Mitch McConnell condemns Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal plan as 'dangerous wishful thinking'


Joyce Karam
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Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday delivered his heaviest criticism yet of US President Joe Biden’s plan to withdraw from Afghanistan, calling it “dangerous wishful thinking".

Speaking from the Senate floor, Mr McConnell said the withdrawal decision was “not clear-eyed or strategic”.

He said there was a lack of “a coherent plan to mitigate the geopolitical and humanitarian risks” and “there is every reason to believe Al Qaeda will regroup in its historic safe haven”.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to overthrow the Taliban and elements of Al Qaeda after the terror attacks of September 11.

Now the Biden administration has set September 11 this year as the deadline to pull out all remaining US troops from the country.

Mr McConnell voiced concern over the US military's future ability to conduct counter-terrorism “reconnaissance and strike missions” without a presence in Afghanistan.

“If the Taliban takes Kabul, will the Biden administration recognise it as the legitimate government of Afghanistan?" he asked.

"Will we shutter our embassy and our aid programmes?

“The reality is, they don’t know. They can’t say. There is no plan."

Biden administration officials insisted last week that they were planning to ensure the US would be able to continue its battle against terrorism after withdrawing.

David Helvey, assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific affairs, told Congress last Friday that the process was “ongoing”.

“We’re working to reposition our counter-terrorism capabilities, including by retaining assets in the region,” Mr Helvey said.

But while Mr McConnell’s view echoes some of the criticism by former generals and military officials, there appears to be no consensus within the Republican Party on the issue.

Republican senators Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Jim Inhofe and Rand Paul have welcomed the end to America’s longest war and bringing troops home.

The plan has also been met with praise from progressive members of Congress looking to keep the focus on domestic issues.

Twenty-three members of Congress, led by Democratic representative Mark Pocan, sent a letter to Mr Biden on Friday commending the withdrawal, saying it could save US taxpayers $50 billion.

They suggested spending the money on ending homelessness in the US.

US Central Command said last week that the withdrawal was on schedule and that the military had completed up to 20 per cent of the pullout.

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'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

MATCH INFO

English Premiership semi-finals

Saracens 57
Wasps 33

Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

Pakistan World Cup squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain      

Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali

F1 drivers' standings

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281

2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56