US diplomats in Kabul wrote a memo previous thirty day period warning Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Afghanistan’s govt could swiftly collapse — appearing to contradict President Biden’s contention that the US governing administration was surprised by the swift Taliban progress.
Approximately two dozen diplomats signed the memo, initial claimed by the Wall Avenue Journal, on July 13 urging the Condition Division to start off processing vulnerable Afghans for visas to the US and to start evacuation flights by Aug. 1.
The Biden administration launched Operation Allies Refuge one particular working day afterwards, but the Journal reviews that evacuation flights didn’t accelerate until finally last 7 days when the Taliban had currently seized significant Afghan metropolitan areas and neared Kabul.
The memo reportedly predicted an Afghan governing administration collapse shortly after Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline to clear away most troops from the 20-12 months US intervention.
Blinken study the memo, which was signed by 23 US citizens operating at the Kabul embassy, a source instructed the Journal.
Fox Information reported it verified the Journal’s report. Point out Department spokespeople did not straight away answer to The Post’s request for comment.
Biden explained in a Wednesday job interview with ABC Information that “there was no consensus” inside of the US government on irrespective of whether Afghanistan would tumble to the Taliban.
On Monday, Biden claimed in a speech at the White Residence, “The real truth is: This did unfold far more quickly than we experienced anticipated.”
Past reports stated US spy businesses anticipated the collapse of the Kabul authorities inside of weeks or months of Aug. 31.
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, has backed Biden up, indicating Wednesday, “There was nothing at all that I or any individual else observed that indicated a collapse of this military and this government in 11 days.”
Last month, Biden insisted, “The likelihood there’s likely to be the Taliban overrunning anything and proudly owning the complete country is extremely not likely.”