Axios PM: Biden's buck

Plus: New tourism | Monday, August 16, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By HCA Healthcare   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Aug 16, 2021 Good afternoon. Today's PM — edited by Neal Rothschild — is 391 words, a 1.5-minute read.     1 big thing: Biden's buck Biden arrives to speak. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images   Amid chaos in Kabul that he called "gut-wrenching," President Biden said in an afternoon address to the nation that he had been surprised by the speed of Afghanistan's collapse but insisted he had no second thoughts. "I am president of the United States of America, and the buck stops with me," he said, after blaming President Trump and the Afghans for boxing him in on timing and evacuations. Biden said, after rushing back to the White House from Camp David earlier than planned: "I stand squarely behind my decision." "We were clear-eyed about the risks," he continued. "We planned for every contingency. But ... [t]he truth is: This did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated." Biden said part of the reason was: "The Afghan military collapsed, sometimes without trying to fight." "If anything," Biden added, "the developments of the past week reinforce that ending U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan now was the right decision." A man pulls a girl to get inside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul today. Photo: Reuters ⚡ Also today: Evacuations were halted at Kabul's airport after thousands of Afghan civilians stormed the runway. (Video) At least seven people were killed in the chaos. The U.S. is sending another 1,000 troops to the airport, increasing the total deployment in Kabul to 6,000. Catch up with our dashboard.     2. Pics du jour: Glacial melt tourism Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Meltwater from an iceberg that broke off of Iceland's receding Breidamerkurjokull glacier is now the country's biggest lake — and newest tourist attraction. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Above: Global-warming tourists paddle by the wayward glacier.     A message from HCA Healthcare HCA Healthcare's commitment to advancing ethical standards     This year, HCA Healthcare was recognized for the 11th time by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Why it's important: Ethisphere is a global leader in defining and advancing ethical business practices. Learn more about how HCA Healthcare shows up.     3. Catch up quick Earthquake survivors sift the remains of their home on the Haiti coast. Photo: Reginald Louissaint Jr./AFP via Getty Images   Tropical depression Grace is dumping rain across Haiti, complicating earthquake relief. The latest. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is suing NASA over its decision to award SpaceX a contract to carry astronauts to the Moon's surface. Go deeper. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an order requiring proof of vaccination to enter a huge range of indoor venues starting tomorrow — including gyms, restaurants and theaters. See the list.     4. ⚽ 1 book thing: Club Rapinoe Photo (right): Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival   Megan Rapinoe picked the upcoming memoir by Tarana Burke, who started the #MeToo movement, as the debut selection for the soccer phenom's new book club, "The Call In," AP reports. Rapinoe says she hasn't read the book yet, but "whatever it is she's writing will be worth everyone reading." The book is out Sept. 14. Members of Rapinoe's book club, run by the Literati subscription service, get copies Sept. 1.     A message from HCA Healthcare How HCA Healthcare invests in communities across the country     HCA Healthcare: Employs over 275,000 colleagues, without any layoffs or furloughs due to the pandemic. Paid back or returned approximately $6 billion in CARES Act funds. Estimated $3.4 billion in delivery of charity care, uninsured discounts and other uncompensated care in 2020.   Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: