News stories

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — It was the white Toyota Corolla that caught the attention of Central Command, convincing them that was the vehicle carrying a terrorist bent on attacking Abbey Gate at Kabul airport. Perhaps their next clue was a man with a beard; both are beyond ubiquitous in Kabul specifically and Afghanistan generally, where

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — Almost every night, the lucky few who walked astride LBJ Memorial Gardens on the Pentagon side of the Potomac River dance in a view that never got old: the city lights of the nation’s capital, washing in pride and honor the monuments and memorials to Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. Except

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The Pentagon made it clear Thursday that the remains of the once-recognized Afghan government — now battling the Taliban from the Panjshir Valley — is on its own and not to expect U.S. assistance. “The US military mission in Afghanistan is over,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said when asked whether

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON – The last frenzy days of the current chapter of America’s longest war are set to end after a few more sunsets over the Hindu Kush. Much will be left behind, beyond weapons, dashed dreams, and thousands whose lives now are in jeopardy. The rubble of relevancy and redundancy, two dancing

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The Pentagon made it crystal clear Wednesday that its mission in Afghanistan is to protect the airport and that Americans needing help to get to Kabul — especially those beyond the city limits — for possible evacuation are on their own. In military parlance, they are S.O.L. — the more

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON – Three babies have been born on US military aircraft flying them out of Afghanistan, Gen. Stephen Lyons, head of U.S, Transportation Command, told Pentagon reporters Monday. What nationality those babies will be remains to be determined. In Germany, where one of the Afghan woman’s baby was born, citizenship is not

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — No one at the Pentagon wants to harken back to Vietnam regarding anything to do with Afghanistan but actions speak louder than silence at the Kabul airport. To avoid being downed by hostile fire at the airport — Gen. Stephen Lyons, head of U.S. Transportation Command said “The threat is

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The mission in Kabul is set, the Pentagon’s top leaders said, and that seems to mean U.S. citizens are on their own to get to the airport and fly to safety. Asked during a press briefing if the burgeoning U.S. military assets at Kabul airport will include ways to escort

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON – Joe Biden had a clear vision what needed to do in Afghanistan when he spoke to reporters during his visit to Kabul in January 2002. “Let’s make it clear,” Biden said then. “I am not talking about peacekeepers. I’m not talking about blue helmets. I’m talking about people who shoot

By Tom Squitieri   WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is mobilizing around 6,000 troops to help evacuate and protect U.S. diplomatic personnel and qualified Afghans from Kabul, with the operation to begin within 24 to 48 hours, Pentagon officials said Thursday.   Following the Pentagon announcement, officials in the U.K. and Germany said their governments are

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON –The door opens and she enters the house, en route to see the President of the United States. A year after a door closed on her. Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, joined other members of her family to visit President Biden on the one-year anniversary of her father’s murder

By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — For the first time in history, a nation on the possible path to join NATO is cavorting with the enemy. Serbia, a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace program, has concluded a week of military drills with Russia while NATO members were already holding massive military maneuvers nearby in