Afghans line up at the passport office in Kabul as the completion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces approaches.Photograph by Rahmat Gul / AP
Politico: ‘Complete disaster’: Inside the Biden team’s chaotic bid to evacuate Afghan interpreters
The Biden administration has expedited the process for a number of applicants who are in the final stages, but thousands are left waiting for answers.
President Joe Biden had just announced plans to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan in April when, during a classified briefing with top national security officials on Capitol Hill, one lawmaker stood up and asked a pointed question.
What was the Biden administration’s plan to evacuate the thousands of Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. war effort, and expedite their visas? Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin didn’t have an answer.
“We’ll get back to you on that,” Austin said, according to two people in the room and a defense official familiar with the interaction.
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Update: The Uncomfortable Truth of Biden’s Rapid Afghanistan Withdrawal (Jane Fergusen, New Yorker).
WNU Editor: My gut is telling me that we have not seen the worse yet in Afghanistan.
Update #2: The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction does not mince words on the entire US effort in Afghanistan .... Watchdog warns that U.S. withdrawal could plunge Afghan government into 'existential' crisis and condemns American 'OVEROPTIMISM' that trumpeted meaningless targets instead of building security in $145 BILLION mission (Daily Mail).
