Topline
Joe Biden, President of the United States, said that he was not aware of the Taliban giving names to Americans and Afghans in order to evacuate Kabul. Politico reported this earlier in the day, but the president stated that he could not rule it out.
On August 26, President Joe Biden spoke at the White House about Afghanistan's situation. Getty Images
The Key Facts
Politico reported Thursday that officials gave the Taliban names of evacuees to cross through Taliban checkpoints to reach Kabul's U.S.-occupied airstrip. The list included American citizens, legal permanent residents, and Afghans who were working for the U.S. military. However, the United States stopped later sending Afghan evacuees names, Politico reported. Biden spoke to reporters on Thursday afternoon, saying that he didn't know of any instances where the United States had sent names to the Taliban. However, he said that the Taliban has always cooperated with such requests.
Tangent
Biden spoke from Washington after suicide bombers struck the Kabul airport's entrance and a nearby hotel, killing 12 U.S troops and dozens more. The bombing was claimed by the Islamic State (also known ISIS), which is an Afghan affiliate of the United States.
Important Background
The U.S. military began a frenetic effort to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan after the Taliban took power earlier in the month. All U.S. troops will be leaving Afghanistan next week. In recent weeks, more than 80,000 people flew out of Kabul. However, the Taliban set up checkpoints at the airport and promised to stop Afghan citizens leaving. The United States has formed an unusual partnership to the Taliban. It is coordinating security with Taliban fighters and getting promises from the Taliban that it will allow U.S citizens to leave.
Chief Critic
Politico reported that the decision to send names of evacuees to the Taliban was controversial. This is especially because there are fears that the Taliban will strike back at Afghans who helped the United States. Unnamed defense officials told Politico that the U.S. sent the Taliban kill lists. Critics also lamented America's dependence on the Taliban for their cooperation. This is an utterly strange and bizarre situation. After visiting Kabul, Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., explained Wednesday that the Taliban were no longer an enemy. He was now relying on them for security and coordination.
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U.S. officials gave Taliban names of Americans and Afghan allies for evacuation (Politico).
