Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #HKIA
Most recents (7)
Happening NOW: @CENTCOM Cmdr Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie briefs on the investigation into the August 26, 2021 #ISIS-#Khorasan bombing at Abbey Gate, Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed 13 US servicemembers & at least 170 Afghans 
"The investigation found that a single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians & 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men & women at Abbey gate" per @CENTCOM's McKenzie
"The investigation found no definitive proof that anyone was ever hit or killed by gunfire, either U.S. or Afghan" per @CENTCOM's McKenzie, citing more than 100 sworn witnesses
🐾1. There was never gonna be a chartered/paid for plane. I pawlieve all the “we need this permit/we need that DIP note” = smoke. @KSAnimalRescue’s plan: put pets on FREE military plane, ppl happy, pets saved, Charlotte a heroine, no❓s asked,💰gone in their pockets.
🐾2. If that doesn’t work out, blame the military & imaginary charter companies they never contacted for withholding funds while using this ⬆️ to raise even mooore 💰 ➡️ = exactly what @SPCAINT & KSAR are doing now. While the 🐶s we donated for = abandoned in #HKIA💔⬇️
🐾3.Yet ANOTHER fundraiser by @KSAnimalRescue & @SPCAINT. Not misleading, BLATANT LIES: @PenFarthing saved his pets cause he PAID for a private ✈️. This 💩⬇️ frames it as if KSAR private ✈️ was waiting on the runway but the military really wanted 🐕s dead so they refused access.
since people keep insinuating the Taliban were behind (or invited) today's attack – some broader context:
so, ISIS-K / ISKP (IS Khorasan Province) claimed responsibility & there's no reason to doubt this – it aligns with *all* their interests.
as for the Taliban, well...
so, ISIS-K / ISKP (IS Khorasan Province) claimed responsibility & there's no reason to doubt this – it aligns with *all* their interests.
as for the Taliban, well...
so for starters, the Taliban & ISIS are enemies. conflating them, or their prevailing interests, makes no sense.
they've been at war – under Trump, the US military literally aided Taliban offensives against ISIS:
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/1…
they've been at war – under Trump, the US military literally aided Taliban offensives against ISIS:
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/1…
the Taliban's main interests now are proving they can govern, and getting the US out ASAP for good. (hence the protection they've provided.)
for ISIS though, the chaos at #HKIA presented a golden opportunity to terrorize US troops, civilians, & undermine the Taliban all at once.
for ISIS though, the chaos at #HKIA presented a golden opportunity to terrorize US troops, civilians, & undermine the Taliban all at once.
BREAKING: At the time, we know that 12 US service members have been killed and 15 more injured in the attack at #HKIA, says @CENTCOM
Gen. McKenzie confirms ours and others' reporting that ISIS was behind the attack on Abbey gate and the nearby Baron hotel. ISIS gunmen opened fire after the two explosions.
McKenzie says he expects these attacks to continue. DOD is doing everything in the power to prevent, including reaching out to the Taliban.
#Biden's decision to stick to the Aug 31 deadline is bold -- it raises 2 key risks:
1) We'll be leaving people behind, certainly 1,000s of #Afghans & quite likely, a few Americans in hard-to-reach spots.
2) Other G7/NATO states have been rebuffed again by #Biden -- more anger.
1) We'll be leaving people behind, certainly 1,000s of #Afghans & quite likely, a few Americans in hard-to-reach spots.
2) Other G7/NATO states have been rebuffed again by #Biden -- more anger.
"#Biden's decision to pull out troops was backed by most Americans, 53%-38%. But almost two-thirds, 62%, disapproved of the way his administration has handled that withdrawal."
Overall approval rating now 41%.
New polling on #Afghanistan's impact:
usatoday.com/story/news/pol…
Overall approval rating now 41%.
New polling on #Afghanistan's impact:
usatoday.com/story/news/pol…
BREAKING -- The US military has begun re-withdrawing from #Afghanistan, per US officials.
Very worrying sign for the 10,000s of those left behind - mostly #Americans, but some U.S. & European nationals too.
Very worrying sign for the 10,000s of those left behind - mostly #Americans, but some U.S. & European nationals too.
There's lots of first-hand accounts of this from recent days -- intensifying over time. For now, the window's closing/closed for #Afghans, as the U.S. & others prioritize their citizens' evacuation.
This was all inevitable given the tight timeline, and it'll worsen too.
This was all inevitable given the tight timeline, and it'll worsen too.
More than any other aspect of the #Afghanistan withdrawal, this is what should have been 100% avoidable.
And as @RepAdamSchiff has just stated, the IC *did* warn of a swift #Taliban victory -- this was *not* an intelligence failure, it was a political/decision-making one.
And as @RepAdamSchiff has just stated, the IC *did* warn of a swift #Taliban victory -- this was *not* an intelligence failure, it was a political/decision-making one.
@RepAdamSchiff The #Taliban aren't stupid; they know the U.S. (& #NATO allies) are under pressure -- #Taliban fighters have significantly increased their intimidation of Afghans outside #HKIA - countless reports of beating, whipping & even gunfire.
And they're blocking known meeting points.
And they're blocking known meeting points.
Happening now: @SecDef Lloyd Austin, @thejointstaff Chairman Gen Mark Milley speaking to reporters for the 1st time since the fall of #Kabul, collapse of the @ashrafghani-led #Afghanistan gvt
