US embassy says it ‘cannot ensure safe passage’ to Kabul airport – US politics live

Speaking at the White House press briefing yesterday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan pushed back against criticism that the Biden administration was caught flat-footed when it came to evacuating Americans out of Afghanistan.

“We communicated with American citizens for weeks, telling them to get out of the country. We offered financial assistance for those who wouldn’t be able to afford to get on flights themselves,” Sullivan said.

“Many chose to stay right until the end, and that was their choice. We now are faced with a circumstance where we have to help evacuate those. That’s our responsibility as the US government.”

He added, “The point I’m making is that when a civil war comes to an end with an opposing force marching on the capital, there are going to be scenes of chaos, there are going to be lots of people leaving the country. That is not something that can be fundamentally avoided.”

The Guardian’s Ben Doherty, Warren Murray and agencies report:

Taliban promises of “safe passage” to the Kabul airport for Afghans trying to flee the country have been undermined by reports of women and children being beaten and whipped as they try to pass through checkpoints set up by the militants.

With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan’s land border, Kabul airport is the only way out of the country. The US military has secured the airfield itself, after chaotic scenes over the weekend, but the Taliban control the road to the airport and have set up numerous checkpoints in Kabul’s north.

The US says the Taliban has committed to “safe passage” for people who want to reach the airport. But reports from the Afghan capital say there has been violence at checkpoints on Airport Road, including photographs of a woman and a child with head injuries after reportedly being beaten and whipped after trying to cross a checkpoint.

Sources in Kabul told the Guardian the Taliban were checking documents and forcibly turning some people around at checkpoints, refusing to let them reach the airport.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris received a briefing this morning from their national security team on the situation in Afghanistan, the White House said.

“They were briefed on intelligence, security and diplomatic updates. They discussed efforts to accelerate evacuations of U.S. citizens, SIV applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans, and to facilitate safe passage to Hamid Karzai International Airport,” the White House told the press pool.

“The President, Vice President, and their team also discussed their focus on monitoring for any potential terrorist threats in Afghanistan, including from ISIS-K.”

Among those conducting the briefing were defense secretary Lloyd Austin, secretary of state Antony Blinken and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Mark Milley.

A CNN reporter spotted Milley at the White House earlier today:

Students in Florida’s Broward County went back to school under a mask mandate today, even as their school board faced threats of severe penalties for defying Republican governor Ron DeSantis.

Reuters further repots:

The ONE Campaign, which is dedicated to ending extreme poverty and preventable disease in the world, warned that the US plan to administer coronavirus vaccine boosters “threatens to widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots”.

“It’s outrageous that a healthy, vaccinated individual will be able to get a third shot before the elderly and health workers in low-income countries can get a single dose,” Sarah Swinehart, the senior director of communications for ONE’s North America operation, said in a statement.

The group noted that just 1.3% of people in low-income countries have received at least one coronavirus vaccine dose, according to data.

“While we understand the Biden administration‘s goal to further protect Americans, today’s decision will further exacerbate global vaccine inequities and prolong the pandemic at home and abroad,” Swinehart said.

“In order to save lives, reduce the emergence of variants, and stop the spread of COVID-19, the US and wealthy countries must share more doses immediately.”

Members of the White House pandemic response team emphasized that they are not recommending average Americans get a vaccine booster shot today.

Booster shots will be made available to all Americans who received the Moderna or Pfizer coronavirus vaccine starting the week of September 20, and health officials are recommending getting a booster eight months after a second dose.

That strategy will allow for vulnerable populations who were among the first to be vaccinated, including healthcare workers and elderly Americans, to get their booster shots starting next month.

For younger Americans who were vaccinated later in the year, they may not get their booster shots until late 2021 or early 2022.

A reporter asked the White House pandemic response team to respond to criticism over offering booster shots to Americans while many countries still do not have enough first doses for their citizens.

Pandemic response coordinator Jeff Zients said the US was committed to both protecting Americans against coronavirus and distributing vaccines to countries around the world.

Zients said he expects the US to administer about 100 million vaccine booster shots in the coming months, while simultaneously distributing more than 200 million vaccine doses to other countries.

Dr Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, added, “I do not accept the idea that we have to choose between America and the world. We clearly see our responsibility to both.”

Dr Anthony Fauci, the president’s chief medical adviser, laid out the data that led health officials to recommend booster shots for all Americans who received the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines.

Fauci said data indicates that the antibodies provided by the vaccines decline over time, and higher levels of antibodies may be required to protect against the more highly transmissible Delta variant, which is spreading across the US.

Booster shots can help to increase antibody levels, thus providing more effective protection against the Delta variant, which is why health officials are encouraging Americans to get a third dose eight months after their second shot.