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Afghan evacuees arrive in the US; Biden says numbers may rise to 65,000
Christian Post ^ | 08/24/2021 | Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 08/24/2021 10:58:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The first groups of Afghan evacuees arrived at Dulles International Airport Saturday, one week after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

At a Defense Department briefing at the Pentagon Saturday, Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor told reporters that three flights carrying Afghan evacuees had landed at Dulles, near Washington, D.C., and those evacuees will be transitioned to Fort Bliss in Texas "for further processing."

On Thursday, "the U.S. military airlifted nearly 6,000 evacuees in a single day," Taylor said. "In the last 24 hours, six U.S. military C-17s and 32 charters departed Kabul. Through this combined effort, the total passenger count for those flights was approximately 3,800."

Hundreds of other Afghan evacuees aboard the C-17 Globemaster plane reached the Ramstein U.S. Air Base in Germany from Qatar on Saturday.

Since the evacuation operation on Aug. 14, Taylor said 17,000 people have been evacuated out of Kabul, adding that of those, 2,500 are U.S. citizens. Another 22,000 have been relocated since the end of July.

"I would add that intelligence, law enforcement and counter-terrorism professionals are conducting screening and security vetting for all SIV (special immigrant visas) and others — vulnerable Afghans — before they are allowed to enter the United States," he said.

Taylor added that 5,800 U.S. troops remain on the ground to provide security at the airport in Kabul.

The situation at the U.S.-held airport in Kabul continues to be chaotic, however.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense said in a press statement Sunday that seven Afghan civilians were crushed to death outside the airport as crowds attempted to board evacuation planes.

“Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible,” it said, according to DW, which said Taliban fighters also sparked panic by firing into the air to control the crowd.

President Joe Biden said in an interview with ABC News last week that as many as 65,000 Afghans might be evacuated.

At the U.S. airbase in Germany, over 2,000 evacuees have arrived from Kabul since Friday evening, CNN reported.

The U.S. Department of Defense tweeted that an Afghan mother gave birth while on board a U.S. Air Force aircraft just before the touchdown at the U.S. military base in Germany.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan were told Saturday not to travel to the Kabul airport due to security threats. The Journal Gazette said potential Islamic State threats against Americans forced the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed during the Defense Department briefing on Saturday that Americans had been beaten by the Taliban while attempting to reach the airport.

“We are aware of sporadic cases where they aren't being allowed, where there is some harassment going on, and yes, some physical violence has occurred” within the last week, Kirby said. “What appears to be happening is that not every Taliban fighter either got the word or decided not to obey the word [to allow Americans to get to the airport].”

According to military officials, space for up to 22,000 evacuees has been cleared, but the number of evacuees is likely to be much higher.

U.S. governors have said they would be willing to take in Afghan evacuees.

“We are eager to continue that practice and assist with the resettlement of individuals and families fleeing Afghanistan, especially those who valiantly helped U.S. troops, diplomats, journalists and other civilians over the past 20 years,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said in a statement.

“We’re already working in terms of a lot of those refugees coming in and working with (community groups) and nonprofit organizations to make sure that they feel welcome and celebrated as members of our community,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said.

Following the drawing down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, eventually taking the capital Kabul and forcing the government to flee.

In response to the unexpected speed at which they retook the nation, tens of thousands of Americans, Afghan allies, and others have desperately tried to leave the country.

A return to Taliban rule for Afghanistan has led many to express concern over the treatment of women, as well as religious minorities, such as the small Christianity community.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; evacuees; refugees
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To: TokarevM57

We now know the GOP is the Complicit Party.


21 posted on 08/24/2021 11:15:38 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

not holding my breath


22 posted on 08/24/2021 11:16:46 AM PDT by MyDogAteMyBallot ( )
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To: SeekAndFind

What he is bringing into the country are young men, between 16 and 44 and not a single child woman amongst them


23 posted on 08/24/2021 11:16:48 AM PDT by Jonty30 (My superpower is setting people up for failure, without meaning to. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Why we “botched” the evac was to justify this.


24 posted on 08/24/2021 11:19:47 AM PDT by cmj328 (We live here.)
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To: cmj328
Why we “botched” the evac was to justify this

Bingo, never let a crisis go to waste. AT least they have 68,000 more Dem voters.

25 posted on 08/24/2021 11:20:53 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: SeekAndFind

All vetted. No Taliban among them. Cross your fingers.


26 posted on 08/24/2021 11:21:28 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: 353FMG
All vetted. No Taliban among them. Cross your fingers.

The vaccines work.

27 posted on 08/24/2021 11:22:19 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: Mathews

Perhaps they’ll fall in love with Nancy and AOC.


28 posted on 08/24/2021 11:23:27 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: SeekAndFind

When will the Dems start issuing ballots to them?


29 posted on 08/24/2021 11:25:13 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: SeekAndFind

2,500 - US citizens
????? - Afghans attached to US forces
????? - refugees
????? - terrorists (Al Quida, ISIS, Taliban)
____________________________
17,000 - total evacuated


30 posted on 08/24/2021 11:26:06 AM PDT by elpadre ( ge amount of money)
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To: SeekAndFind

When it comes to Afghanistan there is a refusal not only by the media and the so called (in name only) democratic party but by Christian leaders like Pope Francis to approach redressing the Taliban for it being a theocracy following the sharia creed which denies free will and their claim they are authorized by Our Creator to execute non believers.


31 posted on 08/24/2021 11:27:21 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (mosesdapoet AKA Lee J Keslin posting in the hopes comments get passed around )
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To: afraidfortherepublic

“When will the Dems start issuing ballots to them?”

just relax, they’re in the mail!!


32 posted on 08/24/2021 11:28:49 AM PDT by elpadre ( ge amount of money)
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To: SeekAndFind
65,000? Just who exactly are we bringing here?!
33 posted on 08/24/2021 11:30:56 AM PDT by liberalh8ter (The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Americans Trapped By Taliban With No Rescue Plan Happy To Hear They Are Not Stranded
Babylon Bee ^ | 08/24/2021 | Babylon Bee
Posted on 8/24/2021, 11:21:53 AM by DFG

KABUL—Americans stuck in Afghanistan with no way to get to the airport or sneak past the Taliban are relieved after White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that they’re not actually stranded.

“It’s irresponsible to say these Americans are stranded,” said Jen Psaki as she forcefully swatted down a reporter who dared to use the word. “The word ‘stranded’ is divisive and a little bit dramatic, to be honest. You’re only saying they’re ‘stranded’ because you are a pouncing Republican, and because Americans are trapped behind enemy lines with the Taliban and they have little hope of making it to the airport and escaping certain death because we’re not doing anything to go get them.”

“That’s not the same as ‘stranded’,” she said.

“Whew, what a relief!” said Mohammed Achmed Mohammed, a U.S. Military contractor and translator as he hid under a bed as the Taliban ransacked his house. “All this time I thought we were stranded, but Miss Psaki said we aren’t! Great news!”

Psaki was also quick to confirm that the trapped Americans they are doing nothing to help are not ‘abandoned’, ‘forsaken’, ‘trapped’, ‘cut-off’, ‘marooned’, ‘left high and dry’, or ‘screwed.’

The Americans stuck in Afghanistan breathed a collective sigh of relief after learning they were none of those things.

https://babylonbee.com/news/americans-left-behind-in-afghanistan-with-no-options-to-leave-relieved-to-hear-that-they-are-not-stranded

https://babylonbee.com/news/americans-left-behind-in-afghanistan-with-no-options-to-leave-relieved-to-hear-that-they-are-not-stranded


34 posted on 08/24/2021 11:34:43 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (If I wanted to live in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, China, Cuba, Chicago/NYC! I'd move there )
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To: SeekAndFind

What was the number they told us at first? Oh yes, 30,000. I knew this would not be the number. So now it’s 65,000, eh? You know this will not be the final number. And the final number will not be the final number. Each of those army-age men will send for his wives and kids. The whole clan will be brought here, compliments of you and me. And what is the number of Americans? Not saying.

This is another Benghazi: the president and his staff deliberately, and consciously collaborate with islamists who kill Americans, and allow them to do it without any repercussions. Only this time it’s more Americans.

I didn’t think it could be worse than with obammy. It is.


35 posted on 08/24/2021 11:38:18 AM PDT by I want the USA back (We have more to fear from our government than from the bug that the chicoms made for us. )
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To: Pilgrim's Progress

“Leave 40,000 Americans behind makes room for 65,000 potential terrorists - yea, that’s Democrat math.”

This is all part of the plan. Bring in a bunch of “refugees” and then get support to start the war up all over again for another 20 years. The Afghan war funds were probably getting looted by the elite just like all of our international aid.


36 posted on 08/24/2021 11:46:08 AM PDT by dgbrown
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To: SeekAndFind

Trump On Afghanistan Withdrawal:

“How Many Terrorists Will Joe Biden Bring To America? We Don’t Know!”

8/24/2021, 10:56:12 AM · by Mount Athos · 16 replies
Freedom Times ^ | 8/24/2021 | Donald Trump

Trump: Only 15 Percent of Afghan Evacuees Are American ...https://www.newsweek.com › ... › Joe Biden › Taliban

2 hours ago — How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We don’t know!”

Former President Donald Trump:

Trump: Only 15 Percent of Afghan Evacuees Are American, Calls Effort ‘a Complete Failure’

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-only-15-percent-afghan-evacuees-are-american-calls-effort-complete-failure-1622615


37 posted on 08/24/2021 11:50:35 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (If I wanted to live in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, China, Cuba, Chicago/NYC! I'd move there )
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To: SeekAndFind

It figures ... Jarret, Rice and Hussein Obama are positively dancing to the thought of millions of disease-ridden illiterates pouring over the border into Texas. Now the left figures that adding thousands of USA hating terrorists to the mix in Texas may be the match that lights the powder keg.


38 posted on 08/24/2021 11:51:46 AM PDT by ByteMercenary (Slo-Joe and KamalHo are not my leaders.)
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To: DownInFlames

Trump On Afghanistan Withdrawal:

“How Many Terrorists Will Joe Biden Bring To America? We Don’t Know!”

8/24/2021, 10:56:12 AM · by Mount Athos · 16 replies
Freedom Times ^ | 8/24/2021 | Donald Trump

Trump: Only 15 Percent of Afghan Evacuees Are American ...https://www.newsweek.com › ... › Joe Biden › Taliban

“How many US citizens have gotten out?
Former President Donald Trump: 2 hours ago — How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We don’t know!”

Trump: Only 15 Percent of Afghan Evacuees Are American, Calls Effort ‘a Complete Failure’

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-only-15-percent-afghan-evacuees-are-american-calls-effort-complete-failure-1622615


39 posted on 08/24/2021 11:53:12 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (If I wanted to live in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, China, Cuba, Chicago/NYC! I'd move there )
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To: Lurkinanloomin

No...their biggest fear is that the Left will call them bad names ending in ‘ist and ‘phobe.


40 posted on 08/24/2021 11:53:42 AM PDT by Mygirlsmom (Back after a long hiatus. Now mygrandkidsgrandma)
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