Biden warns the masterminds of deadly Kabul bombings: ‘We’ll make you pay’ | Joe Biden

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“We will hunt you down and make you pay,” Joe Biden warned the masterminds of a double suicide attack in Kabul that killed 13 American soldiers and 60 Afghan civilians.

In the darkest days of his presidency, Biden refused to extend his August 31 deadline for withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan, but promised to evacuate any US citizens who wished to leave.

Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul airport on Thursday. There was an explosion near the airport entrance and another at a nearby hotel. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Biden was reportedly in the Situation Room with his national security team when details of the terrorist attack emerged, sending the White House into a state of complete crisis.

In a televised address to the nation, the president hailed the dead as “heroes” who “engaged in a dangerous and selfless mission to save the lives of others,” then vowed violent revenge against responsible Islamic State leaders.

We will not forgive. We will not forget. We’ll chase you and make you pay, Joe Biden

With cold anger he said: “To those who carried out these attacks today – as well as to those who wish America to be hurt – know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will chase you and make you pay.”

He said he had ordered the Pentagon to “develop operational plans to strike ISIS assets, leadership, and facilities,” adding: “We will respond with force and precision at our time, at the place and the moment we choose.”

Responding to reporters’ questions, Biden added: “In terms of finding and tracking down the ISIS leaders who ordered this, we have reason to believe we know who they are – not sure – and will find ways to choose us, without a large military. Operations to get them. Wherever they are.”

The president has shown no indication that he intends to halt the evictions earlier than planned or extend them beyond the end of the month. As of Wednesday, the State Department said about 4,500 US citizens had been airlifted, with about 1,500 still left.

He promised to “save” the Americans who remained in the country and wanted to leave and vowed: “Any American who wants to get out of Afghanistan, we will find them and we will get them out.

Joe Biden Says Terrorists Will Pay for the Afghan Attack That Killed American “Heroes” – VIDEO

“We can and must complete this mission and we will do it. That is what I have ordered them to do. The terrorists will not deter us.”

The administration believed it was beginning to turn the narrative in its favour, after evacuating more than 95,000 people since August 14, a day before the capital fell to the Taliban.

“I wouldn’t say this is anything but a success,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday, noting that it is on track to be the largest airlift in American history, to bring out American citizens and Afghan partners and allies.

But the killing of US service members is likely to touch a nerve in the American public and compound domestic political pressure on Biden, whose decision to withdraw US troops by August 31 led to the collapse of the national government and military.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the House back into session to consider legislation banning a US withdrawal until all Americans are out of Afghanistan.

“Our enemies took advantage of the chaotic nature of the withdrawal,” McCarthy said. It is time for Congress to act quickly to save lives. “

Such a return is highly unlikely because the Democrats hold a majority in the House. Pelosi’s spokesman, Drew Hamill, said on Twitter: “Right now, American heroes are risking and taking their lives to carry out a very dangerous evacuation. What will not help the evacuation of American citizens are more stunts and empty distractions.”

The White House has warned for days that the threat of an Islamic State attack was a motivating factor in seeking to complete the evacuation by the end of the month.

With Afghanistan unraveling and the coronavirus rebounding, Biden’s overall job approval rate is now 41% who agree versus 55% who don’t, according to a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll.

On a tragic day, Republicans mourned the loss of life and refrained from their vitriolic criticism of Biden. Former President Donald Trump said in a statement, “Melania and I send our deepest condolences to the families of these brilliant and courageous service members whose duties to the United States meant so much. Our thoughts are with the families of the innocent civilians who died today in the brutal Kabul attack.”

“This tragedy should not have been allowed to happen, making our grief even deeper and more difficult to understand.”

But some Republicans were more aggressive in their rhetoric and even called on Biden to resign.

“It is painfully clear now that he has neither the will nor the ability to lead. He should resign,” said Josh Hawley, a Missouri senator.

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