U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate

Politico

โ€œBasically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,โ€ said one defense official.


The decision to provide specific names to the Taliban, which has a history of brutally murdering Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. and other coalition forces during the conflict, has angered lawmakers and military officials.

U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the cityโ€™s airport, a choice that’s prompted outrage behind the scenes from lawmakers and military officials.

The move, detailed to POLITICO by three U.S. and congressional officials, was designed to expedite the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan as chaos erupted in Afghanistanโ€™s capital city last week after the Taliban seized control of the country. It also came as the Biden administration has been relying on the Taliban for security outside the airport.

Since the fall of Kabul in mid-August, nearly 100,000 people have been evacuated, most of whom had to pass through the Taliban’s many checkpoints. But the decision to provide specific names to the Taliban, which has a history of brutally murdering Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. and other coalition forces during the conflict, has angered lawmakers and military officials.

โ€œBasically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,โ€ said one defense official, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. โ€œItโ€™s just appalling and shocking and makes you feel unclean.โ€

A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command declined to comment.

The issue came up during a classified briefing on Capitol Hill earlier this week, which turned contentious after top Biden administration officials defended their close coordination with the Taliban. Biden officials contended that it was the best way to keep Americans and Afghans safe and prevent a shooting war between Taliban fighters and the thousands of U.S. troops stationed at the airport.

After the fall of Kabul, in the earliest days of the evacuation, the joint U.S. military and diplomatic coordination team at the airport provided the Taliban with a list of people the U.S. aimed to evacuate. Those names included Afghans who served alongside the U.S. during the 20-year war and sought special immigrant visas to America. U.S. citizens, dual nationals and lawful permanent residents were also listed.

By LARA SELIGMANALEXANDER WARD and ANDREW DESIDERIO

Read Full Article on Politico.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

Was Pope Francis the Worst Pope Ever?

It has been said the recently passed 266th Pope...

LGBTQโ„ข Roundup: Groomers Gone Wild, Pt. II

Trans activist gets triggered by BBC reporter telling him he can't use womenโ€™s toilets, according to UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of women.

In Trade War, Chinaโ€™s Chokehold on US Medicine Moves Into Spotlight

Chinaโ€™s iron grip on supply of critical drug ingredients has been years in the making, driven by Beijingโ€™s strategic plan to dominate the pharma industry

College Footballโ€™s Spring rite

The Blue-White game, with the antiquated press box and a large section of the west stands now history and under renovation, marches on, but for how long?

Everything We Know About El Salvador Deportee Abrego Garcia

For more than five years, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an adjudged illegal immigrant living on borrowed time in the United States.

News

Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Allow Prohibition on Troops With Gender Dysphoria

Trump admin is asking Supreme Court to halt federal judgeโ€™s order preventing it from implementing policy disqualifying individuals with gender dysphoria.

New Mexico Supreme Court Bans Former Judge From Exercising Judicial Authority

NM Supreme Court barred former judge from exercising judicial authority in future amid reports alleged TdA gang member was arrested living on his property.

DHS and Country Star John Rich Team Up for Urgent Livestream about Protecting Kids from Online Predators

Know2Protect hosted a livestream featuring DHS Special Agent Dennis Fetting and country music star John Rich on protecting children from online predators.

US Manufacturing Shows Signs of Improvement as Factory Output, Orders Tick Higher

U.S. manufacturing showed modest but meaningful improvement in April, according to data by S&P Global, which showed factory output and orders ticking higher.

Trump Admin Sued by a Dozen States in US Trade Court Over Tariffs

A dozen states on April 23 filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade over its recently announced tariffs.

Supreme Court Seems Inclined to Let Energy Companies Sue California Over Emissions Rules

Supreme Court seemed inclined during oral argument to revive a lawsuit filed by energy companies over Californiaโ€™s tough vehicle emissions standards.

FBI: Losses From Internet Crime Surged 33 Percent in 2024, Topping $16 Billion

Internet-enabled crime cost victims in the U.S. more than $16.6 billion in 2024, a record-breaking 33% increase over previous year, according to FBI report.

Fedโ€™s Kugler: No Rate Cuts in Sight as Inflation, Tariffs Fuel Uncertainty

Federal Reserve Gov. Adriana Kugler said she supports holding interest rates steady due to ongoing inflation risks and new tariffs
spot_img

Related Articles