Nearly 90 retired generals and admirals are calling on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Mark Milley, to resign over the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Their open letter reads, “The hasty retreat has left an unknown number of Americans stranded in dangerous areas controlled by a brutal enemy along with Afghans who supported American forces.” They added, “The retired flag officer signers believe these top military advisers should have resigned as a matter of conscience and public statement.” And the House Freedom Caucus is voicing concern over the way the evacuation in Afghanistan was handled. They’re calling on President Joe Biden to resign after U.S. troops fully withdrew from Afghanistan, but American citizens remain.
The last U.S. military plane departing Kabul Monday marked the end to a 20-year presence there. Now questions remain as to what happens to the gear left behind and the Afghan allies still in the country. A group of former U.S. Green Berets and SEAL Team members launched a mission called Pineapple Express, named after an Afghan commando they had served with. The commando had contacted them, saying he was on the run from the Taliban, and his visa was not approved when the Taliban took over. The task force worked with the U.S. military at the Kabul airport. They told the Afghan troops and their families to go to an airport gate and identify themselves with the password “pineapple” or show pictures of pineapples on their phones. They were then put on board a plane.
A wounded war veteran is now the first American man to win gold in a Paralympic triathlon. Brad Snyder was blinded by an explosive device while serving in Afghanistan. But that didn’t stop him. Snyder raced alongside his guide and fellow triathlete Greg Billington. He’s taking the gold just three years after switching from competing in swimming.
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