Readily identified by all sorts of people that you guys are willing to take responsibility for yourselves . Thanks. Let my say two things. First, with regards to the numbers, as youve seen by how i laid out how we get to the numbers of americans, this is both incredibly complicated and incredibly fluid. Any number i give you right now is likely to be out of date by the time we leave the briefing room. So what were doing is very carefully tabulating everything we have, cross checking it, using different databases. Well have numbers for the different categories in the days ahead and after this initial phase of efforts so bring people out of afghanistan. With regard to the second part of your question about taking responsibility. I take responsibility. I know the president has said he takes responsibility. I know all of my colleagues across government feel the same way. I can tell you that there will be plenty of time to look back at the last six or seven months, to look back at the last 20 years and to look to see what we might have done differently. What we might have done sooner what we might have done more effectively. I have to tell you right now my entire focus is on the mission at hand. Theres going to be as i said plenty of time to do an accounting of this when we get through that mission. Thank you. Could you speak today about the future of the u. S. Embassy In Kabul, whether it was remain or american diplomat its will remain after the Military Withdrawal and more broadly, were seeing women being repressed in afghanistan by the taliban, people being attacked, intimidated, being kept from getting to the airport. Can you give us any concrete examples of steps that the united states is going to do to fight this off. Im sure well have more on that in the coming days and weeks. Were looking at a variety of options. As i said earlier, particularly because the effort to bring out of afghanistan, those that want to leave does not end with the military Evacuation Plan on the 31st, we are very focused on what we need to do to facilitate the further departure of people that wish to leave afghanistan. That is primarily a diplomatic effort, an international effort. Other countries feel the exact same way. Im sorry. The second part of your question. Is there any concrete steps that you can give to people that have very worried understandably about whether theyll be forgotten, left behind, disappeared once the united states withdraws their military and protect their livelihood . The short answer is no. They will not be forgotten. As i said, we will use every diplomatic, economic Assistance Tool at our disposal working Hand And Hand with the international community to ensure that those that want to leave afghanistan after the 31st are able to do so as well as to deal with other issues that we need to be focussed on including Counter Terrorism, humanitarian assistance. I mentioned a few moments ago that we got 114 countries Around The World to make clear to the taliban, the international expectations that people will continue to be able to leave the country after the military Evacuation Effort ends. We certainly have points of incentive and points of leverage with a future afghan government to help make sure that that happens. I can tell you again from my perspective, from the president s perspective, this effort does not end on August 31. It will continue for as long as it takes to help get people out of afghanistan that wish to leave. What is your level of confidence that the taliban will abide by these requirements and expectations that the international community has put on . Im not going to put a percentage on it. The taliban has made their own commitments, made them publicly, made them privately. Again, i think they have a very strong selfinterest in acting with responsibility going forward. But they will make their own determinations. Thank you. The taliban right now focusing on the mission right now are not living up to their commitments. People are being stopped from trying to get to the airport, im talking about women, sivs, others, afghans, people with papers and being stopped outside the airport now. Total bottle necks, which rise to the level of what the president said were a contingencies if the taliban is not complying, if the Flow Cant continue. Were loading planes and some planes are leaving some people have private planes waiting for them with Landing Rights but cant get in to the airport as well as beyond the sivs, theres lawyers, judges, women, educators. Weve told them 20 years you can live up to your potential. Now they feel abandoned. Finally id like to ask you about the local hires. We evacuated our embassy and theres been cables back that i know you must be familiar with, your team is, of people that feel completely betrayed. These are thousands of people that we rely on in embassies Around The World. The message is going forward that we will not be loyal. They were not told about the evacuation. They were not put on the choppers with our american staff. They will force many of them to find their own way to the taliban checkpoints, then get turned away at the airport. Some got turned away when they were inside. What is the message to people working for the u. S. Government, veterans groups are angry about the sivs and then the millions of afghan women that have told their daughters and raised under this promise of a future, which the taliban are already, according to the ambassador, are denied. Theyre horrifying examples from provinces inside kabul. People being sought out. All this promise of youll be safe, the taliban spokesman said, you know, stay in your home. We havent told all of our people how to treat women. How to respect women. They also say you can go to school, you can work as long as you comply with sharia law, which their interpretation is the most extreme example of the islamic code that is seen anywhere in the world. Andrea, a few things. First, of the 82,000 plus people that so far have been evacuated, about 45, 46 have been women and children. Weve been intensely focused particularly on making sure that we can get women at risk out of harm i way. Second, with regard to women and other afghans at risk going forward, we will use, i will use every diplomatic, economic, political and Assistance Tool at my disposal working closely with allies and partners that feel the same way to do everything possible to uphold their basic rights. That will be a focus of our actions going forward. Locally employed staff along with American Citizens, nothing is more important to me as Secretary Of State than to do right by the people that have been working Side By side with american diplomats in our embassy. And i can tell you, andrea, that were relentlessly focused on getting staff out of afghanistan and out of harms way. A question about the taliban. Your spokesperson indicated in recent days that the taliban are in charge In Kabul. Theres no legal recognized government by the united states at this moment. It kind of begs the question, why does the united states even have to pay attention to what the taliban want . Its sanctioned by my organizations. Theyre already losing access to afghan government resources because of past and current behavior. Why should the united states care what the taliban want to be done at the airport or frankly anywhere else in the country since they are not in the u. S. eyes a legally recognized government . Thank you. Our focus right now is on getting our citizens and getting other our partners, Afghan Partners third Country Partners working in afghanistan with us out of the country and to safety. For that purpose, first, the taliban, whether we like it or not is in control, largely in control of the country. Certainly in control of the city of kabul. Its been important to work with them to try to facilitate and ensure the departure of all of those that want to leave. That is actually been something that weve been focused on for from the beginning of this operation because as a practical matter, it advances our interests. Second, weve been engaged with the taliban for some time diplomatically going back years in efforts as you know to advance the peaceful settlement of the conflict in afghanistan. Theres still talks and conversations underway, even know between the taliban and former members of the afghan government, with regard, for example, to a transfer of power and some inclusivity in a future government. I think its in our interest, where possible, to support those efforts. Going forward, we will judge our engagement with any talibanled government in afghanistan based on one simple proposition, our interests and does it help advance them or not. If engagement with the government can advance The Enduring interests well have and Counter Terrorism, The Enduring interests well have in helping the afghan people that need humanitarian assistance, seeing that the rights of all afghans, especially women and girls are upheld, well do it. But fundamentally, the nature of that engagement and the nature of any relationship depends on the actions and conduct of the taliban. If a future government upholds the basic rights of the afghan people, if it makes good about its commitments to ensure that afghanistan cannot be used as a Launching Pad for terrorist attacks directed against us and our allies and partners and in the first instance, if it makes good on its commitments to allow people that want to leave afghanistan to leave, that is a government that we can work with. If it doesnt, we will make sure that we use every appropriate tool at our disposal to isolate that government and, as i said before, afghanistan will be a pariah. What will happen on September 1 . Will the u. S. Keep any diplomatic and or any other kind of presence In Kabul at all and who will run the airport . Is there any discussions with the turks with the Military Withdrawal . Thanks. There are very active efforts underway on the part of regional countries to see whether they can play a role in keeping the airport open once our Military Mission Leaves or as necessary, reopening it if it closes for some period of time. And thats happening very actively right now. The taliban have made clear that they have a strong interest in having a functioning airport. We, and the rest of the international community, have a strong interest in that primarily for the purpose of making sure that anybody that wants to leave can leave past the 31st using an airport. So that is a very active effort underway as we speak. With regard to our own potential presence going forward after the 31st, were looking at a number of options. Thank you all very much. Martha okay. There you have it. Anthony blinken, for the first time, taking questions about what happened in the rapid fall of afghanistan. These are the first formal remarks that weve heard from the person who has been perhaps most closely aligned with President Biden in the decisions that have led to this chaotic exit from afghanistan. K. T. Mcfarland, Marc Thiessen is here. First, to our Correspondent Standing by. Weve been in direct contact with approximately 500 additional americans and provided specific instructions on how to get to the airport safely. Well update you regularly on the progress in getting the citizens out of afghanistan. We were wondering what the Contingency Plan is beyond the August 31 deadline. He responded to that as well. Watch. From my perspective, from the president s perspective, this effort does not end on August 31. It will continue for as long as it takes to get people out of afghanistan that wish to. But martha, he didnt have many details about what the Evacuation Effort looks like after the u. S. Military fully gets out of that country and is no longer at the Kabul Airport and when he was asked about what the diplomatic presence might be remaining after August 31, he wouldnt go into detail on that. Just said that theyre looking at a series of options. We learned several things. Number 1, it is that the taliban, the contingency of the taliban honoring their compliments publicly and privately to ensure safe passage of americans that want to get out can get out beyond next tuesday. That is what were hinging all of this on. A very interesting development because if you are not able to get into that airport and youre an american, that clock that was ticking just got a little louder and faster knowing that youre fully dependent now on the taliban honoring their word. The secretary also said that if indeed the taliban does not honor their commitment, then he will use every diplomatic, economic tool that he had as Hits Disposal to isolate that government and it will be one that they cannot work with. A very interesting Press Conference there indeed. The first Press Conference the Secretary State since the fall of kabul. He noted also that of the 82,000 people that have been evacuated in all of this, about 45 women and children so far. But for those afghan allies that are clearly going to be abandoned, thousands perhaps if not Tens Of Thousands are facing a very difficult new reality under taliban rule. Martha . Indeed. Griff jenkins, thanks very much. Were waiting for Jen Psaki to come out. We expect more Question And Answer there. I want to bring you k. T. Mcfarland from the Trump Administration and Marc Thiessen, american Enterprise Institute Scholar and speechwriter for george w. Bush. A couple quick questions here. 4,500 americans have been evacuated according to the Secretary Of State. He thinks the number is somewhere between 500 and 1,000 of those that are still remaining that want to get out. Do those numbers sound correct to you . Do you have any idea if they sound right . No. Im afraid to say the State Department was 10 to 15,000. Number 1, hes not addressing the people scattered around the country, in the hinderlands. We have pockets of American Citizens in all of those provinces. Two girls that are Teaching English to afghan girls. We have Aid Workers that are helping build Water Treatment plants in other parts of the country. He didnt address how those people are supposed to make their way all the way from where they are, traveling on a dirt road, passing taliban checkpoints to Kabul Airport. So i dont think hes answered any of the questions. Martha he said the taliban has promised and were supposed to count on that and if they dont, were going to call them a pariah. That seems like the solution here. Quick thought, mark and then were going to the White House. I cant believe what i just heard. The Secretary Of State blamed the americans that are trapped In Kabul. Because that they ignored many of them ignored guidance to not travel through afghanistan. He said many of them want to stay because theyre Duel Citizens. You have American Citizens there that have been working with afghan allies and theyre now holed up in their home, hiding with the afghans and being told that if they want to leave the country, they have to abandon the afghans that in many cases risk their lives for them, abandoned them to certain death. They want to leave with the translators and the other people that worked with us. Theyre being put in an impossible position by this government. To turn around and blame americans for not wanting to leave or having followed the guidance for not leaving is shameful. Im disgusted. Martha k. T. , i want to ask you about the prior initiation in the Trump Administration of talks with the taliban and what you think about that at this point given where we are now because this administration now says this is the deal that we were dealt from the Trump Administration. What do you say . They did a lot of changing. The Trump Administration, people were starting to bring americans out. We were starting to evacuate American Citizens, ngo workers, afghan allies. The biden administration came and shut that down. They said it gives a bad signal and a bad impression that we dont trust the afghan government to hold if we start taking americans out. So we were always going to leave. Theres no reason to leave in this fashion. To see the american Secretary Of State look so beaten and passive and oh, were going to rely on the afghans. No, were not going to be there. Theres no american force theres but rely on the goodwill of the taliban government. Were assuming that theyre going to want to do that. If not, were going to have a martha yeah. Okay. 114 countries, allies, all got together to impress upon the taliban that they better let people out. So lets hope that they were listening. Lets go to Jen Psaki and listen to some of the Q A focused on afghanistan as well. If you stick around, that would be great. What seems to be a disconnect between the statements . What is happen something. First, let me say, i wouldnt see it as a disconnect. Let me explain why. I noted earlier, we put out earlier today, 19,000 people were evacuated. The vast majority in the 24 hours. The vast majority were afghans as you know by the numbers that the Secretary Of State just put out. That does mean a great number of people are making their way into the airport and on to flights to evacuate from the country. Theres certainly cases and incidents and weve heard and you reported where individuals are not getting through that should go through. Were approaching them on a case by Case Basis and theyre raised. I would note that, again, 19,000 people in a period of time, the vast majority are afghans, siv applicants, individuals that have the appropriate paperwork to evacuate and that was just in a 24hour period. An update on the president and the coronavirus origins review. Sure. He said hes gotten a copy of the 90day report. Was there any conclusions . Sure. As you noted, he did not just receive a copy. He received a Briefing Yesterday on the 90day Origins Report of classified briefing. Thats not information that we would provide publicly. Because the Prioritization Weve given to this and the importance of this information for the public. The Intelligence Community has been simultaneously working on a Summary Version to provide publicly. I dont have a timeline when they will be provided. We have been doing classified briefings. Until that unclassified version is available, i wont be able to provide more details. Without getting to details, the broad upshot of the report is. There a better understanding of what was the ultimate origin . Again, i cant speak to a classified briefing. I know youre eager to receive an unclassified summary. As soon as that is available, it will be put out from the Intelligence Community, from odni and ensure you have access to it. Secretary blinken just said and they told us the other day even after August 31 that the u. S. Government is committed to Helping Americans and afghans that are still in the country eligible to get out to get out safely. How do you do that if the military is gone . How do you safeguard these people and get them where they need to go without the u. S. Military in the country . I know as you mentioned that the secretary was asked that. He didnt go into detail for a reason. Because were currently having those discussions through diplomatic channels what he assured, were looking at a range of options how to provide support for those that wish to leave after August 31 and our expectation and the expectation of the international community that the people that want to leave afghanistan should be able to do so. Were working on that. As soon as we have more to provide to you, more information, well do that. And based on the Number Youve provided of americans evacuated, sounds like theres 70,000 afghans that have been evacuated. How do you peoplely vet all of n when clearly the Border Patrol and relevant officials must be completely overloaded . They are. This is a reflection of the fact that we have Hundreds Of Pliees working every day to do the vetting necessary and reviews necessary to move people in to the united states. Now, i would remind you that there are a number of people, Tens Of Thousands of people departing afghanistan that are going to third countries, lilly pads were calling them and other vetting can take place. Because they had certain steps of the immigration Visa Process or their Vetting Process has not yet been completed. I can give you more detail on the Vetting Process, if that is helpful. So the Screening And Security vetting is conducted by a combination of the Intelligence Law Enforcement and Counter Terrorism across government. So the department of homeland security, Department Of Defense, the fbi, the State Department, the national Counter Terrorism center and additional Intelligence Community partners. What they are doing is theyre conducting screening Security Vetting for all siv applicants and other afghans before theyre allowed into the united states, this includes reviews of both Bio Graphics and biometrics data. Individuals that do not go through that Vetting Process are not coming in the united states. How long will it take to work through that backlog . These people have been going through the system for months and years. People in third countries . What i will tell you is that it typically takes months to go through this process. This is a signal of is the fact that this is a top priority for the president and the Intelligence Community and the individuals that oversee the Vetting Process who have massively expedited the process in order to move through the necessary steps, thorough steps and in order to process individuals and get them moving through the system. Thanks, jen. At the Tail End of the president s remarks about cyber security, he was asked about afghanistan peter asked them that question. The other peter did. He make a joke. What is so funny . I think the question he was asked, if i remember correctly, was about when he will provide information about a decision on August 31. I dont want to paraphrase the question a lot of people were wash watching. What he conveyed what i can convey from here is as he stated yesterday and as the Secretary Of State just stated, were on track to complete our mission by August 31. Obviously theres discussions and the president received a briefing just this morning. As i noted he asked for Contingency Plans and received a briefing this morning. These are serious issues and discussions happening internally. I notice in addition to the Contingency Plans that he requested, he also i will reiterate as we stated yesterday that this is all contingent on us achieving our objectives and the continued coordination with the taliban. The president has spoken, i would say to this issue, peter, as you know, youve attended a number of these and he also highlighted the fact that were closely watching, closely following the threats from Isis K which he also received a briefing on. His remarks Last Night, does he think the build back better plan is as sensitive as the evacuation of americans and afghan friendlies from kabul . First of all, its important to the american people that care deeply about whether they will have jobs, whether theyre going to have child care, whether theyre were going to be able to compete with china and countries Around The World. So understand that we have to do multiple things at the same time. Thats what any President Of The United States has to do. Next one, as the negotiations about Safe Passage For Americans and Siv Holders continue, why havent we heard the president say the united states does not negotiate with terrorists . Is that still u. S. Policy . Of course it is, peter. I would also say that theres a reality that the taliban is currently controlling large swaths of afghanistan. That is a reality on the ground. Right now our focus and our priority is getting American Citizens evacuated. Given the numbers that weve outlined and briefed for you, we made a great deal of progress doing that. Justin . Thanks. A couple but actually follow up on the question that peter just asked. Sure. You talked about the coordination with the taliban and that theres the efforts to get americans out. Im wondering, the u. S. Offers taliban in terms of cash or supplies to help facilitate this coordination . No. This is not a quid pro quo. We have laid out clearly what our expectations are about moving American Citizens and our Afghan Partners, allies out of the country. Thats what were working on. Has [inaudible] i dont have any updates or previews or read outs of chairman powell. Was the White House aware of the people In Kabul . We were not aware when they were enroute. What is the white Houses Reaction . Was it beneficial or what was the reaction . Our guidance continues to be to all American Citizens including elected officials. Our focus, our objectives need to be laser focused on evacuating Afghan Partners, evacuating American Citizens. Thats best done in the Hands Hoff the Department Of Defense and State Departments on the grounds. When there was a shift from Evacuation Mission to withdrawing troops . I noted a little bit earlier that the president was briefed on Contingency Plans and should have options if he decides to change plans even as if were on track to complete our mission by August 31. I would also note that my dod colleagues have put out some information about steps that are being taken. So as we made consistently clear, commanders are on the ground to make adjustments when they see fit. That includes changes to the footprints as they confirmed Last Night of the departure there afghanistan, several hundred u. S. Troops. This is head quarter staff, maintenance and others that were scheduled to leave and his mission at the airport was complete. This does not impact the mission at hand. [question inaudible] recently traveled into afghanistan . Currently stranded in afghanistan. I dont know for certain i dont have additional information on that. I know as our Secretary Of State just noted when he went for a thorough summary of American Citizens and our contacts and our focus over the last several days that he gave an update and im happy to t if Theres Sometg Morecan you give us guidance . I dont have a decision on the timeline. We heard from Anthony Blinken that 45 to 46 of those evacuated have been women. Theres been a lot of consternation about the afghan women going forward. Theres concern here as well. Can you say what provisions youre making to make sure women are an equal part of that population that are being evacuated . Not quite representative but sure. I know our Secretary Of State spoke to this a few minutes ago. What i can add to it, were going to continue to work with the United Nations and allies and partners to provide assistance to those even without a presence on the ground. Theres messages that we made clear to the taliban and i think Secretary Blinken reiterated this about what our the global community expects once we depart afghanistan. Ill tell you our commitment to the incredibly brave women and leaders and those in afghanistan that have fought alongside us, that have briefly stood not change our diminish even am arrived in the united states. I provided details on americans yesterday. But a number of americans have arrived at military bases. Do you have a specific number of people i confirmed yesterday that it was 4,000 americans have been evacuated. Obviously that number increased. The Secretary State gave an updated number this morning. Ill remind you that the u. S. Military is overseeing the evacuation of individuals out of afghanistan and the State Department oversees the Visa Processing, hence the update provided by the Secretary State. During his briefing that he gave he noted that he would work to provide additional numbers of afghans. I would note since we provided a detailed numbers of americans and also provided on a Daytoday Basis twice a day the number of people coming out the vast majority of those are afghans by numbers. Go ahead. [question inaudible] you guys have a a specific threshold when it comes to afghans that would define your mission or objectives by August 31 in terms of evacuations . Weve never put a cap on the number of special immigrant visa applicants, the number of individuals who can apply for our variety of programs that are overseen by the State Department. Im not going to put a cap on that today. Id also note as the Secretary Of State said we will continue and were continuing to look at a range of options to provide support and to provide a means for departing afghanistan even after we are our u. S. Military departs. Nothing that youre looking at for the backlog after August 14 were out in putting a cap on the the number. Were continuing to work every day to get as many people evacuated as we can. Quickly, theres a number of americans that want to leave. Theres Duel Citizens that cannot leave. What is the level of concern about citizens or americans that are staying in the country at this point . I know this is very hard to understand for many people sitting here. Or not even sitting here. People that watch your shows or read your newspaper. But many of the people, these 1,000 contacts, are just Duel Citizens. Some as Secretary Blinken noted are those that may not be ready to leave for a variety of reasons. Maybe they have an extended family there. Maybe they spent their entire lives in afghanistan. Theyve not yet made the decision to depart. Maybe theyre working on a range of projects. Theyre not ready to leave. It hard for us to understand as we look at the images. For many this is their home. Yes, theyre Duel Citizens. Yes, its our responsibility to make sure that were reaching out to them multiple times. Were providing opportunity and finding ways to get them to the airport and evacuate them. Its also their personal decision to depart. Could i follow up on some of the questions about refugees. Sure. Yeah. First, you talked about the vetting that is going on outside of the united states. After they leave iraq. I didnt mean to imply some of it is happening in qatar. Some of it is happening here. But i mean, its beautiful the people come to the states. Its happening before they arrive. Some of that vetting is within your control. You can add more people, you can add more interviewers. And we have done that. And a lot of it is not in your control. Some come to you with no documents. You know, it takes time to figure out where the Birth Certificate is. Have to prove ten years of residency and it takes time to get if proof that the fbi and some of these agencies use. Does that all Add Up to Refugee Camps in these Transit Centers across the globe with Tens Of Thousands of afghans sitting for months, years . It doesnt Add Up for the process we that in 2015. One of the things the previous administration argued, the Refugee Community is the most vetted community of people entering the united states. You pointed to the fact that it takes a year or two for the typical refugee to meet that burden. So the question is how can you possibly not have this and where are you going to put them . A lot of questions wrapped up in there. Let me do the best i can here. Its okay. All good questions. First, id say even prior to the last month or two, we took steps to expedite processing in the siv pipeline. Id remind you that for quite some time, it was a program that was frozen in march of 2020. Hardly anything was done. For Policy Reasons in part by the prior administration, it wasnt a program that ney necessarily supported. Also because of covid. So we worked to expedite and had some success over the course of a few months in the spring, even before evacuations took place to do that. As Jake Sullivan said the other day, it was also not a program, to your point, that was planned for speed because of all of the requirements, because what americans should also be assured of is that there are theres no one coming in through any of these programs that is not gone through a Background Check Process and been vetted. That is our responsibility to the american people and one that we will abide by. Hence were grateful to these third countries that are providing a place for a number of many Tens Of Thousands of people for this period of time. We have put a wide range of staff, personnel and others on the Vetting Process from a range of agencies to ensure that we can take steps to expedite as quickly as possible. Youre right, some of this is dependent on documents and some of it is dependent on information being available. I will close with and i may have missed some of your questions, but this is incredibly difficult. Were not were very cleareyed about that. These afghans, many departing, made the decision and we did too that evacuating them because their lives are at risk and moving them to a third country, even if theyre in transition nor a period of time is preferable to their lives being threatened. One more question here. So assume that the people are vetted, once theyre vetted, come to the united states. Is it the commitment of this administration that all of those people, 100 of the people that have gotten through the Vetting Screen obviously some fail and wont come to the united states, but all of them will be granted legal permanent residency and given citizenship in the united states or is it possible some of those people will have to apply through other programs and could be deimportanted back to afghanistan . Once individuals arrive in the id, theyre illegible to apply for asylum or other immigration pathways, which have as a condition additional Screening Processes and procedures so no, we Cant Guarantee Anyone anything. Certainly were working are a range of countries Around The World to ensure that theres safe places for individuals who are fleeing from afghanistan and have a safe place to go. A situation that you might reject Somebodys Asylum Application and send them back to afghanistan. I dont anticipate that being the plan. Thanks. Is the White House aware of members of congress that are planning to make a trip to afghanistan at this time . I dont have anymore information on that, no. Have you learned anything about how they made this trip, how they were able to get in to the country . Did they show up on you should ask them that question. Ask a question on cyber security. Sure. In light of todays summit. Does the White House believe that the private sector can make improvements without government mandates or do you believe that congress needs to pass legislation mandating Super Security . Well, we certainly have made clear that we expect private sector companies to report when they have experience a cyber breach. We worked in partnership with some martha all right. Well keep an eye on this ongoing briefing at the White House. I want to bring in my next guest, retired navy seal, dan crenshaw. He lost his right eye in combat in afghanistan. Hes been watching this along with us this afternoon. He joins me now. Congressman, good to have you with us today. A couple of things that stood out to me. No answer on the feature of the u. S. Embassy, whether or not we will make an attempt to keep a u. S. Embassy. They said theyre looking at all options. The other basic question, how do you keep people safe after August 31 who want to leave with no u. S. Military on the ground to help them . Your thoughts on that or anything else that really jumped out at you this afternoon so far. Look, your assessment is right on that. Theres no way to keep people safe if we leave. Thats always been the case, by the way. Thats why this has been a debate for 20 years. What will happen if we just leave and is that Outcome Worth it. Were getting that answer clearly now, unfortunately. Several things that stood out to me. The Secretary Of State said this multiple times and he just repeated it. We should get all of our people out by August 31. They keep repeating that. This is not true. Its utterly impossible to do. The people getting through the gates at this point have been reduced to a trickle. Theres still plenty of people that need to get out, that want to get out that cant. I think sometimes theyre putting people in a category of not wanting to leave because they dont want to leave their extended family or their immediate family. There are cases and this might not be the policy but theres cases that u. S. Citizens have to choose. Of course they want to leave. Maybe they cant make to it the gates. How do you keep small children to the gates . Theyre getting trampled to death. We had a u. S. Citizen, interpreter, a 2yearold was trampled to death because the crowds are massive. The taliban own the perimeters outside the airport. The State Department allowed them to be our first Vetting Process. So they can take people out if they want. Theres plenty of people that want to get out the next few weeks and months that cant. To blame them for not getting out sooner and you addressed this in the last interview and i add to that, this administration said the taliban wouldnt take over. Even though the intelligence was telling them otherwise. The Intelligence Community has been giving biden the right advice. He didnt listen. Thats the reality. The other thing that stood out is Jen Psaki saying we have to coordinate with the taliban. We have to negotiate with them. Look at how much territory they have. First of all, you shouldnt have given them that territory. Second of all, were the united states. We dont negotiate with people like that. If we want to stay longer, set our own timelines for that, which should be openended, by the way, then we do it. We do it. If they get in our way, well use deadly force. That should be the only answer coming from the united states right now. Martha dan crenshaw, thanks very much. Good to have you watching this with us this afternoon. Well see you soon. Thank you for your service in afghanistan. So a former afghanistan Television Producer that fled the country in 2015 over taliban Death Threats now fears for her family still there trying to get out. Shes next. Veteran homeowners, if youre ever going to use your Va Home Loan Benefit to get cash, now is the time. Because Interest Rates are near record lows and home values are at record highs. The newday 100 Va Cash out loan lets you borrow 100 of your homes values and you can take out 50,000 or more. Pay down high Rate Credit cards, improve your home, or just give your family the security of having cash in the bank. vo the rule in business used to be, location, location, location. Now its, network, network, network. So you need a network thats built right. Verizon business unlimited starts with americas most reliable network. Then we add the speed of verizon 5g. We provide security thats made for Business And Offer plans as low as 30 per line. 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Martha Reports Of Taliban fighters beating up an afghan tv crew. Its not a good sign of the media and the free press under the leadership of these militants. Ill speak with a former Producer And Host for the same network that escaped after getting Death Threats and trying to get her Mother And Sister and family out of afghanistan right now. First Greg Palkot reporting live from clan london. Martha, Fox News has learned that more journalists have been attacked In Kabul today. A reporter for total news, the biggest in afghanistan, was beaten up, fighters and cameras confiscated even show they showed press i. D. This is not the first. Take a listen to the chief of the media group. This is very concerning for us. If people are not safe venturing out and talking to people, literally One Kilometer from the office, this is not like in the middle of nowhere, what is the future of a free media . The anchor for the same network interviewed a taliban official live in the studio talking about the harsh tone of the taliban. We have learned this week shes left the country along as others that were given the chance to evacuate. As the taliban challenged desperate people trying to flee the country at kabuls airport, theyre challenging a free press that we watched grow for 20 years. The taliban has said that the media can do what they want as long as its in the national interests and supplies with sharia law. Nobody know whats that means. The Media Chief had one more comment that he believes that President Biden hasnt shown too much backbone in dealing with the taliban with a lot of aspects of the withdrawal of a free press might also be a victim. Martha thanks, greg. My next guest is a former tv Producer And Host. She escaped afghanistan after she got Death Threats. Shes losing hope about getting her family out. She joins me now. Thank you for being with us today. As you listen to the News Conferences from the White House and you hear that the united States Military will be gone by August 31 and that they will still continue to make efforts to help people get out after that, what goes through your mind . Remember, im thinking first of all, thanks for having me, martha. Whenever i think about August 31, it scares me. I have no idea what will happen. Now that the u. S. Is there and other troops are already in afghanistan, in the airport, taliban are taking those actions against journalists and there were many, many others that said theyre not coming to the press. It scares me. It scares everyone in afghanistan. Im in contact with my fans, my family and were all so worried. We have no idea what will happen after August 31. Just thinking, looking back to the history that taliban had in afghanistan, we cannot trust them. Their actions are unforgiveable for all afghanis. Martha im sure a lot of people in your Age Group grew up with more freedom than people did under the taliban. You know, you have not seen this up close, i imagine. So what is it like for women like yourself that work had a very thriving profession with, you had interviewed the First Lady of afghanistan on a your program, on your Morning Program to think that youre facing a future or your colleagues are facing a future that that could never happen. On the one hand, im so worried about my family. Its personal to me. A larger picture, my heart goes out for all the women in afghanistan. They wont have the opportunity to go to school, to go to college and to have a right to work or just leave their house without a male. Its devastating. Its heartbreaking. Were also seeing the sign of those actions already. Theres many women now, on stateowned Tv Stations In Kabul, that female journalists and Tv Presenters were not allowed to go back to work. Despite of having, i. D. , credentials to work. That is concerning. Martha i dont blame you. I have about 30 seconds. Are you optimistic that your family can get out by The End of the month . Every day im losing hope. Every day. The last two days has been so hard for me. Words cannot express that. Martha were praying for your family and hope the united States Government can do everything in their power to help your family. Thanks have much. Were glad youre here and getting your masters and wish you well. That is the story for this wednesday, august 25. This story continues throughout the evening here at Fox News. Well see you back here at 3 00 tomorrow. Our coverage continues now with your world which gets underway with Neil Cavuto in just a moment as we continue to see these briefings coming out of the pentagon, the White House and from Anthony Blinken who we heard from today for the first time taking questions. Our coverage continues here at fox. Well see you back here tomorrow. Neil all right. Were monitoring this Pentagon Briefing as crowds continue outside the Kabul Airport. The reason why were paying attention whats coming out of the pentagon, cia troops have conducted missions outside the Kabul Airport to get americans outside of the country. This is complicated by the draw down of u. S. Troops in the country. What started out as 6,000 of them, now down to