Last stronghold of the afghan government. Afghan president ghani has now fled the country. Taliban fighters have entered the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/capital-city'>Capital City of kabul where the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/american-flag'>American Flag has been taken down from the u. S. Embassy as the u. S. Undertakes an urgent evacuation of Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/american-personnel'>American Personnel. The rapid crumbling of the country shocked the u. S. And u. S. Allies and caught the biden Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/white-house'>White House flatfooted on saturday. After pulling out almost all of the 2,500 troops when he took office, hes deploying troops back to get americans safely out of kabul, warning of a swift u. S. Response if the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/taliban-inte'>Taliban Inte interfered. Sources tell cnn the majority of the u. S. Embassy staff are now out of the embassy compound. Thats a Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/sharp-tsharound'>Sharp Tsharound when Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden called it highly unlikely the Taliban Would overrun the country, at the time striking many experts in his own administration as unrealistic and prompting questions as to whether biden was cherrypicking intelligence or indifferent to it. As american diplomats rush to sHred documents and escape, its shocking the president could have been so utterly long. Theyve not been able to help the translators who helped the u. S. Afghans struggling with extreme poverty, especially women and girls, are contemplating a more dismal Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/life-under-taliban-rule'>Life Under Taliban Rule as reports emerge as young girls being kidnapped as Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/sex-slaves'>Sex Slaves to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/taliban-fighters'>Taliban Fighters. Lets start Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-kabul'>In Kabul with Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/clarissa-ward'>Clarissa Ward who is sheltering there. First of all, were glad youre safe. The taliban entered the city. Ive heard reports of armed Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/taliban-fighters'>Taliban Fighters Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-kabul'>In Kabul. What more do you know . Reporter thats right. This morning the taliban said they had no intention of coming into the city, that they were on the outskirts, that they were waiting for some kind of peaceful agreement and they would finally come in. Fast forward six hours, the president has left the country. The taliban spokesperson issued a statement telling people to stay at home, urging people not to panic, saying in order to avoid chaos, everybody needs to hunker down. Were doing that just the same as most afghans are, jake. Theres been an absolute Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/crush-today'>Crush Today of people desperately trying to leave the country, the road to the airport was completely overrun by vehicles. I spoke to an american who was at the airport as so many were evacuating. He said shooting broke out at one stage because there was such chaos at the entrance. There was another incident where people had to take shelter because there was concern about incoming mortar fire, all of which i think gives you a sense of just how chaotic this pandemonium, really, that has struck. Its a little calmer tonight because i think everyone is at home and waiting to see what tomorrow will bring, who will be in charge. We know its not going to be president asHraf ghanis government. The taliban has said they will start to assume positions of responsibilities in the various ministries. But really still, a huge amount of uncertainty as to what happens now. Were just learning that the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/american-flag'>American Flag has been lowered at the u. S. Embassy Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-kabul'>In Kabul. Other networks are reporting that the acting u. S. Ambassador has left the embassy, on his way to the airport. What does that signal to the afghan people and to the world. It was just tHree days ago we were hearing this isnt an evacuation, its a withdrawal, it will be done by august 31st. The message is one of enduring partnership. Jake, the afghan people i spoke to, they saw the writing on the wall. They knew people were fleeing. They knew this was an evacuation. Now by tuesday morning, the u. S. Embassy will be completely shuttered. All thats there is a skeleton crew, most relocated to the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/kabul-airport'>Kabul Airport. Theres a sense that people feel theyve been abandoned, not that they expected america to stay and keep fighting this war for them, but theres a great deal of Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/anger-and-resentment'>Anger And Resentment about the sort of chaotic and hasty nature of this withdraw, a sense that all precautions werent taken that could have been in order for a more orderly withdrawal. What are you hearing about the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/talibans-presence'>Talibans Presence at the president ial palace in terms of who is there and how much the taliban might be using elements of the afghan military . Earlier we spoke to a source inside the president ial palace who told us there were about eight or nine taliban representatives from the sort of Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/doha-contingency'>Doha Contingency who have been participating in the ongoing negotiations, the best known of that annas hakani, the brother of the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/deputy-leader'>Deputy Leader of the taliban and certainly well known to many in national security circles in the u. S. We dont know if theyre continuing to occupy the president ial palace, if theyre about to take it over. Theres been talk of a peaceful transfer of power. We still dont know what that looks like yet. Were hearing so many messages coming out, jake, from members of the afghan government who are so furious with asHraf ghani, who feel so deceived by him, that he has abandoned this sinking ship, saving himself and leaving so many others with an uncertain fate without Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/first-implementing'>First Implementing a plan that might do something to mitigate further bloodshed. Were told the u. S. Embassy Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-kabul'>In Kabul is telling any americans who are still in afghanistan to shelter in place. Clarissa, what are you hearing about the airport . Ive heard reports of flights, commercial flights not being allowed to land at the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/airport-and-flight'>Airport And Flight tracker would seem to suggest thats accurate. Reporter we heart from colleagues, one able to come in and another not able to. Its unclear if thats because of the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/security-situation'>Security Situation because american have so many military flights going in and out that that is choking up the airspace. We do know from an american i spoke to who was at the airport until very recently, that there are a huge amount of foreigners there. I should say this person is on the military side of the airport, not the civilian side of the airport. Huge amount of foreigners, some greatly distressed. One woman apparently had not been in the country for very long and certainly was not prepared for all the insanity, for lack of a better word, of the last week or so. The objective is to get them out of the country as quickly as possible. What happens to civilian flights . Do they resume . Will people be able to leave the country . Thats the only way out of afghanistan right now. All the border crossings are controlled by the taliban. The city is surrounded and indeed now infiltrated by the taliban. So the only way youre getting out now is if you can get to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/kabul-airport'>Kabul Airport and get on a civilian flight. But as i said, no guarantees that those civilian flights will keep running. Were now learn that the u. S. Military is considering the need for even more new Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-members'>Service Members, forces in afghanistan in addition to the 5,000 that biden has approved. Thats after, of course, withdrawing 2,500. What does that signal to you about this evacuation . Reporter well, it signals to me just how worried the americans are about coming under attack potentially, about being able to evacuate all these people in an orderly manner. The first contingency of u. S. Embassy Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/american-personnel'>American Personnel is the tip of the iceberg, jake. Then they have to evacuate all u. S. Nationals, all u. S. Dual nationals. Then they want to evacuate anyone who has worked with the u. S. Embassy, anyone who has one of those sif passes. They want to expedite for people in the bureaucratic process of trying to get their sive approved. Theyre looking at afghan employees who worked with a number of ngos, for example, american ngos or journalistic organizations. Theyre anticipating potentially having to evacuate well over 10,000 people. That is a huge undertaking, particularly when you have an insurgency that has taken over the city. Clarissa, i know i speak for all the viewers watching right now, thank you for all your incredible reporting as always. Please stay safe. We do worry about you. Reporter thank you, jake. Coming up, ill ask u. S. Secretary of state Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/antony-blinken'>Antony Blinken how the u. S. Was caught so off guard. Plus the top foreign policy Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-the-house'>In The House says the debacle in afghanistan makes things less safe. Congressman Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/michael-mccaul'>Michael Mccaul is also with us. [music plays. ] ok everyone, our mission is to provide complete, balanced nutrition for strength and energy. Whoo hoo ensure, with 27 vitamins and minerals, now introducing ensure complete with 30 grams of protein. To make my vision a reality. I have to take every perspective, and see clearly from every point of view. With my varilux Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/progressive-lenses'>Progressive Lenses i seamlessly transition from near to far. And see every detail in sharp focus. When you see no limits, there are no limits. Book now at your local essilor experts to push the limits of your vision. Varilux lenses by essilor. A lot of snacks are packed with air but not planters nuts. 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Americas largest, fastest, most reliable 5g network. Im jack tapper. The u. S. Is urgently working to remove u. S. Personnel from afghanistan. Joining us, u. S. Secretary of state Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/antony-blinken'>Antony Blinken. Secretary blinken, thanks so much for joining us. Take a listen to what Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden was saying less than six weeks ago. Your own Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/intelligence-community'>Intelligence Community has assessed the afghan government will likely collapse. That is not true. They did not reach that conclusion. There is going to be no circumstance where youll see people being lifted off the roof of an embassy. The likelihood there is going to be the Taliban Overrunning Everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely. Secretary blinken, as you know, the taliban has closed in on kabul. We are evacuating the embassy, burning documents, biden increased troops to the country in tHree days to rescue those there. This is not just about the overall idea of leaving afghanistan. This is about leaving hastily and ineptly. Secretary blinken, how did Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden get this so wrong . Jake, first lets put this in context. As weve discussed before we were in afghanistan for one overriding purpose, to deal with the folks who attacked us on 9 11. That is why we went there 20 years ago. Over the 20 years we brought Bin Laden to justice. We vastly diminished the tHreat posed by Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/al-qaeda'>Al Qaeda in afghanistan to the united states, to the point where it is not capable of conducting such an attack again from afghanistan. Were going to keep in place in the region the capacity to see any reemergence of a terrorist Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/tHreat-and-deal'>THreat And Deal with it and on the terms we went into afghanistan in the first Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/place-weve'>Place Weve succeeded in achieving our objectives. When the president came to office, he had a decision to make. The previous administration negotiated an agreement with the taliban that said that our forces, only about 2,500, would be out of the country on may first. The idea that the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/status-quo'>Status Quo could have been maintained by keeping our forces there is simply wrong. The fact is, had the president decided to keep forces in afghanistan beyond Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/may-1st'>May 1st, attacks would have resumed on our forces. The taliban had not been attacking our forces or nato during the period from which the agreement was reached to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/may-1st'>May 1st. The offensive you are seeing across the country to take the provincial capitals would have commenced. We would have been back at war with the taliban. I would probably be on this Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/program-today'>Program Today explaining why we were sending Tens Of Thousands of american forces back into afghanistan and back to war. Something the american people simply dont support. That is the reality. Thats the context were dealing with. You cited the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/may-1st'>May 1st deadline negotiated by the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/trump-administration'>Trump Administration. You did blow tHrough that deadline. We did have troops there after Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/may-1st'>May 1st. Again, the issue here is not just the withdrawal of u. S. Forces. Its how they were withdrawn. The rapidity, the hastiness. President obamas former ambassador to afghanistan, ryan crocker, called the way this was done, quote, a handover to the taliban and, quote, we have hung them out to dry about the afghan people. Crocker continued, quote, im left with some grave questions in my mind about Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/bidens-ability'>Bidens Ability to lead our nation as commanderinchief. To have read this so wrong or even worse to have understood what was likely to happen and not care, unquote. Does Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden not bear the blame for this Disasterous Exit from afghanistan . Jake, weve seen two things. First, weve known all along and said all along, including the president , that the taliban was at its greatest position of strength at any time since 2001 when it was last in charge of the country. That is the taliban that we inherited. And so we saw they were very much capable of going on the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/offensive-and-beginning'>Offensive And Beginning to take back the country. But at the same time we had invested over four administrations billions of dollars along with the international community in the afghan Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/security-and-defense'>Security And Defense forces. Building a modern military. With the most sophisticated equipment. 300,000 forces strong. With an Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/air-force'>Air Force the taliban didnt have. And the fact of the matter is, weve seen that that force has been unable to defend the country. That has happened more quickly than we anticipated. The idea of them the force not being able to defend, i mean, what a lot of experts believe, and you can disagree if you want, is that having the usair support, having u. S. Intelligence there to help the afghan troops on the ground is what stiffens their spine and enables them to do what they do. That is part of the larger issue about whether the u. S. Should have left behind any sort of residual force. Beyond that is again the question of how poorly this was done. The idea that Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden ordered 2500 Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-members'>Service Members out and now is sending up to 5,000 Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-members'>Service Members back in, does that not on its face show the exit was ineptly planned and, again, look. You told me a few months ago on this program that you thought it was entirely likely the Taliban Would be taking over the country. But Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden just last month, quote, the likelihood there is going to be the Taliban Overrunning Everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely. He was wrong. Jake, what weve done, what the president has done, is make sure we were able to adjust to anything happening on the ground. And the fact that we said he sent additional forces in, we had them at the ready fully prepared to go in the event this moved in a new direction where we needed forces in place to ensure our personnel was safe and secure, to ensure also we could do everything possible to bring out of afghanistan those afghans most at risk. That is exactly what were doing. Why not have the troops in there and let that happen first before taking them out . Again, i come back to what we were talking about, which is that Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/status-quo'>Status Quo was not sustainable. Like it or not, there was an agreement that the forces would come out on Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/may-1st'>May 1st. Had we not begun that process which is what the president did and the taliban saw, then we would have been back at war with the taliban. We would have been back at war with Tens Of Thousands of troops having to go in because the 2,500 troops we had there and the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/air-power'>Air Power would not have sufficed to deal with the situation especially as we see the hollowness of the afghan security forces. By the way, from the perspective of our strategic competitors around the world, there is nothing they would like more than seeing us in afghanistan for another five, ten, 20 years. It is simply not in the national interest. You keep changing the subject to whether we should be there forever. Im talking about whether or not this exit was done properly. Taking out all the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-members'>Service Members before those americans and those afghan translators could get out. That is what im talking about. Then you have to send people back in. That is the definition of oh, we shouldnt have taken those troops out because now we have to send twice as many back in. I think it shows we were prepared. The president was prepared for every contingency as this moved forward. We had the forces on hand. And they were able to deploy very quickly again to make sure we could move out safely and securely as the situation on the ground changed. Let me just ask you is the biden administration right now offering the taliban anything in exchange for a promise of safe passage for americans and others out of afghanistan . No. We havent asked the taliban for anything. Weve told the taliban that if they interfere with our personnel, with our operations, as were proceeding with this drawdown, there will be a swift and decisive response. Thats what weve told them. How many americans are left Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-kabul'>In Kabul do you think, and how long will it take to get them out . Can you promise that all americans will get out safely . That is Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/job-number'>Job Number one. That is our Number One mission. That is what were working on with a Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/wholeofgovernment-effort'>Wholeofgovernment Effort led by the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/state-department'>State Department right now. And so we have our personnel at the embassy. We have some american citizens who are still mostly binationals left in afghanistan. If they want to leave, we have in place the means to do that. And beyond that, jake, we have Men And Women who have worked for us, worked for the military, worked for the embassy over the years as interpreters and translators. We are doubling down on efforts to get them out if they want to leave and, also, other afghans at risk who may not qualify for these socalled Special Immigrant Visas the folks who worked directly for us qualify for, to do everything we possibly can for as long as we can, to get them out if that is what they want. Why now . Why are you just doing that now . On this Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/show-weve'>Show Weve been talking for months about the need to evacuate these thousands of afghan translators and others who helped u. S. Service members during the war. President biden just named an ambassador, just a few days ago, to run an Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/interagency-task-force'>Interagency Task Force on this. Thousands of these folks are now trapped in their homes. They cannot even try to get to kabul. It is not safe. I know two lieutenants, veterans setting up gofundme to save their translators. Why did Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden wait so long to set up the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/interagency-task-force'>Interagency Task Force . In fact, the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/task-force'>Task Force has been going for many many weeks now and Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/ambassador-jacobsen'>Ambassador Jacobsen leading it has been in place for many, many weeks. And we have been working this from day one. We had to put in place an entire system to deal with this. Unfortunately, none of that work was done when we came in. And we had to put that in place. As you know the refugee Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/admissions-process'>Admissions Process and Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/support-system'>Support System was decimated in recent years. Weve been working to rebuild that. Its taken time to get all of that in place. But we have a Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/wholeofgovernment-effort'>Wholeofgovernment Effort going on right now to do everything we possibly can to get people out of Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/harms-way'>Harms Way if that is what they want to do. People i know who are active in this, veterans, say they only heard from the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/state-department'>State Department within the past few days asking for their lists of people. The embassy has had lists of people for a long time. We are doubling down making sure we know to the best of our Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/ability-everyone'>Ability Everyone who may be at high risk and trying to find ways to account for them. All of this is consistent with the effort to make sure we have the best possible information and we are doing everything we can to get people out of Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/harms-way'>Harms Way. China is reportedly prepared to recognize the taliban as a legitimate government. Would the biden administration ever consider doing that . A future afghan government that upholds the basic rights of its people and that doesnt harbor terrorists is a government we can work with and recognize. Conversely, a government that doesnt do that, that doesnt uphold the basic rights of its people, including women and girls, that harbors Terrorist Groups that have designs on the united states or allies and partners, certainly that is not going to happen. And beyond that, to the extent the taliban has a selfinterest, if it is leading the government in afghanistan, of assistance from the international community, support from the international community, none of that will be forthcoming. Sanctions wont be lifted. Their ability to travel wont happen. If theyre not sustaining the basic rights of the afghan people and if they revert to supporting or harboring terrorists who might strike us. I mean, that sounds like a no you would never recognize them because based on what we know about the taliban they dont respect the rights of women and girls. There are reports from afghanistan right now that they are forcing young girls into sexual slavery. Jake, this is heartwrenching stuff. Ive met, myself, as i know you have, with remarkable women who have been leaders in afghanistan over the last 20 years, who have advanced the rights of women and girls with our very, very strong support. I met with a number of them just a few months ago the last time i was Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/in-kabul'>In Kabul this spring. I think it is incumbent on the international community including the united states to do everything we can using every tool we have, economic, diplomatic, political to work to sustain their rights. And at the same time as i said to make sure that if the taliban does not do that, if it is in charge, that it clearly faces the penalties for not upholding those rights. We will do everything we can to make sure that is the case. Everything except use the u. S. Military. President biden is intent on avoiding a Saigon Moment, a reference of course to the hasty and humiliating u. S. Evacuation from vietnam. But with this Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/troop-surge'>Troop Surge to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/air-lift'>Air Lift americans out of afghanistan, arent we already in the midst of a Saigon Moment . No were not. Remember, this is not saigon. We went to afghanistan 20 years ago with one mission. And that mission was to deal with the folks who attacked us on 9 11. We have succeeded in that mission. The objective we set bringing those who attacked us to justice, making sure they couldnt attack us again from afghanistan, weve succeeded in that mission. In fact we succeeded a while ago. At the same time, remaining in afghanistan for another one, five, ten years is not in the national interest. The british were there for a long time in the 19th century. The russians were there for a long time in the 20th century. Weve been there twice as long as the russians. How that is in our national interest, i dont see. As i mentioned a moment ago i think most of our strategic competitors around the world would like nothing better than for us to remain in afghanistan for another year, five years, ten years and have those resources dedicated to being in the midst of a civil war. It is simply not in our interest. You dont think that afghanistan now is going to become a hotbed of terrorism . Jake, we have tremendously more capacity than we had before 9 11 when it comes to counterterrorism. In places around the world where we dont have forces on the ground, in yemen, parts of africa, parts of syria, we are able to deal with any potential terrorist tHreat to our country and were doing that every single day. Were going to retain in the region the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/overthehorizon-capacity'>Overthehorizon Capacity as we call it to see and deal with any reemergence of a terrorist tHreat. Look, i cant tell you what the taliban is going to do, but again, in their selfinterest, allowing a repeat of what happened before 9 11, which is a Terrorist Group to reemerge in afghanistan that has designs on the united states, well, they know what happened last time, so i dont think it is in their selfinterest to allow that again. All right. Secretary Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/antony-blinken'>Antony Blinken, thank you so much for taking our questions. We appreciate it. Thanks for having me. How much blame does the previous administration take. The top official from the house foreign after first committee will join us next. [music plays. ] helen knew exercise could help her diabetes. But she didnt know what was right for her. No. Nope. No way. But then helen went from no to know with Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/freestyle-libre'>Freestyle Libre 14 day, now she knows what activity helps lower her glucose. And can see what works best for her. Take the mystery out of your Glucose Levels, and lower your a1c. Now you know. Freestyle libre 14 day. Now covered by medicare for those who qualify. I was drowning in student loan debt. Then i discovered sofi. Lower interest rate. My principal is going down. Sofi is a place where you can start to tackle those money goals today. Find your rhythm. Your happy place. 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Government scrambles to evacuate americans, top congressional officials have been voicing concerns this morning about the rapidly deteriorating situation in afghanistan. After 20 years, billions of dollars, thousands of american and afghan lives lost, some lawmakers, not to mention veterans who fought in the war and lost friends, are wondering what was it all for. Joining us to discuss, the top from the house foreign affairs committee, Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/congressman-michael-mccaul'>Congressman Michael Mccaul of texas. Thanks for joining us. I want to give you an opportunity to respond to what you just heard from Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/secretary-blinken'>Secretary Blinken. I think the secretary has been devoid of reality this whole time. Since the decision was made in may, i think it is an unmitigated disaster of epic proportions. I think the president this is going to be a stain on this president and this presidency. I think he is going to have blood on his hands for what they did. For months weve been warning Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/ambassador-crocker'>Ambassador Crocker and i wrote an oped in the New York Times about what we need to do now to save the interpreters, what we need to do to have our isr intelligence, surveillance, recognizance capabilities in the region. Now we are going dark. They totally blew this one and completely underestimated the strength of the taliban. You know, jake, they didnt listen to the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/intelligence-community'>Intelligence Community, because every time i got an i. C. Briefing assessment it was probably the grimmest assessment ive ever heard on afghanistan. And yet the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/state-department'>State Department, Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/secretary-blinken'>Secretary Blinken, the politicos in the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/white-house'>White House want to paint this Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/rosie-picture'>Rosie Picture that somehow these Peace Talks in doha were going to deliver a rabbit out of the hat at the 11th hour. Guess what . That didnt happen. Now theyre sending 5,000 troops in to try to save our embassy personnel. They are destroying classified documents as i speak. The Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/visa-process'>Visa Process has stopped. Now, you know, Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden said in july this is not going to be a saigon. Its not like south vietnam. Guess what . When i talked to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/ambassador-crocker'>Ambassador Crocker, we think it is going to be worse than saigon. When they raise the Black Flag of the taliban over our united states embassy, think about that visual. President biden released a Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/statement-yesterday'>Statement Yesterday defending his decision saying, quote, one more year or five more years of u. S. Military presence would not have made a difference if the afghan Military Cannot or will not hold its own country and an endless american presence in the middle of another countrys civil conflict was not acceptable to me. What do you make of that argument if after 20 years the taliban could take over so easily, the afghan military would fold so easily, that no amount of time would have solved the problem . Well, i think history is repeating itself. Remember it was obama and the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/vice-president'>Vice President at that time biden who decided to withdraw completely out of iraq. Look what happened. Isis reared its ugly head. You know, i persuaded Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-trump'>President Trump to keep a residual force in syria, and now you are looking at a very light footprint, very, if you will, Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/insurance-policy'>Insurance Policy for stability in the region. And they knew given the i. C. Assessment what was going to happen if we withdrew. They knew if it wasnt conditions based, and that is very important here, had to be conditions based, as the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/february-agreement'>February Agreement stated. If it wasnt done that way, and we allowed the taliban to hit the provincial capitals they never cut their ties to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/al-qaeda'>Al Qaeda. I dont know what the secretary is talking about when he says that, you know, we could maybe recognize them as a legitimate government. They have never cut their ties to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/al-qaeda'>Al Qaeda. We are going to go back, jake, to a pre9 11 state. A Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/breeding-ground'>Breeding Ground for terrorism. You know, i hate to say this. I hope we dont have to go back there, but it will be a tHreat to the homeland in a matter of time. Your fellow republican Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/congressman-adam-kinzinger'>Congressman Adam Kinzinger tweeted that, quote, between Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/trump-and-biden'>Trump And Biden they own this. Congresswoman liz cheney, another republican called it the, quote, Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/trump-biden-calamity'>Trump Biden Calamity saying it began with the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/trump-administration'>Trump Administration negotiating with terrorists. Senator Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/ben-sass'>Ben Sass put out a similar statement. Does former Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-trump'>President Trump share the blame for what we are seeing in afghanistan because of the deal he made with the taliban and the fact Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/secretary-blinken'>Secretary Blinken Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/wasnt-wrong'>Wasnt Wrong when he said the taliban was stronger in january of this year than it had been since 9 11 . Well, you know, ive talked to national Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/security-adviser-obrien'>Security Adviser Obrien about this. It was always going to be conditions based. They are violating two principles of that agreement. One attacking provincial capitals. Two, never cutting ties with Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/al-qaeda'>Al Qaeda. In his words, when he talked to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-trump'>President Trump, he told him that i will not allow to have another saigon on my watch. They even talked about b52s. We can talk hypothetically about what the prior president may or may not have done. You know, Harry Truman once said the buck stops here. You know, for Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden to try to tHrow all of this on the former administration is a lack of responsibility and accountability. He owns this. Absolutely A Hundred percent he owns it. He made the decision. What is worse, jake, is when you and i started to get engaged on this, once he made the decision, he could have done certain things. He could have planned for it. He could have had a strategy for this. Instead, they had no strategy. And now theyre knocking on the doorstep of kabul. The noose is tightening around the kabul neck. There is still no strategy other than race to the airport and evacuate as many people as you can. This is a really sad day. Not only for america but for the afghan people. The women left behind. I would say our international standing in the world. We look so weak and it is so embarrassing. Youre right. China hosted the taliban in china saying they would call them a legitimate government. Dont think for a minute now the chinese are not going to go into afghanistan, get the rare earth minerals, and put a base of operations in afghanistan. We have negotiated out of weakness here, and the taliban, im sorry, foreign adversaries are emboldened that being russia, china, iran. Remember, we have no Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/isr-capability'>Isr Capability anymore. We are going dark in afghanistan as a dark veil covers the country. What do you make of the pushback from the biden administration . I dont disagree the buck stops with whoever is behind the Resolute Desk but the pushback that trump set the stage for all of this in the sense that he was talking about inviting the taliban to Camp David . The last year, just last Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/year-trump'>Year Trump and Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/secretary-pompeo'>Secretary Pompeo were suggesting the Taliban Would be a partner with the u. S. In fighting terrorism. Trump said the Taliban Would be, quote, killing terrorists. Pompeo said the Taliban Would, quote, work alongside us and destroy resources to Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/al-qaeda'>Al Qaeda. First of all, have you seen any evidence that thats happening . I think their strategy was they knew a transitional government would have to necessarily include the taliban. I dont think anybody likes the taliban. I equate negotiating with the taliban like negotiating with the ayatollah. I dont personally think it is a great idea but i think that was the thinking at the time. Again, this agreement was conditions based. And the conditions have not been fulfilled. I do think biden does own this. Hes reversed so many policies of trumps in the past whether it be remain in mexico to, you know, the paris accords, iran, jcpoa. The idea that Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/president-biden'>President Biden couldnt come in and reverse this, you know, agreement, that he couldnt come in and reverse this agreement, why this one, right . Mmhmm, yeah. He is the president of the united states, the commanderinchief. For him to skirt this responsibility when it was his decision and its the consequences from a national Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/security-standpoint'>Security Standpoint are severe because now they can say they defeated the united states in afghanistan, the infidel, just like they defeated the soviet union. This will have longterm ramifications. Congressman Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/michael-mccaul'>Michael Mccaul republican of texas, thank you for your time, sir. Good to see you. You, too, jake. As the u. S. Departs from afghanistan and the taliban takes control, Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/veteran-and-gold'>Veteran And Gold star families are asking what it was all for. Thats next. Nking means we see things differently, so you can focus on what matters most. Thats how weve become the leader in 5g. 1 in customer satisfaction. And a partner who includes 5g in every plan, so you get it all. Psoriatic artHritis, made my joints stiff, swollen, painful. Tremfya® is approved to help reduce joint symptoms in adults with active psoriatic artHritis. Some patients even felt less fatigued. Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/vaccine-or-plan'>Vaccine Or Plan to. Tremfya®. Emerge tremfyant™. Janssen can help you explore Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/cost-support'>Cost Support options. 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Veteran community including especially for goldstar families who lost Loved Ones in afghanistan. Based on those veterans and goldstar families i have the honor of knowing because of my coverage of the war and veterans, i can tell you the emotions seem to be all over the map from the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/goldstar-mom'>Goldstar Mom asking if this all means her Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/sons-death'>Sons Death was for nothing, for no reason, to the more hardened former officer who told me he always knew it was going to end this way and he is glad no more Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/gold-star'>Gold Star families will be created in afghanistan. To the two former lieutenants who started a gofundme to try to rescue two interpreters and their families. Right now i want to take a moment, if youll indulge me, to talk to them, talk to those who sacrificed over there, whether losing a friend or a Loved One or a limb or the ability to sleep soundly at night or whatever. I have worn this bracelet for years now. It has the name of the eight men killed in combat october 2nd, 2009, kevin thompson, josh kirk, michael scuza, cHris griffin, josh hart, justin gallegos, vernon martin, and stephon mace. Every one of those eight men was killed that day trying to help defend the camp and save the lives of his fellow soldiers. And, yes, that Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/combat-outpost'>Combat Outpost was ultimately abandoned and, yes, we can question why they were there defending an outpost that served little purpose at that point other than defending itself. And that is an important question. As are similar ones about the war in general. Im not downplaying any of them. I covered these issues extensively and will continue to do so. But the way i look at it on an individual level, on a personal level separating it from the larger foreign policy debates which we must have for those mourning. I have to say that those acts of heroism and selflessness, as is written in the book of john, greater love has no one than this that someone laid down his life for his friends. And, to me, thats why they were lost, for that act of principle. Theres no soldier who volunteers to defend this country and its principles, to step into Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/harms-way'>Harms Way, on behalf of All Of Us and on behalf of his or her fellow Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-members'>Service Members, no Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-member'>Service Member does so thinking that the united states public, the united states politicians, the united states generals always make the right decision, always know what theyre doing. Our Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/service-members'>Service Members know the risks of our system and of dangerous terrain. 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Embassy is being evacuated, choppers taking personnel to the airport. The Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/american-flag'>American Flag on the Href='https://vimarsana.com/news/embassy-building'>Embassy Building just lowered