bank from avoiding an actual loss," Fenton told British Columbia Supreme Court Associate Justice Heather Holmes. "We say that... there must be adamant evidence-based, non-theoretical, non-speculative either loss or risk of loss. And the absence of both - in case involving an allegation of fraud - must result in the fraud being unprovable." Fenton also asserted that HSBC did not face any reputational risk or any measurable loss from a theoretical reputational risk because of the PowerPoint presentation delivered by Meng. Meng, the daughter of Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, was arrested on December 1, 2018, at Vancouver International Airport during a layover stop at the request of the US government. The executive remains under house arrest in Vancouver, although is free to traverse the region in the company of state-imposed guards outside of her 11:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m. curfew. The final arguments are expected to wrap up on August 20. Holmes is expected to give her recommendation on the United States’ extradition request to AGC and Justice Minister David Lametti later in the fall. Lametti has the final say on the request and has the right to refuse extradition in exceptional circumstances. Analysts say Lametti's decision could hinge on developments in China, where the fate of multiple Canadians is held in the balance. The hearings in Vancouver are being held against the backdrop of judgments in China, where a court recently upheld the death penalty for Canadian Robert Schellenberg for drug smuggling and a separate court sentenced businessman Michael Spavorto 11 years for espionage. Spavor and Michael Kovrig, the other Canadian national held in China on espionage charges, have been in Chinese custody since December 2018. Ottawa maintains that the "arbitrary" detentions came in retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Meng.

Ranking US Congressman Says China Will Move in Afghanistan to Mine Rare Earth Minerals

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WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - China is going to move to Afghanistan to mine that country’s rare earth minerals following the US withdrawal, Ranking Republican on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul said in an interview with the Washington Post. "China will be moving in. There are rare earth minerals in [Afghanistan], I don’t know why we didn’t work with the Afghans to develop that, but we never did,” McCaul said on Tuesday. “And now, you’re going to have China going in mining these rare earth minerals." McCaul said that as a result, China is the winner and the United States the loser in this situation as are the Afghan people. "[TJhe Taliban will have a huge windfall profit from this that they’ll put into terrorist financing,” he added. in 2017, former US President Donald Trump met with then-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani agreed there were opportunities for US companies to rapidly develop Afghanistan’s rare-earth minerals as a way to offset the costs of the war there. However, a report written by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in August of 2018 said those ambitions failed to materialize as the US "extractive sector programming" stayed relatively minimal. This material is distributed by Ghebi LLC on behalf of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia.

US Transportation Security Agency Extends Federal Mask Mandate to January 18 - Statement

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended its federal mask mandate to January 18, an agency spokesperson said in a statement to Sputnik. "TSA will extend the directives through January 18, 2022," the spokesperson said on Tuesday. "The purpose of TSA’s mask directive is to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation.” The agency has reported more than 2,867 incidents related to individuals violating the mask mandate, according to CNN. Numerous videos posted across social media this year show US airline passengers getting violent and kicked off flights for refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate.

Texas Governor Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Treated With Regeneron

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is being treated with Regeneron, the governor's Communications Director Mark Miner said in a press release.

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Former President Donald Trump was treated with Regeneron when he was infected with the novel coronavirus in October 2020. "Governor Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," Miner said on Tuesday. "The governor will isolate in the Governor's Mansion and continue to test daily. Governor Abbott is receiving Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment." Miner noted that Abbott is fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus and is currently showing no symptoms. In July, the Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of Regeneron as a preventive treatment in high-risk individuals.

Biden, Johnson Agree to Hold Virtual G7 Meeting Next Week on Afghanistan - White House WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister agreed to have a virtual G7 leaders' meeting next week to discuss common strategy on Afghanistan, the White House said in a press release. "They agreed to hold a virtual G7 leaders’ meeting next week to discuss a common strategy and approach," the release said on Tuesday.

Biden Spoke to UK's Johnson in First Call Since Taliban Seized Kabul - White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden spoke with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier in his first call with a world leader since Kabul fell to the Taliban terror group (banned in Russia), the White House said. "President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke today regarding developments in Afghanistan," the White House said in a press release on Tuesday. "They also discussed the need for continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan policy going forward, including ways the global community can provide further humanitarian assistance and support for refugees and other vulnerable Afghans."

Biden's Approval Ratings Hit Lowest of Presidency Following Taliban Takeover - Polls

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have hit all time lows for his administration in at least three polls since the fall of Kabul.

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A Rasmussen poll released on Tuesday said that a majority of likely US voters, 54 percent, disapprove of Biden's job performance while only 45 percent approve. FiveThirtyEight also released poll results on Tuesday that showed slightly less than half of respondents, 49.9 percent approve of Biden’s performance while 43.9 percent disapprove. A poll released by Reuters on Tuesday similarly showed that Biden’s approval has dropped by 7 percent to its lowest point of his tenure so far, likely due to criticism over his handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Texas Governor Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Treated With Regeneron - Statement WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is being treated with Regeneron, the governor's Communications Director Mark Miner said in a press release. "Governor Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," Miner said on Tuesday. "The governor will isolate in the Governor's Mansion and continue to test daily. Governor Abbott is receiving Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment." Mines noted that Abbott is fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus and is currently showing no symptoms.

SPUTNIK TOP STORIES OF THE DAY WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) -

AFGHANISTAN DEVELOPMENTS * President Joe Biden remains confident in the US intelligence community despite the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. * A fair amount of US weapons given to the Afghan military fell into the hands of the Taliban (banned in Russia) and is unlikely to be handed back, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. * The UN Security Council is not holding at present any discussions of possible exclusion of the Taliban (banned in Russia) from the terrorist list, a source in the UN Security Council told Sputnik. * The European Union is ready to provide assistance to Afghanistan's neighboring countries if they face an influx of refugees, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. * The forces of Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh have recaptured the Charikar area in the Parwan Povince north of Kabul from the Taliban and battles are taking place on the outskirts of the Panjshir Gorge in the vicinity of this province, a military source in Kabul told Sputnik.

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* Afghan soldiers who refused to surrender and forces loyal to Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum are on the way to the Panjshir province to join the resistance against the Taliban, the military source said. * The international airport in Kabul is open for military and civilian aircraft alike with flights able to land and depart, a White House official said. * Russia supports former Afghan President Hamid Karzai's call for the beginning of an inclusive dialogue, as this is the only way to resolve the crisis in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE * The United States will send a military joint task force and eight helicopters to Haiti to assist with the humanitarian efforts after the major earthquake hit the country, Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby said. * The European Union pledged 3 million euros ($3.5 million) in humanitarian assistance to Haiti, which was struck by a deadly earthquake over the weekend.

CORNAVIRUS * New Zealand's Health Ministry said the country has introduced a three-day total lockdown after detecting one coronavirus Delta variant case. * The fifth domestic COVID-19 vaccine will appear in Russia soon, Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said on Tuesday. * The Russian Health Ministry, supported by the foreign ministry, is engaged in a substantive professional conversation with the European Union on mutual recognition of coronavirus vaccination certificates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

PLANE CRASH IN RUSSIA * Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) confirmed on Tuesday that an II-112V light military transport aircraft crashed during landing approach in the Moscow region, also noting that a special commission will investigate the accident. * There are no survivors in the crash of Russia's II-112V military transport plane, the UAC confirmed, pledging to provide assistance to families of the victims. * The crash of Russia's 11-112V military transport aircraft was caused by fire it its right engine, according to preliminary data, a source in the aircraft industry told Sputnik.

RUSSIA-MACEDONIA DIPLMATIC DISPUTE * Macedonia will expel one more Russian diplomat whose behavior allegedly contradicted the principles of the Vienna Convention, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said on Tuesday. * Moscow is considers the ways it can respond to the expulsion of the Russian diplomat, the Russian Embassy in Skopje told Sputnik. * Russia will surely respond to the expulsion of a Russian diplomat, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik.

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UN Security Council Follows Closely Events in Myanmar, Supports ASEAN Position - Source

UNITED NATIONS, August 17 (Sputnik) - The UN Security Council is closely following the situation in Myanmar and many consider lifting of the existing sanctions would help the country better address the coronavirus pandemic, a source at Russia’s mission to the United Nations told Sputnik on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the UN Security Council held closed consultations on the situation in Myanmar and also met with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Special Envoy on Myanmar Erywan Yusof. ASEAN, which upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states, has tasked Brunei’s second Foreign Minister to facilitate the peace process in Myanmar. "We support the responsible and balanced position of the ASEAN states. It should not be questioned. We are closely following the situation in Myanmar," the source said. The lifting of the sanctions against Myanmar would help the country improve the humanitarian situation and allow it to deal with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, the source added. ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, adopted on April 24, proposes an immediate cessation of political violence in the country; the start of a constructive dialogue among all parties concerned; the work of a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair acting as a mediator for dialogue with the support and assistance from the ASEAN Secretary General; and the provision of humanitarian assistance. In February, the Myanmar military assumed power after it arrested the country's civilian leaders for engaging in election fraud. More than a thousand people have since died in clashes between demonstrators, police and the military.

US Pullout Preceded by 20 Years of Failure in Afghanistan - Special Inspector General

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US military evacuation from Afghanistan being completed this week followed 20 years of corruption, incompetence and systematic failures there, the Department of Defense Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said on Tuesday. "After conducting more than 760 interviews and reviewing thousands of government documents, our lessons learned analysis has revealed a troubled reconstruction effort that has yielded some success but has also been marked by too many failures," the report from Inspector General John Sopko said.

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US officials believed the solution to insecurity was pouring ever more resources into Afghan institutions, but the absence of progress made it clear that the fundamental problems were unlikely to be addressed by changing resource levels, the report advised. "The US government was simply not equipped to undertake something this ambitious in such an uncompromising environment, no matter the budget... US officials also prioritized their own political preferences for what they wanted reconstruction to look like, rather than what they could realistically achieve,” it said. US personnel in Afghanistan were often unqualified and poorly trained, and those who were qualified were difficult to retain. Defense Department police advisors watched American TV shows to learn about policing and civil affairs teams were mass-produced using PowerPoint presentations, the report said.

US Funds 9 Projects to Remove Carbon From Air With $24Mln in Grants - Energy Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Nine US research projects seeking to mitigate climate change by extracting carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere will receive awards totaling $24 million, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday. "Finding ways to remove and store carbon directly from the air is an absolute necessity in our fight against the climate crisis," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a press release. "This investment in carbon capture technology research through universities and DOE laboratories will position America as a leader in this growing field, create good-paying jobs, and help make our carbon-free future a reality." Studies indicate curbing carbon emissions alone will not be sufficient, and innovative approaches like direct air capture will be required to achieve the US goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the release said. Total funding is $24 million for projects lasting up to three years in duration, with $8 million in Fiscal 2021 and outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations, the release also said. The projects include $4.8 million for Washington State University and Oklahoma State University will use energy efficient approaches to convert captured carbon dioxide into useful products, the release added. Another project by the University of Illinois, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Case Western Reserve University will receive 9 million to advance new approaches that use electricity or light to control the capture and/or release of carbon dioxide, according to the release.

US Air Force Says Reviewing Incident of Human Remains Found in C-17 Flying From Kabul

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WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US Air Force is investigating an incident of human remains being found in the wheel well of a C-17 aircraft that flew from Kabul to Qatar, Chief of Media Operations Ann Stefanek said on Tuesday. "The Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is reviewing all available information regarding a C-17 aircraft that departed Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug 16 and the loss of civilian lives - to include video documentation and the source of social media posts," Stefanek said in an Air Force statement. "In addition to online videos and press reports of people falling from the aircraft on departure, human remains were discovered in the wheel well of the C-17 after it landed at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar." An Air Force spokesperson did not immediately respond to Sputnik when asked how many Afghan civilians died in total in the incident. The C-17 landed at the airport on Sunday to deliver a load of equipment to support US evacuation efforts and was immediately surrounded by hundreds of Afghan civilians before the aircrew could offload the supplies, Stefanek said. The C-17 crew decided to leave as quickly as possible due to a rapidly deteriorating security situation, she explained. The aircraft is impounded at the moment to allow time to collect the human remains and inspect the aircraft, Stefanek said. The US Air Force commits to preventing an incident like this from happening again as the United States continues to evacuate Afghan civilians from Kabul, Stefanek said. Images circulating on social media on Monday showed hundreds of fleeing Afghans on the airfield at the Kabul international airport following the Taliban (banned in Russia) takeover. Some images show Afghans holding on to the tires and sides of large US aircraft and falling to their death after takeoff.

US Army Preparing to House 22,000 Afghan Refugees at Military Bases - NORTHCOM Chief

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US armed forces are already at work erecting emergency accommodation for at least 22,000 anticipated Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban takeover of their country, Northern Command (NORTHCOM) chief General Glen VanHerck said on Tuesday. “We are going to take up to 22,000 [refugees],” VanHerck, who also heads North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told a podcast meeting hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSSS). The Army base of Fort McCoy in Wisconsin would initially house 10,000 to 12,000 of the anticipated refugees, VanHerck said. Also, "We are building at Fort Bliss in Texas facilities,” that would house at least 10,000 more refugees, the general added, allowing for the combined facilities to hold a total of 22,000 in all, the general said.

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On Sunday, as the US forces move close to finishing their withdrawal, the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country to prevent what he described as bloodshed that would occur if militants had to fight for the city. This development has left many people trying to leave the country out of fear of reprisals from the radical movement

Former Golf Assn. Worker Faces Charges for Selling Stolen US Open Tickets - Justice Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The United States has indicted former employee with the US Golf Association (USGA) on charges of pocketing over $1 million from the sale of $3 million in tickets to the US Open over seven years, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. "Robert Fryer, 39... was charged by Information with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and ten counts of wire fraud related to a scheme to embezzle and pocket fraudulent proceeds from the unauthorized sale of United States Open Championship (‘US Open’) tickets, one of four major championships for golf," the Justice Department said in a press release. The term information refers to an accusation to be presented to a grand jury for a formal criminal indictment, according to the Justice Department. Beginning in advance of the 2013 US Open held in Pennsylvania, and continuing through the 2019 tournament held in California, Fryer abused his position in the USGAAdmissions Office in order to steal more than 23,000 admission tickets, the release said. The face value of the tickets that the defendant stole was more the $3 million. He then re-sold the stolen tickets to brokers and pocketed more than $1 million, the release added. Fryer faces a maximum sentence 300 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $3,750,000 fine. In addition, Fryer will be required to pay restitution to the USGA and forfeit the proceeds he obtained as a result of his fraud, according to the release.

US Diplomats May Stay Beyond August 31 in Kabul if Responsible - State Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US Department of State is not excluding the possibility of American diplomats staying in Afghanistan beyond August 31 if it was "responsible” to do so, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday. "If it is safe and responsible for us to potentially stay longer [than August 31], that is something that we may be able to look at,” Price said at a press briefing when asked how long will the US diplomatic mission stay in Kabul.

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US Air Force Says Reviewing Incident of Human Remains Found in C-17 Flying From Kabul

Hamster Study Shows Airborne Coronavirus Deadlier Than Surface Contamination - Health Dept

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - A laboratory study using hamsters determined that coronavirus contracted through airborne transmission is deadlier than when the virus is spread from contaminated surfaces, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said on Tuesday. "The scientists found that aerosol exposure directly deposited SARS-CoV-2 deep into the lungs, whereas fomite [surface] exposure resulted in initial virus replication in the nose. Regardless of exposure route, animals had SARS-CoV-2 replicating in the lungs, but lung damage was more severe in aerosol-exposed animals compared to the fomite group,” an NIH press release said. To investigate how different routes of exposure affected disease development, the scientists exposed hamsters to SARS-CoV-2 via both aerosols and fomites. For aerosol exposure, the scientists used equipment that controlled the size of virus-loaded droplets. For fomite exposure, they placed a dish contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 in the animal cages, the release explained. The experiments also showed that virus transmission from contaminated surfaces is markedly less efficient than with airborne exposure, although surface transmission does occur, the release added. The findings support public health guidance focused on interventions to reduce indoor airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The efforts include masking, increasing air filtration and social distancing, in addition to steps reducing surface transmission such as handwashing and regular surface disinfection, according to the release. The release summarized a report by scientists from the NIH's National Institute for Allergy and Infectious disease that was published in the journal Nature Communications.

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US Senator Urges Biden to Ban TikTok After China Stakes Ownership in Parent Company

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Senator Marco Rubio on Monday called on President Joe Biden to ban the video sharing service TikTok in the United States after the Chinese government took an ownership stake in its parent company Byte Dance. "The Biden administration can no longer pretend that TikTok is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party," Rubio said. "Even before today, it was clear that TikTok represented a serious threat to personal privacy and US national security. Beijing's aggressiveness makes clear that the regime sees TikTok as an extension of the party-state, and the United States needs to treat it that way." The Trump administration had attempted to outlaw TikTok from the United States, but was turned down by a US court. Upon assuming office, Biden dismissed Trump’s appeal of the case in July. In October 2020, Rubio also introduced legislation seeking to establish a set of data protection and censorship-related standards and restrictions that high-risk foreign software like TikTok must meet before being permitted to legally operate in the United States. TikTok recently beat out Face book as the most downloaded application of 2020 among social media networks, Japan's Nikkei reported.

US CENTCOM Chief Visits Kabul Airport To Evaluate Situation Amid Evacuations - Statement

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Frank McKenzie said on Tuesday he visited the airport in Kabul to assess the situation amid mass evacuation from Afghanistan. “Today, I had an opportunity to evaluate the situation at Hamid Karzai International Airport and engage with U.S. military leaders on the ground providing security to the airport,” McKenzie said, as quoted by a CENTCOM statement. “I saw firsthand our defensive lay down and the work our forces are doing to efficiently operate the airfield while ensuring the safe movement of civilians and diplomats who are leaving Kabul.” Currently, the airfield is secure and now open to civilian air traffic operating under visual flight rules, he added. McKenzie noted that during his meeting with Taliban senior officials in Doha last Sunday he cautioned them against interference in the evacuation process.

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Biden, White House National Security Adviser Take Responsibility for Afghanistan Decisions

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said during a press briefing on Tuesday that he, Biden and others in the government are taking responsibility for US decisions related to the Afghan exit. "[Biden]’s taking responsibility for every decision the United States government took with respect to Afghanistan, because as he said, ‘the buck stops with him.’ I am also taking responsibility and so are my colleagues," Sullivan said. Biden has come under fire for the botched evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan, with footage gone viral this week depicting chaos at the Kabul airport reminiscent of the 1975 fall of Saigon. During a speech on Monday, after blaming the swift collapse of Kabul on Afghan government forces, Biden said he would not shrink from sharing responsibility for the current situation. He also said "the buck stops with me," and he would not pass responsibility for the Afghan war to a fifth president. He also said he would not "mislead the American people by claiming that just a little more time in Afghanistan will make all the difference." White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during the same Tuesday briefing that Biden still has confidence in his administration’s intelligence teams despite the challenges of the ongoing evacuation and quicker-than-anticipated takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban (banned in Russia).

US Completes Drawdown of Core Diplomatic Presence in Afghanistan - State Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The United States has completed the drawdown of its core diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, but some embassy staff remain to assist with evacuation efforts at Kabul's international airport, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday. "We've now completed our drawdown to the core diplomatic presence we need and at this time we no longer need to facilitate departures for our Embassy personnel," Price said during a press briefing. "All remaining embassy staff will be assisting departures from Afghanistan."

US, Qatar Discuss Future Collaboration on Afghan Policy, Regional Security - Blinken

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WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatar Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani explored areas for the two nations to cooperate on policy toward Afghanistan and other efforts to help stabilize the region, the State Department said in a readout of the conversation on Tuesday. "Secretary Blinken and the Foreign Minister discussed the close collaboration on Afghanistan and other bilateral efforts to advance regional security,” the readout said. Blinken also thanked Al-Thani for Qatar's assistance in facilitating the transit of US citizens and personnel at the American Embassy in Kabul through Qatar, the readout added. Chaos during the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan triggered the evacuation of the embassy over the weekend and prompted the temporary deployment of thousands of American forces to facilitate the departure of US citizens as the Taliban regained control of the nation. Qatar hosted a series of inconclusive peace talks between the US and Taliban prior to the US withdrawal. In a separate conversation with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Blinken also thanked Kuwait for facilitating the transit of departing US citizens and Kabul embassy personnel, the State Department said.

Biden Still Has Confidence in US Intelligence After Collapse of Afghan Gov't - Psaki

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden remains confident in the US intelligence community despite the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. "He certainly does," Psaki said if Biden is still confident in his US intelligence community after the Afghan government rapidly fell to the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist group).

US in Touch With Chinese, Russians as It Works on Afghanistan Evacuations - White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The United States is in touch with Chinese and Russian officials as it works to evacuate American citizens and allies from Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. "We of course are in touch with the Chinese and the Russians as we work to bring men and women out of Afghanistan including our SIV [Special Immigrant Visa] applicants and others," Psaki said during a press briefing.

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Biden Has Not Spoken With World Leaders Since Fall of Kabul to Taliban - Sullivan

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden has not spoken to any world leaders since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist group), White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. "He has not yet spoken with any other world leaders," Sullivan said when asked if Biden has talked with world leaders since the Taliban takeover of Kabul. Sullivan added that he, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other US officials have been engaged on a regular basis with their counterparts in the region and intend to continue consultations in the coming days. On Monday, Blinken held consultations with his counterparts from Russia, China, Pakistan, and India. On Sunday, the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani resigned and left the country to prevent what he said would be bloodshed if militants had to fight for the city.

House Republicans Press Biden For Plan to Keep US Safe From Afghan-Based Terrorists

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - House Republicans, fearing that the Taliban (banned in Russia) takeover of Afghanistan will allow terrorists to once again plan attacks on the United States, demanded that President Joe Biden disclose a US strategy to prevent another September 11 attack, House Armed Services Committee ranking Republican Mike Rogers said on Tuesday. "Al Qaeda [banned in Russia] used Afghanistan to plot and execute the 9/11 attacks and other acts of terrorism. You cannot let this happen again. As such, we request that you immediately provide Congress with your plan to prevent terror groups from using Afghanistan as a safe haven to recruit and train the next generation of terrorists,” a letter from committee Republicans and released by Rogers said. Al Qaeda planned the September 11 attacks and began training the terrorists responsible from a sanctuary in Afghanistan provided by the Taliban prior to the terror group’s ouster in a 2001 US invasion. The Taliban regained power over the weekend during an exit by American forces. The letter also blamed Biden for the chaos now engulfing Afghanistan due to a failure to plan for the withdrawal, claiming the "security and humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Afghanistan could have been avoided if you had done any planning."

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In recent days, thousands of Afghans have stormed the airport in Kabul seeking seats on evacuation flights following President Ashraf Ghani's flight from the country and an evacuation of the American Embassy.

'Fair Amount' of US Weapons Given to Afghan Forces Fell Into Taliban Hands - Sullivan

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - Afair amount of US weapons given to the Afghan armed forces fell into the hands of the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist group) and is unlikely to be handed back, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. "We don't have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defense materials has gone, but certainly a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and, obviously, we don't have a sense that they are going to readily hand it to us at the airport," Sullivan said during a press briefing.

US Intelligence Warned Biden Administration of Possible Afghan Military Collapse - Reports

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The US intelligence community was increasingly pessimistic about the Afghan army being able to resist the Taliban’s (banned in Russia) rapid offensive and repeatedly warned the Biden administration as the president himself believed that was unlikely to happen, the New York Times reported on Tuesday citing unnamed government officials. While Biden was reassuring the American public that Afghanistan would not be a quick prey for the Taliban (banned in Russia) after the withdrawal of the US troops from the country, a number of intelligence reports predicted that should the insurgency group start seizing cities, a collapse could happen rapidly and the Afghan security forces would be on a brink of falling apart, according to the report. An intelligence report in July noted that the Afghan government was unprepared for a Taliban (banned in Russia) assault as many country’s districts and major cities fell to their hands, the report said. At the same time, even as late as a week before the Taliban (banned in Russia) seized power in Kabul on Sunday, US intelligence was reluctant to conclude that the end of the Afghan government and army was inevitable, according to the report. Notwithstanding that US intelligence agencies have long predicted an ultimate Taliban victory, they didn’t predict a collapse of the Afghan defense forces to happen within weeks. When the State Department ordered the departure of nonessential personnel from the embassy in Kabul

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on April 27, the intelligence assessment was that the Taliban (banned in Russia) will be able to take over Afghanistan not earlier than in 18 months, according to administration officials. On Sunday, the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani resigned and left the country to prevent what he described as bloodshed that would occur if militants had to fight for the city.

White House National Security Adviser Says Ghani No Longer a Factor in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is no longer a factor in Afghanistan following the Taliban (banned in Russia) takeover. "I’m not going to characterize anything about President Ghani at this point, who is no longer a factor in Afghanistan," Sullivan said during a White House press briefing. Sullivan added that he is not aware of any requests by Ghani or other Afghan officials for asylum in the United States.

US Has 'No Expectations' on Taliban Meeting Human Rights Obligations - White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a press briefing on Tuesday that he has no expectations of the Taliban moving forward and that it is up to them to uphold their obligations and prove themselves to the international community. "Finally, on what we expect from the Taliban going forward, that is something that will have to be watched and observed over time, whether in fact they are prepared to meet their obligations to the basic human rights and human dignity of people, to the safe passage of people to the airport, to the fair and just treatment of civilians. That is something they’re going to have to show," Sullivan said. "I come at this with no expectations, but only a sense that they will have to prove to the international community who they ultimately are going to end up being."

US Does Not Foresee Taliban, IS Forming 'Symbiotic' Relationship - White House

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The United States does not expect a symbiotic relationship to form between the Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group (both banned

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in Russia) in Afghanistan, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. "It’s fairly well-documented that the Taliban and ISIS-K [IS Khorasan] fight one another, struggle against one another, so I do not foresee a symbiotic relationship there, though these are dynamic scenarios, so we will have to see how it plays [out]," Sullivan said at a press briefing.

US Military Commanders Brief Biden on Situation in Afghanistan - National Security Advisor

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - The top US military commanders on Tuesday briefed President Joe Biden about the security situation at the Kabul airport and the ongoing operation to evacuate US citizens and allies from Afghanistan, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a press briefing. "This morning, the president spoke with his military commanders for an operational briefing on the security at the Hamid Karzai International Airport," Sullivan said. Biden held a separate meeting with his national security team to receive updates on intelligence and diplomatic matters regarding Afghanistan, Sullivan added.

Pharmacist Faces 120 Years in Jail for Selling COVID-19 Vaccine Cards - US Justice Dept.

WASHINGTON, August 17 (Sputnik) - A licensed Chicago pharmacist has been arrested for selling Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVI D-19 vaccination cards online and could face a prison term of up to 120 years, the US Justice Department said on Tuesday. "A licensed pharmacist was arrested today in Chicago on charges related to his alleged sale of dozens of authentic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination cards on eBay," Justice Department said in a statement. "If convicted, he faces a sentence of ten years in prison per count." The Justice Department said the pharmacist, Tangtang Zhao, sold 125 vaccination cards to 11 buyers for approximately $10 per card and is being charged on 12 counts of theft of government property. Zhao worked at a pharmacy that administered coronavirus vaccines and the facility is required by law to provide a CDC vaccination record card to each recipient. FBI Chicago Field Office Special Agent in Emmerson Buie said that improperly distributing vaccine cards constitutes a federal crime and doing so puts Americans at risk.

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