It has never been clearer.
I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, ad-free, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum — then “my take.” Today is a special Friday edition.
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Today’s read: 7 minutes.
Yesterday was a horrible day in Afghanistan.
Today probably will be, too.
In case you somehow haven’t heard by now, Thursday started with warnings from U.S., British and Australian intelligence that there was a “high threat” of a terrorist attack at Kabul airport. “Because of security threats outside the gates of Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport,” the U.S. embassy said.
The details of what happened next are still becoming clear, but here’s what we think we know: a few hours later, one suicide bomber approached Abbey Gate on the outskirts of Hamid Karzai International Airport. Abbey Gate is the central entry point for U.S. soldiers and has been for years, as well as a secure entry point for visitors to Afghanistan. Early reporting suggests the bomber approached the gate’s security checkpoint for entry and then detonated, presumably as they were being searched, surrounded by U.S. Marines and other Afghan civilians trying to get into the airport.