Pool Reports of August 19, 2021

Pool Report #1 | POTUS Schedule

Good morning everyone,

Call time isn't until noon on this humid day in Washington, but I'm passing along a note from the WH in the meantime. Feel free to send me a message if I can be of help!

"From a White House official:

Today, the President will meet with his national security team to manage efforts in Afghanistan, receive an update on the COVID-19 response, and engage with members of Congress regarding his Build Back Better agenda ahead of the House returning to Washington."

Pool Report #2 | Defense and State Briefings

Also from the WH:

"There will be a Defense Department Press Briefing with Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Army Maj. Gen. William D. "Hank" Taylor, Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, at 10:00 AM and a State Department Press Briefing with Spokesperson Ned Price at 2:00 PM."

Pool Report #3 | Pentagon Briefing Recap

Another note from the White House:

"At the Pentagon press briefing today, Major General Hank Taylor provided the following updates:

• The U.S. military footprint in Kabul is now more than 5,200 troops.
• The airport remains secure and open for flight options, and new gates have opened providing entry to the airfield.
• In last 24 hours:
  • 13 C-17s landed with additional troops and equipment.
  • 12 C-17s took off. Those flights contained more than 2,000 people.
• Since August 14, we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuates.
• Since the end of July, we have evacuated roughly 12,000 people. This includes American citizens, U.S. Embassy personnel, SIV applicants, and other evacuees in coordination with the State Department."

Pool Report #4 | Note on Haiti

"From a White House Official:

At the direction of President Biden, the United States Government continues to rapidly mobilize to assist the Government of Haiti and the Haitian people after Saturday's devastating earthquake.

During this morning's Pentagon briefing, Maj. General Taylor briefed that:

• Three CH-47 Chinooks and five UH-60 Black Hawks from SOUTHCOM's JTF-Bravo were deployed yesterday and have already started moving disaster relief personnel and supplies.
• A CH-47 completed about 60% of a move of a Field Hospital to Les Cayes and the rest of that field hospital will be airlifted today.
• The USS Arlington is now underway and expected to arrive later this week to provide additional lift and medical capabilities, and serve as another resource for the people of Haiti.
• Special Tactics Airmen assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing are currently augmenting the lifesaving and humanitarian aid efforts in Haiti and are conducting various airfield surveys to bring in humanitarian aid via airlift."

Pool Report #5 | Good Afternoon

Your covid-tested pooler is holding at the White House, with no public events currently on the president's schedule. Will let you know if anything changes, or if any more updates flow into the pool chain.

Pool Report #6 | Lunch Lid

At 12:34, the White House called a lunch lid until 4 p.m.

Pool Report #7 | More from WH on Afghanistan Meetings

"From a White House official:

This morning, the President and Vice President met with their national security team to discuss security, diplomatic, and intelligence updates in Afghanistan. They discussed the status of operations at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), which continues to be secure and operational as a result of DOD's efforts; our efforts to evacuate U.S. citizens, Embassy personnel, SIV applicants and their families, and vulnerable Afghans as quickly as possible; and that every day we operate troops on the ground are at risk. The national security team updated the President and Vice President that DOD has evacuated 7,000 people since August 14 and 12,000 people since the end of July. The President, Vice President, and their team also discussed their focus on monitoring for any potential terrorist threats in Afghanistan, including from ISIS-K. The President and Vice President met with Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, Chairman Milley, Director Haines, Director Burns, National Security Advisor Sullivan, Ambassador Wilson, General McKenzie, Admiral Vasely, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Finer, Homeland Security Advisor Sherwood-Randall, and other senior officials."

Pool Report #8

The White House called a travel/photo lid at 3:36 p.m. Take care everyone!