Behold Barack Antoinette  —  WASHINGTON — Jay Gatsby gave big, lavish, new-money parties at his sprawling mansion on the water because he wanted to seem cool.  He wanted Daisy to notice him.  —  Barack Obama gave a big, lavish, new-money party at his sprawling mansion on the water because he wanted to seem cool.

From hubris to humiliation: America's warrior class contends with the abject failure of its Afghanistan project  —  Twenty years ago, when the twin towers and the Pentagon were still smoldering, there was a sense among America's warrior and diplomatic class that history was starting anew …

Taliban capture major northern city, approach Afghan capital  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have captured a large, heavily defended city in northern Afghanistan in a major setback for the government, and the insurgents are approaching the capital less than three weeks before the U.S. hopes to complete its troop withdrawal.

Statement by President Joe Biden on Afghanistan  —  Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.  —  First, based on the recommendations …

Taliban Sweep in Afghanistan Follows Years of U.S. Miscalculations  —  An Afghan military that did not believe in itself and a U.S. effort that Mr. Biden, and most Americans, no longer believed in brought an ignoble end to America's longest war.  —  WASHINGTON — President Biden's top advisers concede …

HAITI HORROR Haiti earthquake - Huge magnitude 7 quake strikes in Caribbean as THOUSANDS feared dead after buildings collapse  —  THOUSANDS are feared dead and many more injured after a major earthquake struck western Haiti on Saturday, forcing people to flee their homes amid fears buildings might collapse.

Teen accused of assisting GOP strategist with sex trafficking arrested in Florida: report  —  According to a report from the Daily Beast, a 19-year-old woman who has been accused of assisting a GOP strategist with sex trafficking of underage f girls was taken into custody in Florida.