Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said for the first time that the U.S. 'lost' the war in Afghanistan after 20 years of mistakes and missteps as he delivered testimony to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday
* Biden's top brass returned to Congress on Wednesday for second day of grilling
* Gen Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: 'The war was a strategic failure'
* And he said that the Afghan war had been 'lost' as he described 20 years of missteps in testimony to the House Armed Services Committee
* Milley, Gen Frank McKenzie and Lloyd Austin appeared before Congress
* Republican Mike Rogers said he wanted answers on their Afghan strategy
* 'I fear the president may be delusional,' he said about Biden's claim the withdrawal was a success
* Biden's handling of the withdrawal is under intense scrutiny following last month's withdrawal
President Biden's top military adviser offered a devastating verdict on the U.S. war in Afghanistan during congressional testimony on Wednesday, saying for the first time that the 20-year conflict ended in defeat.
Administration officials have repeatedly claimed the conflict achieved its objective of degrading Al Qaeda in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and ensuring Afghanistan could not be used to launch attacks against the U.S.
But Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered a different view.
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MIDDLE EAST
At least 100 killed in clashes for Yemen’s Marib: Military sources.
Iran, Saudi sides continue tension-easing talks in Baghdad.
Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran hold talks in Iraq.
Jordan fully reopens main crossing with Syria.
Royal Jordanian Airlines to resume service to Syria after 9 years.
Iraq’s top Shiite cleric calls for high voter turnout.
Shadow contracts, corruption keep the lights out in Iraq.
Beirut port blast: Victims' families protest at probe's suspension.
Putin-Erdogan talks in Sochi lasted about three hours.
ASIA
China's foreign minister says AUKUS deal is a danger to regional stability.
Kiribati President says AUKUS nuclear submarine deal puts Pacific at risk.
New 'Kim disappearing act'? DPRK head 'absent' during North Korea's 'hypersonic missile test'.
Taliban: Afghanistan bank boss warns sector near collapse.
Women barred from Kabul University.
‘Death knell’: Afghan journalists fear new Taliban media rules.
China: Widespread power outages hit households, businesses.
China's energy crisis spreads to Beijing, impacts tech firms Apple and Tesla.
Taiwan lawmakers brawl as opposition assails COVID-19 policy.
Japan to end all COVID-19 states of emergency nationwide this week.
New Zealand records 45 new COVID-19 cases a week after alert level downgrade.
Prominent Rohingya leader shot dead in Bangladesh refugee camp.
Hong Kong anti-doxxing law passes sparking concerns it could be used to stifle dissent, critics say.
2022 Beijing Olympics to ban foreign spectators.
AFRICA
Egypt leader, Biden adviser hold talks on regional tensions.
Mali junta’s sovereignty push arouses hope, fear amid troubled anti-jihadist struggle.
Mali accuses France of abandonment, approaches 'private Russian companies'.
Sudan: Ethiopian troops 'repelled' after al-Fashaga advance.
New jihadist group claims it killed Sudan spies.
Opposition parties pull out of Ethiopia's elections.
Dozens in DRC sexually abused by WHO, other aid workers, investigation finds.
Libyan military hopes for pullout of foreign forces by end of October — source.
Tunisia: Najla Bouden Romdhane named first female PM.
No new steps to normalise ties with Israel - Sudan FM.
EUROPE
UK: Soldiers to start driving fuel tankers in coming days.
EU urges Kosovo, Serbia talk on disputes, lower tensions.
Angela Merkel congratulates Olaf Scholz on 'election success'.
EU seeks to tighten Belarus visa rules amid growing migrant crisis.
Communists sue, say online voting in Moscow was rigged.
Anger as France slashes visas for Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
Russia detains cyber-security tycoon Ilya Sachkov in treason case.
Fishing wars flare in Channel as Jersey rejects French applications.
Police suspect explosive device set off blast at Sweden apartment building.
AMERICAS
Biden digs in with fellow Dems seeking deal on $3.5T plan.
Top US generals say they advised against complete pullout from Afghanistan.
Ecuador jail: Dozens killed in Guayaquil prison fight.
Haitian prime minister plans 2022 elections.
Mexico sends 70 Haitian migrants to Port-au-Prince by plane.
Hurricane Sam restrengthens into Category 4 storm in Atlantic.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Milley: 'Real possibility' terrorist groups could rebuild as soon as early spring in Afghanistan.
US-led coalition says raid killed 3 ISIS militants as war in Syria continues.
US issues Hezbollah-related sanctions in coordination with Qatar.
Pentagon names ISIS-K 'planner' who was killed in successful August drone strike and claims he was 'directly connected' to suicide attack that killed 13 Americans outside Kabul's airport.
Mastermind behind Osama bin Laden's escape from US bombing of Tora Bora in 2001 is back in charge of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
S&P 500 clings to a modest gain as other indexes end mixed.
S&P 500, Dow gain amid inflation concerns, debt ceiling debate.
Trade, tech talks between US and EU open in Pittsburgh.
From paints to plastics, a chemical shortage ignites prices.
Wary of China, US and EU forge alliance on technology.
