Skip to content

WH Draws Distinction Between Taliban, al-Qaida

Loading the player...

One day after White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz said the Taliban was not a terrorist group, but rather an “armed insurgency,” Press Secretary Josh Earnest found himself clarifying that position to ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jon Karl at the daily White House news conference Thursday. Earnest said while the Taliban does carry out tactics “akin to terrorism,” there is a difference between al-Qaida and the Taliban. “The Taliban has resorted to terror tactics, but those terror tactics have principally been focused on Afghanistan,” Earnest said. “Al-Qaida is a terrorist organization that has aspirations that extend beyond just the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Al-Qaida and their affiliates around the globe have sought to carry out terror attacks against Americans and American interests all around the globe.”

Recent Stories

Gaetz plans move to oust McCarthy, says GOP needs new leader

McCarthy promises ‘punishment’ over Bowman fire alarm before vote

Shutdown averted as Biden signs seven-week spending bill

Stopgap funding bills hung up in both chambers

Who are the House Republicans who opposed the stopgap budget bill?

Taking it to the limit — Congressional Hits and Misses