“We want the world to trust us!” Presenting these disingenuous words at their first news conference from Kabul last week, the Taliban leadership claimed Afghanistan is ‘emancipated’ and ‘everyone is forgiven’. To reassure the world, the group stated the rights of women would be respected “within the framework” of Sharia law. Looking at the conditions of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport (KBL) and the thousands trying to escape, one quickly understands the overwhelming fear among the ‘emancipated’ and ‘forgiven’.
Responses from U.S. Allies
Regretfully, the debacle has left Americans and allies around the world, scratching their heads. Armchair quarterbacks agree that vacillation from our administration has exacerbated the multitude of problems and that the draw down could have been performed better.
Former British Prime Minister Theresa May addressed Parliament, “What does it say about NATO if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision taken by the United States? … Did we feel we just had to follow the United States and hope that on a wing and a prayer it’d be all right on the night?” Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister who sent troops into Afghanistan 20 years ago, called the U.S. decision to pull out of Afghanistan ‘imbecilic’.
With the horrendous situation at KBL, France deployed Special Forces to rescue their citizens stranded in Afghanistan, according to the Military Times. French troops have evacuated nearly 400 people, including French civilians and Afghans who helped the country’s military. British special forces have conducted similar operations in recent days to rescue British civilians stranded in the country.
A British businessman thanked the German air force for their “tremendous” job at KBL and helping him flee Kabul. After moving through the chaotic streets of Kabul to the airport gates where he was recognized by German soldiers, he remained at the airport for two days without food or water. The British citizen was finally ushered onto a German plane and arrived safely in Frankfurt.
Military Response
Soldiers and Marines have been securing the walls of KBL, but thus far have conducted few known rescue missions into the city. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated Wednesday the U.S. military lacks ‘capability’ to extract Americans. “The forces that we have are focused on the security of the airfield. And you know how important that is”. Austin told reporters, “We don’t have the capability to go out and collect up large numbers of people.” Therefore, it is unclear if the American administration’s policy is keeping U.S. troops from conducting rescue missions or if there are ongoing clandestine operations.
In one case, a local U.S. commander “made the call on the spot” to send in three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to airlift 169 Americans from the Baron hotel just outside the Kabul airport on Thursday. The Americans were unable to get through the gate gauntlet at KBL, prompting the local commander’s decision. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed this mission as one of a very limited number of actions U.S. troops are conducting outside the Airport walls.
On Monday, August 23, French special forces escorted over 200 European Union (EU) staffers to the safety of the KBL airport. According to David Martinon, French ambassador to Afghanistan, the U.S. military assisted in the effort.
Confusion Remains
Many are risking their lives to save themselves from the eroding chaotic situation. British citizen Sabrallah Zahiri and twelve family members travelled to Afghanistan from London for a wedding on July 19 and became stranded in Kabul. After being beaten, robbed, and a death-defying push through crowds at KBL entrance, Mr. Zahiri and his family provided passports and were let through by members of the British Army. They are still awaiting a flight back to London.
During a White House Briefing on Friday, President Biden stated, “We’re going to do everything that we can to provide safe evacuation for our Afghan allies, partners, and Afghans who might be targeted because of their association with the United States”. President Biden further stated, “We have no indication that they [Americans] haven’t been able to get — in Kabul — through [to] the airport.”
However, in the first of several briefings with lawmakers, Secretary Austin told House members that Americans trying to leave Afghanistan have been beaten by Taliban fighters, adding more nuance to the assessment from the White House.
