We’re now up against the withdrawal date, with reports still of Americans and Afghan allies unable to get into the airport.
This morning, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby was unable to say how many Americans were left.
Biden’s Pentagon spokesman John Kirby doesn’t know how many Americans are still #stranded behind enemy lines in Afghanistan; punts to the State Department. pic.twitter.com/nvvxAllrJi
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) August 30, 2021
While they claimed 122,000 people had been evacuated, again, all they would say was that 5,400 of those were Americans; they have refused to say how many were SIV holders among the Afghans. So who did they take and why? Did they just take refugees to stuff the planes to make it look like they were getting people out? Because it sure looks like they were leaving the people who were supposed to get out behind, as this reporter pointed out.
REPORTER: "That leaves more than 80,000 SIV's and their family members left behind. Does the Pentagon see that as a success? Leaving 80,000 people, SIV's who worked alongside our troops, behind?" pic.twitter.com/RdwOUJxq3m
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 30, 2021
But there are Americans still desperate to get out. Retired Green Beret commander Scott Mann spoke of a bus with about 50 people who were Americans including a lot of kids. They were right outside the airport but were unable to get in because of the Taliban.
Americans, Afghan allies will be trapped behind enemy lines within hours: Scott Mann | https://t.co/L0JOaAtZEt
— Dr. Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) August 30, 2021
That was this group:
This is what American citizens in #Kabul #Afghanistan are dealing with at #KabulAiport — Taliban not letting them through despite docs, gunfire in the background. The kids crying is heartbreaking. Volunteers are busting their asses to save these peoples' lives. pic.twitter.com/Ykd6tjoeV7
— Matthew Best (@MrMatthewBest) August 29, 2021
There was also an American family in contact with Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) who said they had tried multiple times to get into the airport but had been unable to get in. Kim said he asked the State Department for whatever emergency number they had for this situation to help people trying to get in. They told him there was no such number.
I asked directly for a phone number American citizens can call if in an emergency like this family stuck at the gate. If I could get a number I planned to excuse myself from the meeting and immediately send it to the family at the gate. I was told no such number exists.5/13
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) August 28, 2021
That’s shocking after everything they have said at this point. Although I guess, given it’s the Biden team, no, it isn’t shocking. Kim did say the State Department did get in contact with the family, but it’s not clear their status at this moment.
Charge d’Affaires Ross Wilson denied that Americans were being denied entry to the airport by the State Department but there are multiple reports about the State Department not letting people in, including among members of Congress who the people were contacting.
This is a high-risk operation. Claims that American citizens have been turned away or denied access to HKIA by Embassy staff or US Forces are false.
— Chargé d’Affaires Ross Wilson (@USAmbKabul) August 30, 2021
America, you need to know this: Biden is not letting US citizens through the airport gates. It has been impossible to get anyone through for the last 24 hours.
This administration has been lying about their intent to save Americans. Unforgivable.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) August 29, 2021
Also hearing State Department actively blocking efforts to land private aircraft for extractions.
For context, most of the efforts you’ve been hearing about are essentially coordination, not veterans physically flying in privately to extract people. https://t.co/2FlOMPug8k
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) August 29, 2021
I am furious!! My team has been on the phone all day trying to get AMERICAN CITIZENS out. They have been just outside the airport numerous times, but the State Department WILL NOT help them.
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) August 29, 2021
I’m in contact with a husband whose wife and 2 month old child are stuck still in Afghanistan. Both Americans. Biden’s admin has asked them to come 4 times to leave and each time it was cancelled once they arrived. They turned to me because Biden’s admin is incompetent. Shameful.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 26, 2021
The State Department says only a few hundred Americans are still trying to leave Afghanistan. I'm sorry, but that's a LIE. We have WAY more requests than that coming in from people begging us to help them escape. pic.twitter.com/i3rrRMy6Ej
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) August 30, 2021
Retired Navy Aviator Brett Odom told Fox that Wilson’s statement was untrue.
Odom helping evacuate Americans, labels Biden admin claim ‘false’ | https://t.co/zEL4q1N8NK
— Dr. Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) August 30, 2021
“Well, as of about 3:00 Eastern time this morning it was definitely false,” [….]
“I have a family of four that were outside the gate. We were networking furiously. Every channel that we knew, some with folks had channels into Centcom and other operations. And these folks were not allowed in the base. The base is shut down. So there is Americans who are being left behind.”
Here’s Heather Nauert, former spokesperson for the Trump State Department, telling Wilson what he’s saying is simply untrue.
Sir, I’m sorry. This IS true. 2 examples: Afghans let into HKIA only to have policy change & they get kicked out (told amcits only right now, not SIVs); American citizens denied access to HKIA even when passports & manifests were provided. This is a tragedy. #Afghanistan https://t.co/Kzy4TwwhJv
— heather nauert (@HeatherNauert) August 30, 2021
There are also American University students/alumni who waited on buses yesterday to go to the airport when they were told there were no more flights.
NEW: Hundreds of Afghan students & alumni of American University in Kabul told evacuations are canceled after 7 hours waiting in buses today to get to the airport. They are in panic and say their names and passport information was shared with the Taliban.https://t.co/5TeA6N59z9
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) August 29, 2021
2/
“I regret to inform you that the high command at HKIA in the airport has announced there will be no more rescue flights,” said an email sent to students from the university administration on Sunday afternoon, which was shared with The New York Times.— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) August 29, 2021
“They told us: we have given your names to the Taliban,” said Hossy, a 24-year-old sophomore studying business administration who was on the bus on Sunday. “We are all terrified, there is no evacuation, there is no getting out.”
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) August 29, 2021
At this point, it’s a complete mess, but reports indicate at least hundreds of people still left.
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