Republican Sen. Ben Sasse calls on Biden to 'reverse course' and extend military evacuations in Kabul

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) is calling on President Biden to reverse course in Afghanistan in the wake of an attack Thursday morning near the Kabul airport.
Sasse called the explosions, which U.S. officials suspect were carried out by ISIS-K members, "the nightmare we feared" as the military has sought to evacuate U.S. personnel and Afghan allies in recent days. He argued that Biden's two options are to either "rip up the August 31 deadline" for evacuations or "leave people behind in your retreat." By casting aside the previous deadline, Sasse says the U.S. could expand its military presence around the airport or "retake" Bagram, where the U.S. previously held an air base.
Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan (N.H.) agreed with Sasse, saying "We must complete this mission, regardless of any arbitrary deadlines."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Weakness will accelerate the bloodshed," wrote Sasse. "Lord, have mercy on Americans in harm's way."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Book reviews: 'America, América: A New History of the New World' and 'Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson'
Feature A historian tells a new story of the Americas and the forgotten story of a pioneering preacher
-
Another messaging app used by the White House is in hot water
The Explainer TeleMessage was seen being used by former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
-
AI hallucinations are getting worse
In the Spotlight And no one knows why it is happening
-
Will Iran's attack on Israel backfire?
Today's Big Question The unprecedented targeting of Israel could be a 'godsend' for Netanyahu as the limits of Tehran's military power are exposed
-
Will Iran risk all-out war with Israel?
Today's Big Question Tehran has not wanted to be directly involved in the Middle East conflict so far. But that could be about to change
-
A history of Guantánamo Bay
The Explainer War of Terror's 'symbol of torture, rendition and indefinite detention' is subject of new Serial podcast series
-
'Humanitarian islands': how will Israel's plan for Rafah civilians work?
Today's Big Question Designated zones in central Gaza to provide temporary housing, food and water for more than a million displaced Palestinians
-
How likely is an accidental nuclear incident?
The Explainer Artificial intelligence, secret enemy tests or false alarms could trigger inadvertent launch or detonation
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Pentagon struggles to explain Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization
Speed Read The intensely private Pentagon chief kept even President Joe Biden in the dark about his illness for 3 days
-
Israel-Hamas: what do both sides need in order to agree a sustainable ceasefire?
Today's Big Question Israel and Hamas 'open' to renewed ceasefire and hostage release, as pressure mounts on Benjamin Netanyahu at home and abroad