Airport, the president said this. No the best of our knowledge, the taliban Check Points are letting through people showing american passports. Now, thats a different question when they get into the Rush And Crowd of all the folks just outside the wall near the airport. Thats why we had, yesterday or the day before, we went over the wall and brought in, how many . 169 americans. Sgr right now at Kabuls Airport, were told some flights have resumed after no planes took off for ten hours. Thousands of people there still stranded. Soldiers on the runway told cnn that 10,000 people had their Paper Work processed and ready to go but they were stuck in the Blistering Sun after the country they were being evacuated to said they reached Capacity And K could handle no more. The United Arab Emirates will host 5,000 afghans on a temporary basis after a request from the united states government. They are scrambling to enlist over nations to accept evacuees. We are waiting for this briefing. How do you expect the pentagon will explain and tell us how theyre going to decrease this bottleneck . First, we know that the Pentagon And Military are working on decreasing the bottleneck because we have pictures of them getting the Air Base in germany ready to host them. They are expanding the options. The real question is why is this being done now after qatar filled up. We knew they had capacity for 8,000. Even if the u. S. Is only moving over 1,000 a day, thats going to fill up quickly. Pent agon stressed its plannin organization. The plans seem to fall apart quickly now that we are hitting reality on the ground pretty quickly. It was always going to be moving 5,000 people a day. What is it when president Joe Biden said u. S. Military went over the Wall To Kabul International Airport to help get 169 americans. What does it mean to go over the wall . Is it resources going beyond the airport or just picking out 169 americans out of the crowd to get them out of the thousands we have seen outside the airport and bring them inside, just to speed the process of americans. That is the priority of the u. S. Military at this point. Biden putting an emphasis on getting afghans out as well. They are having much more trouble getting through taliban Check Points. Thats something the u. S. Government is trying to work with the taliban on and the lines of communication many the ground On Kabul to try to speed that up. This is very far from a perfect process as you see the crowds there. The chaos, we hear the gunfire from videos we have seen. Theres a lot of work to go before this process is moving smoothly. Clearly a lot of questions about the logistical elements. I dont want to skip over the humanitarian efforts by u. S. Forces there at the airport. Were seeing these pictures that the u. S. Marine corps is Tr Tweeting out the marines helping children. Theres been seven medical emergencies involving infants and children outside the airport. Whats your understanding of what were seeing and how those medical emergencies would be handled. The Marines Go To Kabul International Airport with medical personnel among them. They can handle some pretty serious medical situations. They prefer not to do that and prepare somebody for evacuation thats serious to a medical facility. They are equipped with medical personnel and equipped to handle the situations. Its brutally hot there on the ground. We heard from clarissa ward. Young Children Cant Handle hours of standing in the heat. We staw a stunning video of Handing A Diaper Clad Infantinfant up to marine. And the infant was taken to get medical help. Thats part of this. These people are not arriving in tiptop shape. They need help. First that help is to get through the taliban Check Points and onto the airport. That in and of itself is a Hercul Herculean effort. Thats very much part of what is going on. Whether its qatar, uae. Im sure theres more medical checks and more medical help keeping people safe and healthy on the conditions on the ground is one more complicated task as the u. S. Tries to speed the whole process up. All right. Thank you. Nick Payton Walsh is in qatar. You heard the president during this speech and the questions thereafter. The idea that there could be an expansion of the perimeter and there could be troops going out into Kabuls Airport sorry. Got to go to pentagon and come back to you. Bring up General Taylor. He will give you an operational update and well get to your questions. General. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for being here and for really the important work that youre doing. Were all working around the clock right now. I know its not easy, but im glad that were in this together. Im pleased to report that our throughput has increased and we continue to observe Stead Progress In Kabul. Ill run through some of those specifics here during that update. First, the military footprint In Kabul is approximately 5,800 total troops on the ground. Our mission to defend Kabul Airport and evacuate people from afghanistan as quickly and safely as possible continues. The airport remains secure. The Evacuation Flights are steadily increasing and we are doing everything we can to maximize safe evacuations. In the past 24 hours, 15 c17s arrived with several hundred more troops that allowed us to get to that 5,800 number and also some supplies. As of 0300 eastern today and the previous 24 hours, 16 c17s and one c130 departed. These include a couple hundred American Citizens. Since August 14th as the president noted earlier today, we have air lifted approximately 13,000 total evacuees during the operation. In total since the end of july, the cumulative number moved out of afghanistan is greater than 18,000. There are siv applicants, at Risk Afghans who worked alongside us throughout our time in afghanistan and other vulnerables, including women and children. Many of the flights leaving kabul have stopped in designated Safe Havens and stagiing bases n qatar. State department and other Military Personnel are actively processing. We did pause flights earlier today leaving kabul. We adjusted resources and sflel to especially sure a Tech Mpora Capacity issue. Flight operations have resumed. U. S. Military flights are departing as we speak right now. Wer looking for additional locations for the flights to land. Were grateful for our allies, including germany where flights will Land Tothdday who are cooperating with us. Were focused on doing this as safely as possible with great sense of urgency. We see a tremendous amount of discipline, Lhumanity And Professionalism in their mission. We continue to assess the Operating Environment and aggressively address any threat to the mission. The Safety And Security of American Citizens and service members are partners who remain In Kabul along side us in the afghan people is absolutely our top priority. I want to reenforce were focused on the mission of this great national importance. The massive effort is the result of Team Work and the tireless commitment of u. S. Military to supporting the u. S. Government around the world. Okay. Bob. Thank you. President biden in his remarks earlier today made a reference to having figure the word he used rescued 169 americans outside, beyond the perimeter. Can you explain what that how that happened . What happened . Hes referring to a small number of people that our troops were very close to the perimeter. The perimeter of the airport. Very close. In a short amount of time, a short amount of distance some of our troops were able to go out there and retrieve them and bring them in. Sgla 169 americans or do you know the break down . I dont know the break down of everybody. Has there been any further consideration going beyond, going further beyond the perimeter to do that . You heard the president said today he wants to do whatever is going to be necessary to rescue americans and our afghan partners in need. Im not going to speculate. As The General said, air Operations Resume and continue and r as unimpeded as possible. Clearly, we will be prepared and postured, if we had to do something additional. I wont speculate right now. Did the u. S. Troops have to go through any taliban Check Points . No. Can you talk a bit more about the Flight Pause . How long did it last and when it started, when it stopped . Earliest was six to seven hours. It was allowed to ensure that flights in Staging Basis could receive more personnel. Thats been cleaned up as flights have departed there. Continue with those that are ready the fly On Kabul to leave. There was were there any other locations . Permission to fly afghans from kabul to the united states or only to a certain kcountry . Is that what the Hold Up was . Thats not what the Hold Up was. The sites at qatar was at capacity. Well be able to receive them. Theres been no final determination about whether they will be able to come right back to the united states or in what timetable. Thats a whole different category well be dealing with. Thats something well be working out with the State Department. How many Al Qaeda are in afghanistan in. I havent seen an estimate on that. I dont know we have an exact estimate. Military intelligence estimates about how many Al Qaeda remain . We know that Al Qaeda is a presence as well as isis in afghanistan. We do not believe it is high. We dont have an exact figure for you. Its not like they carry Identification Cards and register somewhere. We dont have a perfect picture. Our ability, our intelligence gathering ability in afghanistan isnt what it used to be because we arent there with the same numbers that we used to be. The president said Theres No Al Qaeda presence in afghanistan. That does not seem to be correct. What we dont think is what we believe is there isnt a presence that is significant enough to merit a threat to our homeland as there was back on 9 11, 20 years ago. The president also said Theres No national security interest, no national interest in afghanistan. Im a little confused by that. Can you explain why Theres No national interest in afghanistan . Why did we have troops there for 20 years if Theres No national interest . We had a significant in being afghanistan to our national security 20 years ago. You heard the President Talk about this. The goal was to defeat Al Qaeda and prevent Al Qaeda from launching attacks. We did that and a whole heck of a lot more over 20 years. Just progress in afghanistan. The president decided it was time to end this conflict and there was really only two choices. After may 1st, we could come under attack by the taliban. We had not since the agreement had been signed. The decision was made to complete the draw down. Obviously, were still going to maintain an over Watch Vigilance with respect to counter Terrorism Threat and if we need to, well take action to eliminate and defeat that threat. You just said you dont have intelligence on the ground in afghanistan. How will you have over watch . What i said is we dont have the degree of dexterity to give you a led head count, a Nose Co. Nobody is walking away from the fact they arent there. Were going to maintain as much as vigilance as we can absence a presence on the ground. The other thing i would say is our Intelligence Capability is more difficult if you dont have boots on the ground but we have come a long way since 9 11 in terms of the way we collect, process, analyze and distribute intelligence information. Long way in the last 20 years. While its never perfect, we do believe we will be able to have appropriate warning should there be that kind of Level Threat coming from afghanistan towards the homeland. We have also the Capability Ain the region to deal with that. The person suggested that extending the perimeter might put u. S. Troops at too great of a risk. U. S. Troops low pressure not be on the streets of kabul . I dont think there was any agreement we wouldnt be flir in particular. Risk is a big part of managing any machine. Youre right. There are other threats in afghanistan and In Kabul than those that might be posed by the taliban. We have to be mindful of that. We talked yesterday about of watch flights flying over kabul. Im not going to speculate about whether or when what conditions we might expand the Security Perimeter were working with. The president is absolutely right in expansion does incur extra risk. You have to balance Risk Versus Gain in every particular Military Operation youre conducting. That will be no different from this one. Follow up, were also seeing reports there might be food, water, Sanitation Shortages for the evacuees over there and i was just wondering, are you making plans to have more supplies . Absolutely. Understand that requirement to increase that is there. To ensure that we have food, water, Health Care and is up mine americans. Reports of french doing something similar, getting their people out. Why cant the americans do that . Is it because its too risky for that kind of operation . The president was clear that well do whatever we have to do to rescue as many americans as want to leave afghanistan. The secretary is not going to rule anything in or out in terms of what the possibilities might be there. I would also note that though theres been sporadic reports of some americans not being able to get through Check Points, i fully admit that. By in large, what we have been seeing is that americans are able to get through the Check Points and able to get onto the airfield. We arent seeing were not aware of indications that there is that Big A need for that. Obviously, now we built out extra capacity over the course of just the last couple of days. If theres a need to do something additional to what were doing now to Get Americans processed, the secretary will want to keep as many options open. Sounds like the president doesnt want to risk american lives to save afghans to help americans for the last 20 years. Im sorry. The president doesnt want to risk american lives to save afghans who helped americans during the past 20 years. That was the message today, i heard. I didnt hear that same way, tom. I think the president was very clear in his remarks that we know we have an obligation to the afghans that have helped us over the last 20 years. Toms, the numbers belie that impression. If you look at the numbers of The General briefed, 13,000 since August 14th, 18,000 in total. That vast, vast majority of that number are afghans. The numbers speak for themselves. The numbers are all over the map, frankly. Some are saying 35,000. Others are saying 100,000. In terms of whats left to get . Yeah. I couldnt get you perfect about what that will look like. You have to flow in families. We are moving and have been moving a lot of family members. Just to give you an example, The General noted nearly 6,000 came out in last 24 hours. 5,000 of them were afghans. 5,000 were afghans. I just dont accept the premise this administration and this government and our military is not prioritizing moving afghan partners and people that have helped us out of the country. The numbers dont say that. I have several follow up questions. The president said it was 169 americans. You say americans are having no trouble getting through Check Points to the best of your knowledge. Me qu my questions are this. First of all, what was the situation of these 169 americans that required u. S. Troops to go outside the perimeter and get them. Why these 169 americans . When did there happen . How long did the mission last . Was it 169 americans all together . Did you feel you had safe passage from taliban . Tell us more about this. I dont have that level of detail. Do you, general . U. S. Troops went outside the wire at the airport to rescue 169 americans and thats what the president said. Neither of you have any additional information. Barbara im happy to take the questions you asked back and try to provide additional context. I do not have that level of tacktack tactical detail today. Im happy to go look and see if we can find answers for you on that, absolutely. My understanding of what happened was they were really just outside the wall. It wasnt a rescue so much as assisting them getting onto the field. I think thats the context in which i understand the incident. Your questions are fair. Ill see if we can provide additional context. You told us they have, just for the record, of american troops in any other Instance Or Circumstance gone outside the wire at the airport, going into the city to get people, american troops at all left the airport to go get people and do you you said you had extended capacity. Do you the secretary said the other day, you didnt have the capacity to really go Get Americans. Do you now have the capacity to do that and is there any other circumstance in which you have done it . I dont know of any other circumstance. We have flown in additional capacity, additional forces. Security is in a more stable condition at the airport. If we need to get to the airfield, we could examine those options, tee them up and offer up opportunities to the secretary to make the recommendation. We would go from there. This many days into the operation, the u. S. Military has the Capability And Capacity to go Into Kabul and Get Americans for the first time . We have additional capacity now as we have flown additional forces in im not going to talk about future operations one way or the other. Every decision thats made has got to be weighed against the risk and their benefits of what youre doing. The other thing i say is as i mention to tom, there hasnt been that demand. Most americans are going they are getting through the Check Points and getting on. Im not suggesting in every case its gone on unimpeded. Why wait so many days to have Ta Capacity . We didnt wait so many days. We been flowing in forces consistently over the course of the last week. We have been nothing but transparent to you about what we have been flowing in. Again, we will do whatever we can and if theres a need to do this and its an operation that we can talk about, well talk about it. Okay. The Reports Americans have been beaten by the ftaliban In Kabul. Were mindful of these reports and they are deeply troubling. We have communicated to the taliban thats absolutely unacceptable that we want free passage through their Check Points for documented americans. By in large, thats happening. As we talked about before, the mission right now, as you and i are speaking is to keep security at that Airport Sound and keep Air Operations moving. Im not going to speculate about anything, any changes to that mission at this time. If theres change, and you feel like we need to execute that change, then well do it. Conversation with the taliban im not going to talk about that in any Way Shape or form. Tracy. Thank you. Just to follow up on my callings, we have reports of american helicopters going out and pek picking up people from multiple locations. Both americans and afghans. I want to understand how that mission has changed that you actually, despite what general Austin And Milley said yesterday, you are actually going out of the airport and picking up people. Can you elaborate on that . I cant confirm those reports at this time. I feel like were B Biferindicating the issue. Have you made that same negotiation over afghans because thats where most of these reports are coming from. We have seen those reports. We have made it clear to the taliban that these afghans should be allowed through the check point. I recognize that theres been multiple cases of afghans. Even some credentials afghans being assaulted and beaten and harassed. No question. By in large, those afghans who have the proper credentials and we have made it clear to the taliban what those credentials look like, what they are, by in large they are getting through the check point. We have not seen that become major issue. Now that the president has opened door to having some Rescue Missions in the city, are commanders on the ground speaking with the taliban about letting those missions go up unobstructed . Those discussions with commanders and taliban having stopped. Thats a continuous piece of whats been going on. I think the question you asked is are we talking to the taliban to go out and rescue folks. Those demands have not been brought to the commander. The president has opened up that possibility. Stand to reason the commander i think we all heard that same comment from the President Today to ensure we use all the capability we have to meet the mission. Now they are not asking or planning for that. At this point, you said two things. You said planning and asking. We have not received it. S are these regular calls to the taliban. Are these regular and is there physical fairly good communication and they speak good english and understand what were seeing. From higher to lower. I think those continue to regular talks at the tpc at that level. Those things continue. You heard reports earlier in the week about having communications. Theres other military channels open that theres continuous at that level. What are the right credentialing . Who needs to come . At the lowest tactical level the other discussions. Those are always, i would say probably a little harder. Those are happening. Making sure that what needs to be communicated is done. General milley the other day talked about the after Action Process will continue. Youve been studying this for years. Is therefu any negotiated settlements . The post talked about that earlier in the week. They started last year. Any emerging theories . As the chairman said, after Action Reviews will happen at the appropriate time. That guidance has been given and i would tell you the Operations Level that focus is just like laser focussed on the current flights of the current mission. Can you get a sense as a strict Command Structure or is the sense various Taliban Malitias around the city if you talk to one taliban leader, these guys will say im not going to listen. Im going to do my own thing not letting people through. Can you talk about that and is it a problem . I cant personally give you that level of detail but i do know, which i think is a positive is theres constant communication and its being received. Were seeing that things that were asking for, passage in that is happening and getting better. Yeah. For the time being up until now have all u. S. Flights from the Kabul Airport gone to qatar and a follow up. Now with going, how many other nations have offered to house afghan evacuees and of those which are the most viable . Lastly, are you looking for foreign facilities or is it exclusively american facilities in these foreign countries . Qatar has been first Way Station for the Evacuation Flights that we have been conducting. Because we have been doing it so consistently, thats one of the reasons we reached capacity there as quickly as we did. We are grateful for other countries who have already agreed to accept Addition Fal Numbers and were working out the details with them now. Ill let the countries speak to their contributions and the State Department but from a military perspective, we are in need of Addition Fal Capacity A were grateful other countries will be helping us out with that capacity even if it is on a temporary basis. We saw what happened today when that was the limiting factor. It wasnt aircraft on the ground. It wasnt people cued up and manifested. It was destination. As i think i answer, i think it was jens question. Some of a large Po Portion of these individual will come to the united states and we have got three political Tear Bases now set to receive them, fort lee, Fort Mccoy and fort blis. The capacity at those three bases, we want to get up to 22,000 capacity. Were not there yet. Understandably. Were building out to that. As the secretaries made clear to the department, if we fleneed T Offer Addition flal installations here, well do that. Right now we think we can get up to 22,000 in relatively short order here over the next coming days and weeks. Well see where that goes. Well say the other afghans at risk, would you look at insulations like the Air Base italy or other u. S. Bases . Thats really a better Question Put to the State Department that runs that part of the immigration process. That wouldnt be our call to make. Does the secretary currently possess the authorities to call up more forces or does he have to ask the White House . If he was going to make a major Muscle Movement in terms of additional forces of significant size, he would want to have that conversation with the commander in chief. I mean, given the possibility the movement may occur in future, as that like preauthority . Im not going o get into the planning process. We feel like with the additional capacity that we have that should there be a need to expand the mission in any way that we have what we require and if that would change, if it would require change, you can bet that general mckenzie would throw out his recommendations and it would be reviewed and we go from there. Have anymore forces been put on the Deploy List . No. How long was the was it six hours, three hours, two hours . Just roughly 6 to 7 and a half hours. During that time, what was happening . Were you trying to get other countries to accept the evacuees. What was happening . On the airfield, Processing Kit continues. Flights were paused to allow for backlog. To ensure reception of folks leaving kabul. We were scheduling flights. Since the pause restarted, how many flights have gone out since then . Before i left, right before i came in here, we had three Leave Qatar and one left kabul and one was getting ready the take off. Since the pause and restart, one has left and potentially a second. Is it accurate and correct that the Backlog Couldnt Board the planes because they couldnt land them anywhere. Was that backlog about 10,000 people . Less than. I dont have the exact number. Less than ten but in the thousands . Yeah. Since that time they were there for 7 and a half, maybe as much as 8 hours, was there sufficient food, Water And Sanitation . Are they sleeping outside on the airfields . How does that work . It was sufficient. We are actively continuing to ensure its sufficient for the future and continuing as we build out even more. Did they the people stuck there for so long, did they have food, Water And Sanitation . I have no report they didnt. Thank you. I want to follow up on the 169 americans who were rescued. Was that an incident where a commander took a decision and left the wire to help those people . Were weapons drawn or did that Commander Ask for higher up authority to lead . Im going to absolutely get more. You already see that soldiers that are out there are starting now to increase that capability, that security around the gate. We have bmeen told Theres N hostile interactions with the taliban but if they are stopping americans from getting to the gate and a u. S. Service member had to rescue them, was it a situation where weapons were drawn . If you restarted flights from kabul, the people we hear from say the wait is three to five days to get out of there. Its so backed up. Where are you flying these people . Are you already flying them to another country . Like we said earlier, we have other flights scheduled and the timing. Thats already being worked. Increasing our throughput throughout the entire Chain Requirements of flights. Some were planned for the united states. You sate left qatar to the u. S. . Youre saying youre at a pace where the incoming and out going is some equilibrium. Getting there. Are they flying to other countries yet in. I dont have those Flight Plans yet. Thats very extremely die ynami piece. I dont have the Flight Schedules now. We have seen videos of babies being hefted over the Barb Wire and u. S. Servicemen taking them on. Are these babies of families who have visas, u. S. Passports, are they afghans . People with credentials . The video youre talking about, the parent asked the marines to look after the baby because the baby was ill. The marine you see reaching it over the wall took it to a Norwei Norweigan Hospital at the airport. They treated the child and returned to child to the childs father. Was there only one . Im only aware of the one. It was an act of compassion because they were concerned. Are they going to be brought . Or were they put back outside the airport . I dont know. The baby was returned to its father. I dont know where they are now. Obviously, we have a responsible to return a child to the childs parent. I dont know who the parent is and whether they are an applicant. I dont have the Humane Act of compassion by the marine. I have a question for The General. Now that the airport is secure, you can take us back to the breach occurred on monday. Whats the latest assessment . What forces were in the area and what were the interactions . It was very ddynamic. We assess after that happened and we enforced and throughout those days had ensure the 360 Degree Perimeter is. I dont have the tactical ar that was not a requirement to pass that up. What i do know is that was quickly fixed and the commanders there were able to use the assets they had and as we built more Combat Power to ensure that hasnt happened since. Was there any interaction with the taliban ongoing on this . Always. Like i said earlier, that communication at that level is continuous and happening . We got time for one more. I havent taken hardly any from the phones. Yes, sir. Thank you so much. Going back to the kmirn that were being passed over the wall. Is there going to be any regulation stating that this should not be happening to kind of regulate that parents arent taking their children and trying to pass them off to get them inside the gate . I dont know of no such effort to do that. These are u. S. Servicemen and women deployed in a still dangerous and difficult politician. I think what you saw there is the same thing that you saw when that Air Force Jet packed to capacity with people wanting to get out. They are doing the best they can to be as compassionate as they can. Again, the baby was not harmed. It was treated for whatever the illness was and return ed. They are being as compassionate as they can. I think you will continue to see that kind of compassion going forward. We got to get going. Thank you very much. All right. First the news of the last 24 hours. 17 flights have left the airport there In Kabul carrying 6,000 passengers. The general says that included a couple hundred American Citizens some clarity from the pentagon. First to you on the question that both the president and now The General have been asked about the potential to expand operations Into Kabul. Detail the risk of that come to American Forces if that decision is made. It is interesting. Sort of president Joe Biden sort of suggested that was manager they might look at. Clearly, its to come in and provide the clean up or details. The idea of sending even if you have 6,000 troops on the airport of sending some of them down the main Airport Road all around into a densely occupied Urban Area with taliban feeling more in control than in 20 years. We have seen their forces are caution as they moved around kabul. It was a difficult role for them. In you begin to slowly push u. S. Troops out from the airfield, out towards the areas you will cause a similar problem where you have to create security of some degree and the best is the airport force. Theres the Fidel Capacity for expanded mission. We hear a clear message from the White House, 17 planes, 6,000 people move d out and this Suddn Shuddering that appears to because they ran out of space where they were sending them. Theres other options have opened up. This may be a continual process. What we havent gotten to the bottom of two, three days in this Crisis Management by there administration is how long a task this could be. Joe biden talked about sib, the special programs extending that where ngos and those who worked intently with the u. S. Might be taken out as well. So many on the airport because they managed to scramble through the fence. It has sort of expanded in the minds of many kabulis, if you can get to the airport, you can probably get to america. Thats something that appeals to millions of afghans. They will have to work out when that stops. When their Red Line is there too. They will have to work out as well which is how many americans are there still In Kabul. One final thing that bugs me from hearing the last few questions is president Joe Biden was very clear that Al Qaeda was gone. He said the reason we went in to afghanistan is no longer there. John kirby had to wind that back and say theres still a presence there and talked about lack of intelligence and not having clear numbers. Theres not much doubt about this at all. A report in january talked about how they were growing in their presence. Theres very little doubt that a will the of Al Qaeda and other affiliates around that could be of use to them too. Our report on how the u. S. Appeared to have acted on raid in syria because of information gleaned in afghanistan on raid against senior Al Qaeda there. Its a Real Basic tiff problem. The way in which they are trying to slide that to one side and saying job done. Lets move on. Its the thing that may come back to bite them in the years ahead. The president spoke unequivocally there that Al Qaeda was not there. Some flrnuance there. Top u. S. Military initials are briefing lawmakers. Ryan, what are you learning . Thats right. Theres a series of briefings that are set to take place today. These are virtual briefings with the Defense Secretary Lloyd austin. The secretary of state, Anthony Blinken and general milly. The House Briefing were told is happening as we speak. It has been somewhat contentious with lawmakers, republican and democrat pressing the top leadership of the biden administration looking for answers as to what went wrong in afghanistan and this in particular were getting reports of the Defense Secretary Lloyd austin himself saying he has heard of reports of americans that were beaten by the taliban by this withdrawal process. He told lawmakers that he felt that that was unacceptable. For the most part, though, victor, this is an unclassified briefing. So, the administration officials are not going into great detail about what they know about this particular situation. That could happen next week. There will be a series of classified inperson briefings that will happen here on Capitol Hill, including on tuesday at 10 30 with members of the house. Definitely a lot of concern from lawmakers on Capitol Hill about this situation in afghanistan. Ryan nobles there on Capitol Hill. The headline that i have is reports from the Defense Secretary of americans being beaten by members of the taliban. He says that is obviously unacceptable. Lets bring back the panel. I want to start with kim. Kim, how that variable changes what we are watching In Kabul outside the airport. Well, just the fact that the Defense Secretary apparently said that gives me a bit of hope that theyre being realistic behind closed doors. Because i have to say listening to both the president and then John Kirby from the pentagon, it was a surreal moment because what theyre describing is not what im hearing about on the ground, doesnt match the pictures. Or this large network of ngos and former officials who have been trying to charter planes to get them in there and get people out. I know of more than two dozen people last night who missed their plane because the taliban beat them and wouldnt let them through. They were international aid workers. Ive heard from people on the ground, they filmed surrepetitiously through windows that the taliban are starting to go to the homes of senior afghan officials from the last government, journalists. They are starting to look for people for payback. So that means you dont have a lot of time to get these people out, and there is a real mode of desperation thats starting to drive them. Also, you know, how do you get through i have a friend who ive been working on their P2 Application because they worked for a u. S. Media. How can i tell him and his family of seven to go through that crowd of several thousand people . He doesnt know how hes going to get through. Yeah. And we have spoken with several veterans who have been reaching out to their translators trying to help them and the maylay outside of that airport makes it almost important for most of them to get through. Colonel, let me come to you. I expected to hear some clarity about the 169 americans who the president said Military Assets went over the wall to retrieve. Didnt seem like admiral kirby, General Taylor had any details there. They just described it as a short distance and a short period. Are you surprised by appearing to be flatfooted when being asked about that . Yes, i am, victor. When everybody knows, you know, thats a big moment when our troops go across the wall like that, whether its just a few feet or a mile or two. We really do need to know about that. So there is clearly something that happened there. I suspect it was very based on what they said during the Military Briefing that it was close to the perimeter of the airport. But, again, thats only a suspicion. Its not something that weve confirmed or that we know for sure. And what it shows is that there must be some flexibility in at least the application of the Rules Of Engagement that our troops are operating under. So, that could open up some, well, well call it interesting possibilities for the future. And hopefully people know that this is a very fluid and very dynamic and very, very dangerous area. Colonel, in the seconds that we have left, i think they put an important question on the table. If this is going to extend beyond august 31st, why not say it . If this is going to be over on august 31st, why not say that . Well, i think what youre looking at is, you know, the nuance of if you say something very concretely with a fixed date, thats going to cause all kinds of problems for the people that are going to be left behind if they cant meet all their logistical needs and if the gates remain, in effect, closed to the afghan Siv And P2 applicants. So, what you have is this problem where you want to get out of the country, you know, from a political standpoint, but on the other hand you also want to take care of all the people. Its best for the administration not to give a full, final date in this case. All right. Thank you all for the reporting and the analysis. The pentagon says flights will resume out of kabul as the T Taliban try to control afghanistan. Ah. Thats the spot. Only pay for what you need. Liberty, liberty, liberty, Liberty Visible is wireless that doesnt play games. 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