Trump's Pledge to Exit Afghanistan Was a Ruse, His Final SecDef Says  —  Chris Miller now says talk of a full withdrawal was a “play” to convince a Taliban-led government to keep U.S. counterterrorism forces.  — AFGHANISTAN - WHITE HOUSE - PENTAGON - TERRORISM

Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Kabul (August 18, 2021)  —  U.S. government-provided flights are departing.  U.S. citizens, LPRs, and their spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) should consider travelling to Hamid Karzai International Airport.   You should plan to enter the airport at Camp Sullivan.

Afghanistan: Desperate women throw babies over razor wire at compound, asking British soldiers to take them  —  As every day passes, the relief operation gets more and more urgent and desperate, as the British military tries to move thousands of people out of Afghanistan in just days.

Afghan Women Are Already Fading From Public View as Fear of the Taliban and Uncertainty Prevail  —  Women are afraid to go outside or speak out as crackdowns on freedoms begin  —  Dr. Zuhal used to drive herself to work.  —  This week, she started taking a taxi to avoid reprisals from the Taliban, who once banned women from driving.

Live updates: U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan until all American citizens are evacuated, Biden tells ABC News  —  The militants erected checkpoints near the airport entrance, beating some Afghans who attempted to cross and intimidating others from leaving, according to reports and an eyewitness account.