Justice delayed is justice denied. That is why President Joe Biden can claim a significant victory in the battle against Islamist terrorism following the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
Al-Zawahiri was the leader of al Qaeda since 2011, an architect of the 9/11 attacks alongside Osama bin Laden and among the United States’ “most wanted” terrorists. In an address to the nation, Biden also said al-Zawahiri bore responsibility for other indiscriminate violence, including the 1998 attacks on US embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, in which 223 people died.
Yet the killing of al-Zawahiri raises questions for the US and its allies. America’s invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 atrocities was predicated on the Taliban providing safe haven to al Qaeda. And while Bin Laden was killed over the border in Pakistan, Al-Zawahiri was found in Kabul, less than a year after Biden’s withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Indeed, a United Nations report earlier this year found that the terrorist group was operating under “increased freedom of action” in Afghanistan following the US pull-out.
Amid the relief Biden will feel after a successful mission will be growing concerns in Washington for the US, UK and allies over the ties between the reestablished Taliban government and terrorist actors.
Sort out flights chaos
During the height of the pandemic, BA largely halted passenger operations as global borders shut and lockdowns were imposed. Two-and-a-half years on, the UK’s flag carrier has suspended selling short-haul flights from Heathrow for a week, this time due to capacity restrictions.
It follows the airport’s decision to impose a cap of 100,000 passengers a day, and comes after thousands of flights have already been cancelled due to staff shortages.
While the airports and airlines engage in a blame game, it is holidaymakers who are paying the price, both financially and in terms of endless disruption. The Government clearly has a role to play in sorting this out. Brexit has exacerbated staffing shortages by preventing hiring from abroad, while time-consuming vetting slows down the processing of new hires.
Ministers must get a grip. Given record job vacancies, the Government could consider expanding the shortage occupation list to include aviation workers while safely ensuring checks take place as quickly as possible. This disruption cannot be allowed to go on into the autumn or even beyond. Meanwhile, for those locked out of a last-minute flight, there is always a ferry from Dover. Have there been any issues there?
Chloe Kelly of Ealing
As A teenager, Chloe Kelly would take the 92 bus to Wembley just to buy a matchday programme for FA Cup finals. She was also in the stands to witness Bobby Zamora’s last-minute winner for QPR at the 2014 play-off final.
Eight years on Kelly scored the winning goal at Euro ‘22 that sent the nation into a combination of wild celebration and mild disbelief. A west Londoner, Kelly is set to be offered the Freedom of Ealing. England’s hero can expect to find she is welcome in many more boroughs too.
