President Biden appeared unwilling Tuesday to bend to pressure, including from European allies, to extend a massive Afghanistan evacuation effort, planning — for now — to stick to his deadline for troop withdrawal. Administration officials said, however, they are exploring a presence beyond the deadline that would allow Western forces to keep the airport open. State Department officials in Kabul are holding virtual meetings with Taliban representatives there about the withdrawal and airlifts, administration officials said. AdvertisementBut less publicly, many of Washington’s allies have been furious with Biden’s handling of the chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “Bitter, dramatic and terrible.”That Biden is receiving such criticism from allies — allies who embraced him warmly after he replaced the contentious former President Trump — underscores the challenge he faces.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 24, 2021 16:14 UTC