Transcripts For CNN At This Hour With Kate Bolduan 20240710

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Thank you. Sylvie . I have two questions. I would like to go back to the incident. Can you be a little bit more specific and tell us if you can rule out that the attackers were taliban . First. And i would like also to go back to the deadline, the french Foreign Minister said today that its, quote, necessary to continue the evacuations beyond August 31st. Cannot rule out who the hostile actor was in this Shooting Incident last night. I think, as You Saw, central Command Statement referred to it as a hostile actor. We dont know more than that. And this just happened, so i dont know when well have more forensics on this. Again, our focus was on making sure that we could maintain security at the airport. It was maintained. Sadly it resulted in the life of one afghan soldier and wounded several others. So, i mean, obviously thats our focus right now. On the deadline, i Cant Speak for other nation states. I can only speak for the department of defense, and you heard the Secretary Address this over the weekend, the goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible. And while were glad to see the numbers that we got yesterday, were not going to rest on any laurels. The focus is on trying to do this as best we can by The End of the month. And as the secretary state, if we need if he needs to have additional conversations with the commander in chief about that timeline, hell do that but were just not at that point right now. Jen . Has the taliban told you that August 31st is the deadline and that you must leave then . Are those communications happening . Is that something youve agreed to with the taliban . We have seen the public statements by the taliban spokesman about their views on the 31st of august. I think we all understand that view. And can you explain is it only americans and Siv Holders that are allowed through the gate now . Has that changed . What is the policy about afghans in need now coming . Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated. Given the number of people who are in hiding who were either siv recipients, some americans, afghan allies, why not reopen Bagram Air base . Why not go get an agreement to from the qataris to come land in kandahar, elsewhere . We saw the qatarrys bring it back with a c17, why not use the pakistanis and the qataris to help bring people out . Right now youre bringing people out from kabul and its a choke point. Well, first of all, the Throughput Hasnt improved and increased. And im not going to i dont think it would be a useful expenditure of our time to Monday Morning quarterback the whole issue with bagram. It was closed down as part of the Retro Grade, jen. Talking about Monday Morning quarterbacking. Im talking about why not look at the situation now . You need airfields that you can land on to get people out. Jen, we are general major taylor. Let me try it first and give it to The General clearly. We are improving our throughput at the Hamid Karzai International Airport and we think well be able to continue to try to improve that. Thats the goal. But what youre talking about is would be an expenditure of resources and personnel as well as an increase most likely to the threat that theyre under to try to go back and, as you put it, retake Bagram Air base, which is the size of a small city. And i understand a lot of people have views and opinions about this. It was closed down as part of the Retro Grade. It was always supposed to be closed down as part of the Retro Grade. It was the last base to be turned over to the afghans. And even as recently as three weeks ago, before we actually had to conduct an noncombatant evacuation the leaders ran a Table Top Exercise on what it would be like to run an effective operation out of Hamid Karzai international and were running that play. Its not without its challenges for sure but were doing that now and thats the focus on making sure we can get as many people out as possible using Hamid Karzai International Airport. Jen, the numbers are showing that its working. Nobody is take it for granted. Dont wa to be predictive about tomorrow but its working. Do you have anything to add to that . Okay. Tara . Thank you. Back to the August 31st question, is August 31st extending that deadline, is it really an option for the u. S. Anymore . Is this wholly dependent upon whether the taliban would agree to let a u. S. Presence remain in afghanistan past that date . Our focus is on getting this done by The End of the month, tara. And what we do here at the building at the pentagon is options. Our job is to provide the president , the commander in chief, options. As you heard the Secretary Say, if he gets to a point, he and chairman milley, they believe they get to a point where they need to provide that Advice And Counsel to the president about an extension, then hell do that. We just arent there right now. And you heard the Secretary Say himself f he had more time on the clock he would absolutely use more time on the clock. But were focussed on getting this done by The End of the month. Secondly for major general taylor, you mentioned that 42,000 have been evacuated since july. Is that 42,000 just on military Air Lift or include the commercial and chartered planes . Yeah. So that total number is u. S. Military plus u. S. Civilian, State Department, some of that was State Department Contract Air that went out early on. Do you have any number of breakdown of the u. S. Citizens of that 42,000 have gotten out. I do but i dont have that right now. Okay. So just a couple quick questions. Firstly on the vaccine. This is would be specifically to pfizer, right . That would be mandatory . Right now were focussed on the Pfizer Vaccine because of the Fda Approval that came in this morning. Just another couple of quick ones. How many afghan soldiers remain in the perimeter . I think you said 5 to 600 a week ago. Is that still the number . I believe thats the operative number. And then how many americans have been evacuated . I think you gave 2,500 americans. Has that number changed . We think that overall weve been able to evacuate several thousand americans. And i would be reticent to get more specific than that. But since the 14th we believe we have been able to evacuate several thousand americans. Very quickly lastly so the last Table Top Exercise was about three weeks ago. It was about three weeks ago. It was certainly before kabul fell. This is something i talked about this before, this was something that the pentagon had been thinking about for a long time. I mean, as far back as late april when we held a rehearsal of Concept Exercise here at the pentagon looking at the Retro Grade and how that was going to parse out over the summer. Part of that conversation was potential for Noncombatant Evacuation Operations and what that would look like and how we would execute that. Nancy . Thank you. I wonder if you can clarify a couple points you said earlier. You said any extension beyond August 31st would be the secretary talking with the president. Would that decision include inputs from Nato Al Lice particularly those who say they need more time . Is that a factor in the u. S. Consideration . I think we would consider the views and opinion of our allies and partners who also have people there and our as The General briefed, very much a part of moving people out. And have any of those nato allies communicated to the united states that they need more time beyond August 31st . Im not aware of specific conversations we had with respect to the deadline. On the perimeter, im having a hard time understanding the president talked yesterday he said about expanding that perimeter. Can you help me understand who is part of that . Is that u. S. Forces . Have they moved where theyre positioned from where they were a few days ago . Without i want to be very careful here to talk about specific movements at a tactical level on any given day. And so im just not going to do that i know that will be largely unsatisfying. But let me finish. So, that as a caveat, we continue to look at security on the airport itself as well as the immediate environment of the airport because in those immediate environment outside the airport, thats where you have taliban check points, thats where you have crowds assembling, thats where access to the gates is critical in that space just outside the airport. Where we dont have a Military Presence of a sustained nature. And what were doing is that we are in constant communication with the taliban about that space and what that space looks like. And the only thing i would say is that as you heard the Secretary Say this, you heard general milley say this were going to do what is required on any given day at every possible opportunity to make sure that those who need to get out can get out and that includes that includes the monitoring and the accessibility of that space outside the airport. But what it looks like on any given day, nancy, is going to change. I appreciate that. But im not looking for tactical details. I think once that movement happens its a different threat to u. S. Forces and something the public had has a right to know. How often they cross it, how we should be thinking about where the u. S. Military is in that environment . I would tell you that we already consider our troops in Harms Way at the airport. Its a dangerous situation. Theres no question about that. And were not taking any of these threats for granted. And the commanders on the ground have the wherewithal to move their forces as they see fit to again do essentially three things, make sure the airport is secure and can be defended. Make sure that Air Operations can continue to carry on at the clip we need them to carry on and, c, this is an important one, to make sure that American Citizens, atrisk afghans or Siv Applicants can get Process And Entry to the gates. Those are the three primary tasks. Our commanders on the ground know thats what their tasks are and can move forces, can employ forces and assets as they see fit to do that. And again, on any given day that could change, nancy. I dont think it would be helpful particularly because the Threat Environment is so high for us to talk with any great specificity what thats going to look like. David . John, will you be deliberately vague when you said number of americans was several thousand or was it because youre not sure of the number . If you need to check the number, i mean, thats the most important number here, the number of americans. So, if its just a matter of checking the number, can you do that and give it to us . Or if youre being deliberately vague, Tell Me Why youre being deliberately vague. I think im just going to leave it at several thousand right now, dave. Tell us why. Because i think the number is very fluid. And it literally changes nearly by the hour. Its not more fluid than these 11,000, 37,000. Im going to leave it several thousand right now. You said that you heard the public statements from taliban about the redline, August 31st. Does this mean that you didnt hear it directly from them since youre communicating with them on a daily basis. Are you this issue, did you tell them, discuss with them the need for maybe extending the August 31st deadline . Im not going to speak to specificity with the communications were having with the taliban on any given day. It happens several times a day. We are well aware of the stated desire to by the taliban to have this mission completed by the 31st of august. I would tell you that we, too, are still planning on completing it by the 31st of august. That is the mission that had been signed by the commander in chief assigned to us and thats what were trying to execute at. Go ahead. Are the forces remaining now in Kabul Focussing On that Evacuation Mission the u. S. Forces, of course, are they maintaining that capability to maybe deal with threat from taliban beyond the August 31st deadline or maybe attacks . Yeah. Again, i appreciate the question in terms of hypothesizing past the 31st. We just arent there yet. Our troops are focussed on the mission. The three missions i just articulated. And that includes, as i said, being able to defend the airport which means being able to defend themselves and their operations. And we have assets in places, assets in place to allow them to do that as well. Im not going to speculate about postAugust 31st. We are head down focussed on keeping these numbers up as best as we can, getting as many people out as we can by The End of the month. If there needs to be a Dissuggesd Discussion about extending that timeline, well have that. Lets go to the phones. Thank you very much. Regarding the incident, was the gunman killed . And was it u. S. Troops who shot this person . I do not know on either, jeff. You could certainly reach out to Central Command for more detail at that level of the incident. But again, this just happened, jeff. So i just dont think we have that level of forensic detail to offer you today. Carla . I think he has one more question. Do you have one more, jeff . Yes. From what were hearing on the ground, only American Citizens and Green Card holders are being allowed into the airport. Do you know when that will change . And afghans at risk will be able to enter . As i mentioned to jen, its dr American Citizens, its for Siv Applicants can still be processed through the gates. At risk afghans are absolutely being considered for entry. Carla . Two questions. First of all, how many people have been killed at the airport . Weve been Hearing Reports of seven, nine, Nato Official told abc 20 killed in and around the airport. Whats that number . Youre talking about afghans At The Gates . Adding the people who were killed on monday during the incident when the c17 took off the two that were killed during squirmishes inside the airport, the guy killed today, whats that total number of people who have died . Less than the number i dont have exact numbers of that. So i Cant Answer the exact number right now. Can you take that question and get back to us on that . Absolutely. And also you had mentioned, sir, the capacity was 5,800 troops at the airport right now. And then the secretary of defense had told us last week that he did not have the capability to go out and do extractions because theres just not enough troops, theyre defending the airport. Have you asked for authorization of additional troops to go in to the airport to help with potential extraction should it come to that . Yeah. I think you used word capability. And the actual Troop Number i think are two different things. So we have 5,000, approximately 5,800 forces. And as i briefed over the week, as forces flew in, you know, flowed in, capability continued to increase. Initial security was the most important ability to establish because without that security the ability to do other things is just not possible. So, as our capability increased and at that 5,800 number, as youve seen, we have the capability and have executed other operations to ensure that American Citizens are being brought in safely and prepared for evacuation. So just so i can understand what youre saying just to recap, you think that at 5,800 troops the u. S. Has the capability now to expand the perimeter at the airport and continue all of this to or to do whatever the president had mentioned with the opening of the perimeter and also do extractions if needed . Or are you going to ask for authorization of more troops . No, what i said is that 5,800 were able to continue to secure the airfield, continue to increase safety there and continue to do the operations that we already have. Carla, what the secretary said was that where he was on last wednesday that we didnt have the capability to do large scale, massive movements of people, but he did say if theres an incident where somebody is in extreme is and we need to get them in small numbers we can do that and we have been doing that. And as The General said, that was last wednesday over the course of the ensuing days more capability has flown in, more troops have flown in so we have the ability to help when we can and where we can to help americans move towards the gates. Were not going to talk about the details of each and every one of those, but we do have those capabilities. One last one. What im asking is do you foresee the need to thors additional troops go in should you have a hard stop at August 31st and you have to ramp up capacity again, do you foresee authorizing additional troops . I dont think it would be helpful to get ahead of where we are right now. There are no plans at this time to request or to authorize additional u. S. Forces to this mission. Courtney . Are you u. S. Troops leaving the airport on a regular basis . I still dont understand whats going on. Courtney, on occasion, as needed, our commanders have the authority that they need to use their assets and their forces to help assist americans who need to get to the airport get to the airport on a case by case basis. Your question was leaving its not regular. I dont want to leaf you with the idea that were somehow patrolling the streets of kabul, but on occasion, where theres a need and theres a capability to meet that need, our commanders on the ground are doing what they feel they need to do to help americans reach the airport. And theres a variety of methods that that can be affected and without going into detail, were using the variety of methods at our disposal. We know about the Chinooks Last Thursday at the hotel. Have there been additional cases . There has been at least one additional instance where rotary Air Lift was used to help americans get from outside the airport into the airport. And i think im just going to leave it at that today. I got more. Your planning organization, when do you expect that you will have to assuming youre sticking to this August 31st, deadline, when will you have to stop taking in additional people at the airport to evacuate . Because you have to get the 5,800 american u. S. Troops out, right . Stop taking in evacuees . Correct. Yes. And additional americans whomever is left out there, what is the deadline so that youll be able to get the american military who are there at the airport supporting in any last embassy people there out, when will you stop accepting evacuees . Its important to remember that we are not the only people flying evacuees out. So its certainly conceivable that even without a u. S. Military footprint there that people could still be able to get out of kabul. I dont have specific Retro Grade Timeline to speak to today. Well work through that as appropriate as we get closer to The End of the mission. And as you well know, we very methodically and deliberately plan in the movement out of assets and equipment and resources so that we can preserve the capability we need for as long as we need it. I think ill just leave it at that. It took several days to flow these 5,800 in. So i knowgistical hurdles to get them in. It could take a day or two to get the military back out so that may bump the timeline back from August 31st to the 29th . Speaki i ing about 28th. You have to do back Ward Planning for Retro Grade obviously. Im not prepared to speak to the specific dates or process by which that would occur. But obviously were thinking through that right now. A lot will depend on how far we get as fast as we can get by The End of the month. I just dont want to speculate now about what thats going to look like. But, let me just back up. I mean, the focus is on getting as many people out as we can as fast as we can. That means being able to secure and defend the airport, which we are doing now. And we will factor all of those things in to whatever the Departure Timeline Looks like to make sure we can continue to maximize throughput as best we can and without getting anybody hurt. And, thus far with obviously some exceptions, some small exceptions, i mean, weve been fortunate that nobody has. Mike . Is there any effort totally up the number of u. S. Weapons and equipment that are now under taliban control . Is there any program to mitigate this problem through destruction or confiscating them back, taking them back . Yeah, mike. We talked about this before. I dont have an exact inventory of what equipment the that the afghans had at their disposal that now might be at risk. Obviously we dont want to see any weapons or systems that to fall into hands of people that would use them in such a way to harm our interest or those of our partners and allies. I mean, we have a vested interest obviously in not wanting that to happen. But i dont have any Policy Solutions for you today about how we would or could address that going forward. I would remind you, though, mike, that an awful lot of equipment, weapons, resources were drawn down even in the last years and months of the previous administration as President Trump decided to move down to a force of 2,500. There were a lot of retrograde of things up to that point. After the president s decision in mid april to complete this drawdown, albeit on an extended timeline a very we talked about this, too, the very big part of the retrograde was the disposition of weapons and equipment and systems and vehicles. Some of them were destroyed. Some of them were brought back home. Some of them were redeployed into the region and yes some turned over to the afghans. And were working through right now to try to get a better sense of what that would look like, but i dont have any specific solutions for you in terms of what were what we can or will do going forward on this. And to a degree, ill leave it that. Ill leave it at that. Let me ask general taylor. General taylor, the united states has asked South Korea to help accept afghan refugees. Do you have any more detail on this . I dont other than that communication is happening. We are very grateful for all of our partners, allies that continue to offer any assistance to allow the safe evacuation of afghans and American Citizens. Is there any military support to doing united states South Korea military aircraft . I dont know how many republic of Korea Aircraft have been used. We had, as you said today, a lot of countries have we appreciate that. But we dont have the number off hand. Thank you very much. All right. Thanks, john. I wanted to ask if you were given the short amount of time left, just seven days. Are you going to allow private charters to start landing in greater numbers at daily to pick up afghans at risk . Because even by conservative math you cant possibly move all the American Citizens out in just seven days much less the Green Card holders, afghan special operators, et cetera. Also, private Charter Companies tell me told when they can land they only have an hour to land, pick everybody up and take off. And some of them are leery of even going because they dont think they can get it done that fast. So the ability to continue throughput is very important. And so, we look at Airport Operations and the ability to get aircraft landed safely, immediately in and loaded, that drives a lot of what we call time on ground to maximize the amount of evacuees that we can get out. As You Saw in the last day the numbers, that required, as you just said, you know, aircraft on average to be on the ground less than an hour, which is very quick. I do know that the commanders on the ground who are facilitating that synchronization are using and want to continue to use every capability possible to get people out of kabul. So thats all i have. One more on the phone here. Sam . Hey, john. Can we get an update on u. S. Support for the haiti Earthquake And Disaster relief . Yeah. I think we can facilitate that a little later, sam. But, yes we can get you an update on that, yeah. A question for The General real quick. Sir, it sounds like from what were hearing from the podium, that the u. S. Is essentially relying on the taliban for Crowd Control outside the gates. Obviously that was not part of the original plan. What forces were originally assigned to conduct security outside the perimeter and how did that fall apart . Where are they now . Then i have a follow up. Yeah. So the 5,800 forces were part of that Force Package to provide security for the airfield. As, you know, within the last seven days we have seen the ability to continue to coordinate and synchronize with taliban check points. And i would say as you look at the last two days, that ability with the commanders on the ground to work with the taliban tactical commanders has allowed and i would say the ability to control better the access into that. Youre saying u. S. Troops were originally planned to be on the perimeter outside the airport but that did not work out . Is that what i understood . No, the original 5,800 forces were planned to secure hkai and those gates. Interior, no one planned to be on the outside . The plan that went in and what has changed is the coordination and using the use of or the taliban being there. Understood. Okay. One last question, if i might. Given this arrangement, does this mean that the taliban is for better or worse now in a better position to essentially dictate when we leave . I Cant Answer that. What i do know is that our continued mission, which we were given, was to secure the airfield and to ensure to facilitate the evacuation by August 31st and refer back to the comments that mr. Kirby already made about the August 31st date. And weve covered this pretty well about August 31st. Megan . So the vaccine rollout plan, is the idea now that pfizer will become mandatory and the secretary will wait until mid september to ask for Moderna And Johnson johnson or will they become fully licensed . The focus is on the Pfizer Vaccine and moving forward to implement a mandatory vaccination regimen for pfizer. I dont want to get ahead of decisions that havent been made yet. Yeah, dan. Sorry. Mike. Mike. Sorry. Thanks, john. You guys with the masks on getting everybody confused. Go ahead. Can you speak a little to any Covid Prevention thats going on at the airport . Are evacuees being tested before they get on aircrafts or tested intermediary countries . Good question. As i understand it, medical personnel at Hamid Karzai International Airport are conducting Covid Screening for those who are symptomatic. And then as appropriate, depending on what the temporary safe haven, what the guidelines are at the temporary Safe Havens, additional screenings at some of those Safe Havens occur and then upon arrival at the united states, all passengers are being tested upon arrival and then medical professionals make the proper decisions after that. Are there any concerns about positive tests for soldiers on the ground . Of course theres have there been any examples of soldiers testing positive . I dont have that level of detail. I dont know what positive results may have come in for soldiers working at the airfield. But obviously their Health And Safety remains a top concern for all of us. Yeah. Louis . Clarification at the top i think you announced that that is correct. Is that something new . That is one additional base we had been talking about three prior to that. Ft. Lee, mt. Mccoy, ft. Bliss joint base mcguire, dicks, Lake Hurst is now available to receive some of these Siv Applicants and with the four bases, what our goal would be is to reach the ability, not necessarily the actual count, but the ability to build out to about 25,000 capacity. We arent there yet, louis. Its going to take days and weeks i think for all four to be able to combine to get to that level, but thats the goal as we are right now. And the other thing i would say is if the secretary in communication with the chairman and with general at North Com feels we need to add to that capacity and add to the list additional u. S. Military instillations then well do that. But right now were at four. What is the current number of individuals who are at those four bases . I do not have that. We can take the question and im sure a northern command would have a better number than i do right now. My last question is this, i apologize for asking three, its such an effort to get into the airport and some people are lucky to get in, but now were hearing that the food supplies, the water supplies, sanitation, hygiene are really bad inside the airport. And so bad that some people are actually returning to go outside the perimeter. So my question is this, how can you prevent a humanitarian crisis inside the airport as this goes on and on . Yeah. Fair questions, louis. I want to let The General take it. I think you had the number, too. That was right now right at approximately 1,200 have entered into the united states. As we talk about the conditions and the ability to continue to provide a humane and safe piece on the airfield, as you see some of those flights that continue to come in to kabul, those are bringing those supplies in. So, as those supplies are used, we are Continuingly Replenishing those to ensure that we have food and all those things that are needed, water, for those that are preparing for evacuation flights. So, you know, the last 48 hours we had a lot of folks on there which is a good thing, right . That means we have gotten people through the gate, we have processed them, that means we have people safe then we can fly out. The commanders there are always asesing what the requirements are to ensure that safe and humanitarian environment. And i would just add, louis, were mindful of these reports, too. Its not lost on us. Theres a lot of people. And they are desperate. And we are trying to do the best we can to get them out of Harms Way as fast as possible. When you have a Throughput Problem it means that some people are going to be stuck in a given location, whether its at Hamid Karzai international Airport Or Qatar or other temporary Safe Havens, nobody wants to see this go on for any longer than it has to be. And believe me, nobody, more than the u. S. Military and our Tr Troops want to see anybody suffer more than they have to. We are very aware that there are and have been some sanitation issues as well as, you know, issues of sustainment. And as The General said, were making that a priority as we float some of these planes are coming in with that material on it, that kind of support, and then theyre leaving with people, were doing the best we can under extraordinary circumstances and believe me, the pain and the suffering, the fear, the anxiety, all of that, none of it is lost on us, our troops. Jen . I just received a report that the british Evacuation Commander in kabul, Vice Admiral Ben key has been locked out of all negotiations between u. S. Staff, 82nd Airborne and taliban commanders and great deal of tension between the brits sending people outside the airport and the members of the 82nd Airborne who want to join them. What is happening with our british allies . Is this report accurate . And supposedly there was supposed to be an 82nd Airborne jump into Bagram Air base to open that field and that that was shut down by the White House. Is that accurate . Jen, first im hearing these reports. You have to let me go back and look at this. I dont know. The only thing i would you mentioned that the brits want to go out, we are doing it as well. We are going out as needed and helping americans. You only described one instances. She asked me specifically about Air Lifts. And i mentioned one using roetdery wing aircraft. That doesnt mean its the Sum Total of what were doing to go out and try to bring and assist americans coming in. Were not going to detail all of them because the Threat Environment is so high. As to these reports first i heard. You have to give us a little time to dissect and come Back To You. In the back . Do you have that report as well . If it lands in the hands of pakistan, are you asking pakistan to get Back To You . I dont have anything on that reporting. We have to Take A Look. We can take the question and see if we can get Back To You. I dont have anything on that. Can you clarify something that you said to jen and courtney about on occasion going out to do missions. What kind of coordination happening with the taliban forces on the ground . No, theres no joint patrols. What kind of communication happens . Can you give us any sense . Theres no joint patrols. Theres no joint coordination. Were obviously in communication with the taliban about their presence and where it is around the field. And i think, nancy, for reasons i hope you understand, were just not going to get into the tactical level details of what were doing to help facilitate the passage and assist the passage of americans getting on to the field. We want to preserve as many options as we can going forward because the Threat Environment outside the airport is so dynamic and quite frankly dangerous. So, for i think very good reasons of operational security were just not going to Detail Everything were doing and every opportunity were taking advantage of. I do appreciate that. I just want to understand if the u. S. Forces are side by side with taliban . Im trying to get a visual of what it looks like. Thats all. No. We are not out there side by side with them. Its not about joint patrols. So, you can erase that visual. That is not whats happening. Okay. Im going to have to get going, guys. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Our goal is to come back here again at around 15 00 for an Afternoon Update and well keep you apprised if and when that changes. Thanks very much. All right. Weve been listening in im kate bolduan. Were listening to the Pentagon Update there on the situation on the ground in afghanistan. With me right now as we learned quite a bit, retired Lieutenant General and veterans of america, thank you both for being here. General, what we heard from The General as well as John Kirby, what sticks out to you from the Update Today . Well, truthfully, kate, its what ive been saying since last monday, that all look and are extremely chaotic from the very beginning due to a variety of factors. Everyone is in a desperate rush to get out of afghanistan. That includes those not authorized to leave. The adjustments made to this mission in my view having had to plan and almost conduct in another country once before had been magnificent. The atmospherics and the messaging early on were not good. It has changed over the last couple days. Remember, weve only been doing this now for seven weeks. And in listening to the John Kirby explain some of the things going on, you have to almost have a Military Mind to understand the nuance of what is happening. And a lot more is going on behind the scenes than anyone could probably guess. Were focussed on this approach because its a fluid situation with a very dynamic set of circumstances, a government that has fallen, a military thats not supportive and a requirement to get a whole lot of forces in. And those are the kinds of assumptions that have to be confirmed or denied in either a permissive or contested environment during a noncombatant evacuation operation. So, i personally think things are, in my view, they are certainly improving significantly. The numbers are increasing rapidly. And the mission is now sort of settled a little bit. Where a lot more processes and coordination is occurring in a much better rate. Paul, they said just under 11,000 were evacuated by the u. S. Military. Thats a big increase from the 24hour periods we have been seeing in the days prior. But one thing that we heard from the podium was that several thousand americans have been evacuated. But when pressed on if they were being intentionally vague or just still dont know and to offer some explanation, John Kirby couldnt go there. Why do you think they cannot be more specific . Or wont be more specific, paul . Whats your reaction to that . Well, i think the big take away is this is still a giant mess. Theres sometimes when theyre going to have to with hold details for operational security and other times they clearly dont know. And i think the challenge for our friend John Kirby who used to be here on cnn is that you can fact check him in realtime. He puts something out, you can look at reporters on the ground in afghanistan, you can hear from afghans who are at the gate and this is still a real catastrophe. They may be trying to stabilize this patient, but the patient is still bleeding. They can get people out and they are getting people out at a much higher number and thats good. This is still far from a good news story. If you look at the overall number of afghan allies we have to evacuate, even with this number, maybe theyve gotten to 10 . That means we have 90 or more to go and who knows whats happening outside of kabul. So theyre trying to get their hands around this. And i think youre starting to see a different message from the pentagon than you are from the White House because the pentagon is dealing with the military and strategic challenge. The White House is now dealing with the political catastrophe that they may think is going to go away but is not going to go away and im glad to see you and many others in the media are still focussed on this. At The End of the day, we have friends outside the gates dying, being hunted by the Taliban And Mission going on back here at Home Led By American veterans and others to save our allies because quite frankly our Government Hasnt done it. Thousands of americans across this country are organizing to get our friends out because our government failed to do it. And general, the taliban we heard that the goal is to get everyone out by August 31st. We heard the president say, suggest yesterday that they are can make plans for expanding, extending beyond that deadline if need be. The taliban this morning saying, no, the u. S. All u. S. Forces must be out of afghanistan by the 31st. Im just curious kind of your thoughts on if this if push comes to shove and theyre up against this deadline, what the united states does. I think what youll see and thats why Press Secretary kirby refused to answer the question, is there is continuing negotiation with the taliban and the taliban is not going to in my view, is not going to stand in the way of an extension of the mission. Its just not to their advantage to do that. So, what i think youll see first of all, and i disagree with paul on some of the things he just said, part of the reason that john did not want to give the number of americans is because again, having done operations, you never know. There are embassy officials, there are expats, there are private citizens, there are are people on vacation, there are married folks americans married to afghans visiting the country. Its just hard to put a number on it. And what weve seen in the first seven days of this evacuation is there were literally Tens Of Thousands of afghans storming the airport who had no ability to get out because they werent authorized to get out. These were not siv recipients or the special evacuees. These were just people that wanted to get the hell out of afghanistan. But going Back To Your question about the 31st of august, i think we will see, this is my prediction, we will see a continued coordination with the taliban to extend that deadline. But were also going to see a whole lot more people evacuated in the last in the next eight days before the 31st. And look, i get i get i 100 understand Confusion And Hesitancy to talk about maybe how many americans they believe are still on the ground in afghanistan. I think what youre seeing from the reporters in the room in the briefing is that they are surprised that they dont have a more specific number on the number of americans who have been evacuated out of afghanistan when they do have numbers like 10,400 people evacuated, they are specifics sometimes and not in other times. But again, im not on the ground. Paul, one additional problem now, one additional problem on the ground, is now this renewed threat from isis. Weve heard this from the White House. Weve heard this from other places that now Isis K is now threatening to basically commit attacks against americans outside and around the airport. The president s national Security Adviser spoke directly to that threat just yesterday on cnn. Let me play this for you. The threat is real. It is acute. It is persistent. And it is something that we are focussed on with every tool in our arsenal. So, in the midst of trying to do what is needed and get people out safely, now you have this. I mean, how does this complicate and change the dynamic really on the ground of how quickly you can move people and what you need to do to protect u. S. Troops and americans as well as our afghan allies . Tremendously. And unfortunately this is another predictable outcome given our hasty withdrawal. Its important to remind people, this is not about whether or not we should have gotten out. This is how were getting out and didnt have to be this way. Let me just break it down this way, you see the images on your screen of thousands of people jammed up against a wall. They are the ultimate soft target for isis. And thats what our troops right now have to contend with. Thats what our nato allies have to contend with and thats just in kabul. We dont see whats happening in the outer provinces and all across this country. This is so far from over. And i think Thats Part of what me and other veterans are trying to appeal to the president to level with the american people about. I dont know how the heck theyre going to get out of there by August 31st. If they do, whats going to happen after . We need our president to level with us about the reality on the ground and continue to present options for whats next and to level with the american people about the risk that our men and women are facing everyday that you can see on cnn. Theres no spinning that. Theres no Sugar Coating it. Theyve got to get less defensive and start being proactive. Thank you both of you for coming on. We heard there will be another briefing from the pentagon. It continues. We will continue to follow it. Thank you both really appreciate it. We also have Breaking News that we are following. Its a very busy day. The fda has just granted full approval of pfizers coronavirus vaccine. Will it be a Game Changer in the race to vaccinate . The fda just held a briefing about this approval. Much more on this after a break. This is the greatest Idea Youll ever hear. Okay, its an app that compares Hundreds Of Travel Sites for hotels and cars and Vacation Rentals like kayak does for flights. So its kayak. Yeah, like kayak. Why dont you just call it kayak. Im calling it. Canoe. Compare Hundreds Of Travel Sites for thousands of trips. Kayak. Search one and done. Breaking news at this hour. The fda has grantded full approval to the pfizer Covid Vaccine. This is another big step forward for the quest to get more americans vaccinated. Could it prove now to be a Game Changer . Well find out. I want to bring in elizabeth cohen. She has more detail on what the approval means. Elizabeth, the fda held a briefing on this announcement. What did they say . Reporter what they said is that theyve look Tatd Clinical Trial data for a longer period of time than they did when they gave emergency use authorization. This is an incredibly effective and safe vaccine. Its not quite as effective as they said before when they gave it more time. It went from being about 95 effective to 91 effective. Thats sort of a testimony in some part to how the efficacy wanes over time. When you look over six months, its not as effective as at two or three months but still an effective vaccine. Now, getting full approval versus just having emergency use authorization, in some ways it doesnt mean much for you and me. Were vaccinated. It proves we did the right thing. This could have meaning for people who are unvaccinated. Lets Take A Look. Some unvaccinated people have said i dont like emergency use authorization. I want full Fda Approval. So maybe theyll be encouraged to take the shot by the news today. Also full approval allows pfizer to advertise. Pharmaceutical companies are good at advertising. Advertising works. Lets hope it works here. Also, and this is probably whats really going to do it. It encourages employers and restaurants, et cetera, to require the vaccine. If youre not getting vaccinated, but your boss says okay, thats your right, youve got the freedom to not be vaccinated but you Cant Work for me, that may make you roll up your sleeve. Also, its important to note this approval is only for 16 plus. Ages 12 to 15 are still they can get the vaccine. Its still under emergency use authorization. Get your 12 to 15yearold vaccinated. Lets Take A Look at Vax Nax rates. This is for everyone 12 plus. You saw it was super high in the spring. It took a nose dive, and then it went up just slightly recently in the past few weeks because people were scared of dying of delta. The folks who are not vaccinated, thats 82 Million people or 29 of the population still has not taken the shot. Lets hope this news makes the difference. We will very soon see. Thank you for that update. Were going to have much more on this Breaking News ahead. The fdas full approval of pfizers Covid Vaccine is there now going to be a full Court Press from the White House . 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