Secretary of Defense: US Can’t Collect ‘Large Numbers’ of Americans From Afghanistan

The Epoch Times Logo

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Aug. 18 that the military doesn’t have the capacity to collect “large numbers” of Americans who may be struggling to escape Afghanistan.

Austin’s remarks were in response to questions about the Taliban allegedly blocking Afghan allies from reaching Kabul’s international airport, as well as concerns about the possibility of thousands of Americans being stranded in Afghanistan if the military sticks to its Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline.

Austin and the State Department gave differing accounts of what’s happening on the ground in Kabul.

“We will continue to coordinate and deconflict with the Taliban, and make sure that those people who need to get to the airfield have the right credentials to ensure passage,” Austin said. “And the Taliban has been checking those credentials—and if they have them, they have allowed them to pass.”

However, in an Aug. 18 statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said that “the United States government cannot ensure safe passage to Hamid Karzai International Airport.”

Shortly afterward, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the second-highest-ranking U.S. diplomat, confirmed in a press conference reports that the Taliban are preventing some Afghans from getting to the airport. Some videos uploaded online show apparent Taliban members hitting people with sticks and whips who were trying to get into the facility.

“We have seen reports that the Taliban, contrary to their public statements and their commitments to our government, are blocking Afghans who wish to leave the country from reaching the airport,” Sherman told reporters, noting that “many, many” Americans, U.S. residents, and Afghans at risk have been arriving at the airport.

“I will tell you this, in spite of the obstacles, many, many Afghans in all of the categories are finding their way to the airport.”

Austin told reporters that the United States will continue to rely on diplomacy with the Taliban rather than using force. The roughly 4,500 troops on the ground are required to defend the airport, he said, stressing the importance of preventing another deadly incident with citizens flooding the runway.

“The forces that we have are focused on security of the airfield. You know what happens if we lose the ability to provide that security. I don’t want to detract from that [reports of people struggling to reach the airport]—but we have to make sure we can not only secure the airfield, but defend it as well,” Austin said.

A reporter pressed Austin on the issue of whether more could be done to evacuate Americans, pointing out that there are special forces on the ground that have the capacity to extract Americans from around Kabul and beyond. But Austin said those forces are unable to collect the large numbers of people that need evacuation.

“I would draw a distinction between extracting someone in extreme circumstances versus going out and collecting large numbers of American citizens,” he said. “We don’t have the capability to go out and collect large numbers of people.”

By Ken Silva

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Columns

A Simple Question

What is a woman? Anyone with an IQ above room temperature can answer the question. Everyone, that is, except Democrats.

Democrats Tesla Takedown is a Proven Astro Turf Movement

Elon Musk and other journalistic leaders like Joe Rogan have been asking the critical question, “Who is behind the organization of these Tesla protests?”

Can Ramaphosa and Trump Come to Terms?

Whether South Africa can quell the hostility emanating from Washington, without compromising on its national priorities, is a formidable test for a country

Maddened Europe

Viable prospects for peaceful settlement of conflict between Moscow and Kyiv exist, but Europe obsesses over threat of incursion onto European territory.

BOMBSHELL: DOGE Proves Democrats Guilty of Election Fraud!

As the old expression goes, “That didn’t take long!” Over...

News

Crawford Defeats Musk-Backed Rival to Preserve Liberal Majority on Wisconsin Supreme Court

Judge Susan Crawford, backed by in-state Democrats and supported by millions in out-of-state donations, won most expensive Supreme Court seat in state history.

Victory! Federal Court Orders Parental Notice Laws Restored to Protect Minors Seeking Abortion, in a case almost 40 years in the making.

Teaming up with public officials, the Bopp Law Firm and Nevada Right to Life, PJI took a stand in federal court to restore protections for young girls, the preborn and parents.

Trump Says Agency Heads Will Work With DOGE After Elon Musk Leaves

President Donald Trump said adviser Elon Musk will eventually have to depart from the DOGE and go back to running his companies.

FTC Chairman Raises Concerns Over Sale of 23andMe DNA Data

FTC said it was worried about the safety of the personal data of Americans who were previously customers of genetic testing company 23andMe.

Judge Dismisses COVID Lawsuit Against Former New York Gov. Cuomo

Judge dismissed class-action lawsuit against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo that blamed his admin for COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes across NY.

Tesla Firebombing Suspect Hit With Federal Charges

The U.S. Dept of Justice has filed federal charges against a suspect in connection with a firebombing attack on a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado.

What to Expect From Trump’s Global Tariffs

Trump has dubbed April 2 “Liberation Day,” when he will unveil reciprocal tariffs to level the trading field between the United States and its 200 partners.

Voters Head to Polls in 3 Key Elections in Florida, Wisconsin: What to Watch For

On April 1, voters head to the polls for three races in Florida and Wisconsin, with substantial implications for the future beyond the current contests.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central