Free Republic

The British government has reportedly hired a fleet of private boats to help the Border Force bring illegal Channel migrants ashore at a cost to the taxpayer at least £36 million. According to a report from The Times of London, the UK Home Office — the government body responsible for controlling immigration and protecting the country’s borders — has signed a contract worth £36 million for the hiring of a “charter of vessel(s) to support small boats operations in the Dover Straits”. The contract, which is set to come into force in April and will last until at least the...

BREAKING: President Biden on mission in Kabul: “Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours.”

US troops injured in 'suicide bombing' at Kabul airport - reports Our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay says he understands the explosion took place in a sewage canal outside the airport, where thousands have gathered in a bid to board flights since the Taliban takeover on 15 August. Ramsay - who was until recently on the ground in Kabul - says this event could mark the end of the airlift from Afghanistan. The journalist added it is understood that American soldiers were injured in the blast, which US officials believe was an attack by a suicide bomber. He said: "From our...

President Joe Biden on Wednesday joked with an NBC reporter about the evacuation in Afghanistan as thousands, including many Americans, struggle to get out of the war-torn country as the Taliban takes over. Biden, after he made remarks at cybersecurity summit featuring several prominent business executives, was asked by NBC's Peter Alexander what he would do if Americans are still in Afghanistan after the August 31st deadline to withdraw U.S. troops. 'You'll be the first person I call,' Biden joked in response. White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended Biden's remarks pointing out he has given numerous updates and gotten...

President Biden address(es) the nation on the situation in Afghanistan as well as the administration’s response to Hurricane Henri.

The escape from Afghanistan continued to descend into a humiliating debacle for the US on Saturday, as threats of ISIS attacks and Taliban death squads — and contradictory guidance from the White House — added to the perilous chaos faced by thousands of Americans and allies trying to flee the country. The US Embassy said on Saturday that American citizens in Afghanistan should stay away from Kabul’s airport, the only way out. The advisory directly contradicted President Biden’s insistence on Friday that Americans could proceed to Hamid Karzai International Airport freely from the Afghan capital and that an “agreement” with...

President Joe Biden will not spend the weekend at his home in Delaware after the situation in Afghanistan continues to devolve with Americans warned not to travel to Kabul airport. -snip- The White House did not provide a reason as to why the trip was cancelled nor did it indicate whether the president planned to travel on Sunday. -snip- 'Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative...

Joe Biden has half a mind to be president. Once upon a time I thought it was outré to say it out loud and point it out. Given the historic humiliation of the United States that is in process, however, that time is now time past. Today’s New York Post puts one form of the thought on the cover to promote its coverage of the humiliation — news stories such as this one, the editorial “Biden lies through his teeth, fails to fess up to Afghanistan shambles for third time” (more here), and columns by Michael Goodwin and Michael Walsh.

President Joe Biden’s job approval is underwater in most states, according to the CIVIQS rolling job approval average. Thirty-seven states show the president with a 50 percent or higher disapproval rate. This is compared to only 12 states that show the president with a higher approval rating. Meanwhile, only one state, Colorado, polled at an even tie with 46 percent. The seven-month rolling average of the president’s job approval is now at 50 percent disapproval compared to only 43 percent approval, with seven people expressing no opinion. Broken down by age groups; 18-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65 plus, all have...

Kamala Harris on Friday night flew to Singapore to begin an Asia trip that will see her away from Washington DC for a week, in the midst of the biggest crisis to hit the Biden presidency so far. As she left the city for her second international trip as vice president, Harris, 56, insisted that the administration remained focused on Afghanistan, despite criticism over her absence from public view all week. -snip- Her departure at a time of crisis will fuel criticism of her as an ineffective and inconsequential vice president. Last week, when likely voters were asked in a...

President Joe Biden stood firm Friday in his decision to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and attempted to invoke optimism for the evacuation of all Americans and Afghan allies despite scenes of chaos and despair over the past week. But throughout his remarks, the president made several claims at odds with reports from the ground in Afghanistan and even officials within his administration and seemed unaware of criticism from American allies. 'I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world.' An easily disputable statement from Biden came in response to a question that asked...

Minutes after President Biden on Friday said the mission to destroy Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was a success and that he knew of no circumstances where Americans had been unable to reach Kabul airport, he was flatly contradicted by the Pentagon. Al Qaeda remains present in Afghanistan, said Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby during a briefing, and yes, he was aware of reports of Americans being beaten by the Taliban as they tried to reach safety. The contradiction will raise further doubt about whether Biden is in control of the White House messaging operation, let alone the chaotic effort...

WASHINGTON — President Biden on Friday claimed that al-Qaeda is “gone” from Afghanistan and that the Taliban is letting Americans reach Kabul’s airport, before Pentagon leaders contradicted the commander in chief on both claims. Biden stumbled repeatedly when taking his first questions from reporters on Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban — also claiming that US allies were not displeased by the chaotic US pullout, despite rare public rebukes. “What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point with al Qaeda gone? We went to Afghanistan for the express purpose of getting rid of al Qaeda in Afghanistan,” Biden said...

President Biden took questions from a room full of reporters Friday for the first time since the Taliban's lightning-fast takeover of Kabul, but at times the 78-year-old commander-in-chief flubbed his words and offered a series of chaotic contradictions. Here are the seven contentious moments from the president's news conference: Biden proclaims al-Qaeda is 'gone' in Afghanistan, in direct contradiction with the Pentagon's assessment -snip- Biden says he has seen 'no indication' Americans have had a tough time getting to the airport, but American journalists on the ground say otherwise -snip- 'The first part of your question was — I can't...

President Joe Biden vowed Friday to get all Americans and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan and took questions from White House reporters - on a pre-approved list - for the first time in nine days. 'Let me be clear, any American who wants to come home, we will get you home,' Biden pledged during the speech he started 50 minutes late where he stumbled over answers. The president made the promise to 'mobilize every force necessary' despite admitting he doesn't know how many Americans were left and he 'cannot promise what the final outcome will be'.

Live thread with dear leader

WASHINGTON — Facing a torrent of criticism, President Joe Biden plans to speak Friday about the chaotic evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan as the U.S. struggles with obstacles ranging from armed Taliban checkpoints to airport pandemonium and cumbersome red tape. While Biden has previously blamed Afghans for the U.S. failure to get out more allies ahead of this month’s sudden Taliban takeover, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that American diplomats had formally urged weeks ago that the administration ramp up evacuation efforts. In addition to criticism from some lawmakers who say the U.S. failed to adequately plan...

President Biden scrapped plans to travel to his home in Wilmington, Del., on Friday as the White House grapples with the chaotic situation in Afghanistan. Biden had been scheduled to depart the White House for Wilmington Friday afternoon, but a White House official said that he will no longer be traveling and will instead remain in Washington on Friday night. It’s unclear if he could travel to Wilmington later on in the weekend.

President Joe Biden continued to struggle with his response to the crisis in Afghanistan after days of hunkering down and seemingly waiting for the storm to blow over. Faced with an outcry from the press over the president’s unwillingness to answer questions about the chaotic conclusion of the 20-year war in Afghanistan, Biden did an interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos at the White House to defend his actions.