In the last 24 hours, the Taliban has swept through major parts of Afghanistan, taking their tenth major city. And while the networks all gave that substantial coverage on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, one person was mostly missing: Joe Biden. The evening newscasts and morning shows barely mentioned the President of the United States, just 28 seconds.
On Thursday’s Good Morning America, Amy Robach warned, “The Taliban seizing control of more and more territory with all U.S. troops set to withdraw by the end of this month, concerns are growing that the militants could take the capital.” On CBS This Morning, reporter Roxana Saberi related bad news about the capital: “Here in Kabul, life appears to be carrying on more or less as usual. But for how long is unclear.”
She called it “The biggest prize for the Taliban” and worried that the “city could fall, could come under attack in as little as 30 days.” But only Wednesday’s World News Tonight offered an actual question to Joe Biden -- the guy responsible for pulling out all troops – during coverage:
IAN PANNELL: Our Stephanie Ramos asking the President about the Taliban's rapid gains.
STEPHANIE RAMOS: There is irrefutable evidence that a vast majority of those Afghan forces cannot hold ground there. Has your current plan to withdraw U.S. troops changed at all?
JOE BIDEN: They've got to fight for themselves. Fight for their nation. We're going to continue to keep our commitment, but I do not regret my decision.
That was 23 seconds. On Wednesday’s CBS Evening News, David Martin offered this worrying note: “The Biden administration is now considering whether to begin evacuating the U.S. Embassy.” That was an additional five seconds.
One would think that Biden’s botched plan to withdraw all troops would be coming under scrutiny as we watch a slow motion disaster. But journalists cover Biden in the passive voice. Things just HAPPEN now. No one’s really responsible. But this is not new. Back in May, ABC's Nightline devoted 16 minutes to the Afghanistan exit and possible looming debacle, but only 16 seconds to Biden’s actual decision.
[On Thursday, CBS This Morning and ABC's Good Morning America covered Afghanistan -- with no mention of Biden. NBC's Today skipped the topic entirely. On Wednesday, all three morning shows covered the Taliban gains, but only ABC and CBS allowed Biden mentions.]
The shocking cover-up of Biden’s responsibility for the Afghanistan disaster was sponsored by Carmax on Good Morning America and Stanley Steemer on CBS This Morning. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
Good Morning America
8/12/2021
7:14:01 to 7:15:58
AMY ROBACH: Well now overseas to Afghanistan. The Taliban seizing control of more and more territory with all U.S. troops set to withdraw by the end of this month, concerns are growing that the militants could take the capital. Ian Pannell has the latest on all of this. Good morning, Ian.
IAN PANNELL: Yeah, good morning, Amy. This is starting to sound familiar, right? The Taliban advancing once more. Now taking their tenth major city this morning closing in on Kandahar in the south and of course their main target of Kabul, the capital. They're now just 80 miles away and, of course, it's home to the U.S. embassy and hundreds of U.S. troops. Overnight video released by the Afghan government apparently showing air strikes on Taliban positions in Kandahar but their efforts aren't doing enough to slow them down.
In a video released by the militants displaying what appears to be some of their growing arsenal, a helicopter left behind by retreating government forces and a treasure trove of Humvees and heavy equipment as a former army base now under their command. The speed and ferocity of their takeover is bewildering. Gunfire echoes through many Afghan streets as terrified residents are forced to run for their lives. And the militants parade their victories, here in the western city of Fara, a Taliban video showing fighters patrolling the streets and in the north another video showing their white flag hoisted high. They now control almost two-thirds of the country. Well, that U.S. military assessment also suggesting the capital could be isolated in as few as 30 days and, of course, all U.S. troops will be out by the end of the month but the plan is for the embassy to carry on running. Given the speed of the Taliban advance, you got to think the security situation for the embassy staff is under constant review. Michael.
CBS This Morning
8/12/2021
7:17:15
TONY DOKOUPIL: Afghanistan's government is saying nothing this morning about the newest victory by Taliban fighters. They captured a key city on a major north-south highway. And it’s part of a crushing, week-long advance that's happening while the U.S. prepares to withdraw the last of its troops by the end of this month. Roxanne Saberi is in Kabul for us. That’s Afghanistan’s capital. Roxanne, good morning to you. As we understand it, the Taliban are getting ever closer to where you are right now.
ROXANA SABERI: That’s right, Tony. A local official tells us the Taliban has taken the city of Ghazni today. That city is only about 90 miles southwest of us here in the capital Kabul. Ghazni is the tenth provisional capital to fall to the Taliban in only a week. Most have been in the north. But a few have been in the south and west. The insurgents rapid victory are cutting off cities under government control and overwhelming Afghan forces. Today the U.S. embassy says the Taliban could be committing war crimes. In a city, the Taliban dragging the dead body of an Afghan security force member through the city shouting "God is great." Elsewhere the Taliban are showing off their Humvees they have seized from coalition forces. The fighting has forced hundreds of thousands to flee in recent months. Many are coming to Kabul seeking safety. They have left behind their home, belongings and even loved ones, killed in the fighting. And now they say there is nowhere else to go. Here in Kabul life appears to be carrying on more or less as usual. But for how long is unclear. This would be the biggest prize for the Taliban and according to a U.S. military assessment, this city could fall, could come under attack in as little as 30 days.
World News Tonight
8/11/2021
6:47 PM ET
23 seconds on Biden
IAN PANNELL: Our Stephanie Ramos asking the president about the Taliban's rapid gains.
There is irrefutable evidence that a vast majority of those Afghan forces cannot hold ground there. Has your current plan to withdraw U.S. Troops changed at all?
JOE BIDEN: They've got to fight for themselves. Fight for their nation. We're going to continue to keep our commitment, but I do not regret my decision.
CBS Evening News
8/11/2021
5 seconds on Biden
DAVID MARTIN: The Biden administration is now considering whether to begin evacuating the U.S. Embassy.
