From FoxNews.com…
The Pentagon appeared to backtrack on President Biden’s implication that al Qaeda was “gone” from Afghanistan and admitted the terror group still has a “presence” in the region.
“Let’s put this into perspective here,” Biden said during a press conference Friday defending the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. “What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point with al Qaeda gone?”
.@POTUS – "What interest do we have in #Afghanistan at this point with Al Qaeda gone.” A DoD IG report from Aug 17, 2021 says "the Taliban continued to maintain its relationship with al-Qaeda, providing safe haven for the terrorist group in Afghanistan." https://t.co/gdXiO8E13l pic.twitter.com/RytywJAqk0
— James LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) August 20, 2021
Roughly an hour later, Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin questioned Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby on Biden’s statement.
