Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
‘Lessons to be learned’ for Pentagon after chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, top general says
The nation's top general said Wednesday that there are "lessons to be learned" from a rushed, chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan that ultimately left more than 100 Americans stranded in a country now controlled by the Taliban. Published September 1, 2021
Defense Department holding 20,000 evacuated Afghans in U.S., 43,000 more overseas
The U.S. is holding more than 17,000 Afghan evacuees on American soil and has nearly 40,000 more overseas eyeing a future entry to the U.S., according to a new report. Published September 1, 2021
Taliban celebrate, al Qaeda leaders return to Afghanistan day after U.S. exit
Taliban fighters celebrated at the Kabul airport Tuesday while key al Qaeda leaders made a triumphant return to Afghanistan, signaling a dark new reality for the country a day after Western troops withdrew and America ended the longest-running war in its history. Published August 31, 2021
As U.S. exits, bin Laden’s security chief makes triumphant return in Afghanistan
The former security chief for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has made a triumphant return to Afghanistan, fueling fears that the country is poised to again become the global epicenter of Islamist terrorism. Published August 31, 2021
Last combat boot departs Afghanistan as U.S. ends longest war
The final U.S. military planes left Kabul on Monday, ending the longest war in the country's history and capping a frantic two-week evacuation effort that is leaving hundreds of Americans stranded in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Published August 30, 2021
Pentagon: U.S. drone thwarts terrorist attack in Kabul; car loaded with bombs was headed to airport
The U.S. military thwarted an ISIS-K terrorist attack on the Kabul airport Sunday morning with a drone strike on a car filled with explosives heading toward the facility at a crucial moment in the Afghanistan evacuation effort, Pentagon officials said. Published August 29, 2021
U.S. airstrike hits suicide bomber targeting Kabul airport, Taliban says
Published August 29, 2021
300 Americans trying to flee Afghanistan as withdrawal enters final stage
About 300 Americans are desperately trying to get out of Afghanistan ahead of President Biden's Tuesday withdrawal deadline, top administration officials said Sunday. Published August 29, 2021
Pentagon identifies 13 U.S. troops killed in Kabul terrorist attack
The Defense Department on Saturday identified all 13 of the U.S. service members who were killed during Thursday's ISIS-K terrorist attack at the Kabul airport. Published August 28, 2021
![Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, USMC, is seen in this screen capture from his Aug. 27, 2021, Facebook video, wherein he criticized senior military leadership and its handling of the evacuation of Kabul in light of the deadly suicide bombing attack at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. [https://www.facebook.com/stuart.scheller/videos/561114034931173/]](https://twt-thumbs-staging.washtimes.com/media-staging.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/08/28/Screen_Shot_2021-08-28_at_10.54.43_c0-81-1037-685_s652x380.png?5843b86914cb742010a05e38785476e35cafb1d2)
Marine officer relieved of command after blasting Pentagon’s ‘ineptitude’ in Afghanistan
A Marine Corps battalion commander was relieved of his post late Friday after posting a video to social media blasting the military's handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying Pentagon leaders should be held accountable for the foreign policy "ineptitude" seen in the Biden administration. Published August 28, 2021
Drone strike kills two ISIS-K militants in Afghanistan, Pentagon says
U.S. drones targeted ISIS-K extremists in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, Pentagon officials said, in the first retaliation against the terrorist group a day after 13 American troops were killed and nearly 20 others wounded in an attack at the Kabul airport. Published August 27, 2021
Father of Marine killed in Kabul slams president: ‘Biden turned his back on him’
The father of a Marine killed during Thursday's terrorist attack at the Kabul airport believes President Biden "turned his back" on the young service member and suggested that the U.S. made a grave error by trusting the Taliban to conduct security searches at the facility. Published August 27, 2021
Shadowy ‘ISIS-K’ group well known for grisly attacks
It boasts only a few thousand fighters in its ranks, but the Islamic State-Khorasan -- or ISIS-K -- has built its reputation on high-profile, horrific terrorist attacks, from a brutal assault on an Afghan maternity ward 15 months ago to Thursday's dual suicide bombings that killed civilians and American troops at Kabul's airport. Published August 26, 2021
Taliban claims ‘no proof’ Osama bin Laden involved in 9/11 attacks
Taliban leaders tried to rewrite history this week, arguing that there is "no proof" longtime al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was involved with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Published August 26, 2021
Biden condemns terrorist attacks in Kabul, vows to ‘hunt down’ those who killed 13 U.S. troops
President Biden vowed to "hunt down" the terrorists who struck a major blow against America on Thursday after suicide bombers and gunmen killed at least 13 U.S. troops and dozens of Afghans at the Kabul airport, with military leaders warning more attacks are likely during the final days before the president's Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw. Published August 26, 2021
‘Leave immediately’: State Dept. warns Americans at Kabul airport amid terror threat
The last-ditch effort to evacuate Americans from Afghanistan was upended Wednesday night amid a serious terror threat believed to be from the Islamic State's Afghan affiliate, with the State Department warning U.S. citizens to immediately flee sections of the Kabul airport. Published August 25, 2021
Nearly 1,500 Americans stuck in Afghanistan as Kabul churns toward Aug. 31 deadline
The massive U.S. military-led airlift from Kabul turned toward a rocky home stretch Wednesday, with the Biden administration laying out its plan to save a final 1,500 Americans stuck in Afghanistan over the coming days as chaos continues to close in around the country's only international airport. Published August 25, 2021
Third military helicopter mission rescues Americans stranded outside Kabul airport
U.S. forces late Tuesday night rescued more than a dozen Americans trapped in Kabul and flew them via helicopter to the city's airport, Pentagon officials said, marking at least the third time troops have exited the airport perimeter and bypassed Taliban checkpoints. Published August 25, 2021
Pentagon blasts Moulton and Meijer for visit to Kabul: ‘Took time away’ from evacuation mission
The Pentagon on Wednesday morning blasted visits by two U.S. lawmakers to the Kabul airport a day earlier, saying the unannounced trip hampered American evacuation efforts and pulled military resources away from the mission at hand. Published August 25, 2021
Republicans push Biden to back Afghan resistance fighters: ‘The least we can do’
Republican lawmakers on Wednesday put new pressure on President Biden to actively support Afghan resistance fighters who have promised to never surrender to the Islamist Taliban. Published August 25, 2021
