18 u. S. Service members. Gunmen and two Suicide Bombers targeted the thousands waited near the Airport Yesterday who were hoping to Escape Afghanistan and the talibans rule. The first blast came outside The Gates and then another attack at a nearby hotel where people were waiting. Isisk, the islamic State Terror groups Afghanistan Affiliate has claimed responsibility for the blast. Earlier in the day the u. S. Embassy warned americans to stay away from the airport, citing an attack. As we showed you, President Biden spoke at the white House Yesterday where he condemned the attacks and vowed to make the terrorists pay. Chief white House Correspondent Peter alexander has more. Reporter days after president Bidens Deadline to end americas longest war, the commander in chief addressing what is one of the deadliest days for u. S. Troops in the entire 20year conflict. These american Service Members that gave their lives its an overused word but its appropriate here were heroes. Heroes engaged in a selfless mission to save the lives of others. Reporter the president blaming the attack on the Group Isisk. A group hes been warning about for days. We were made aware by our Intelligence Community that the isisk, an Arch Enemy of the taliban has been planning a complex set of attacks on the United States personnel and others. Reporter and saying this about whether Hell Stick with his August 31st timeline to get all american forces out. We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will not let them stop our mission, well continue the evacuation. Reporter its a Nightmare Scenario for the president whose exit has faced criticism. Theres calls for change including the u. S. s reliance on the taliban for security at the airport. Bob menendez saying we Cant Trust the taliban for american security. And the republicans blasting the president for sticking with a strategy that they believe has failed. Thats impossible at this point. Reporter the president making this vow. To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes america harm, know this. We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay. Peter alexander reporting there. You heard the president say the Evacuation Mission will continue despite Yesterdays Attack and this morning it does continue. The State Department says at least 500 americans were air lifted out of the Country Yesterday and 1,000 remain. Since the taliban Entered Kabul on august 14th, officials say more than 5,000 americans and roughly 100,000 people have been evacuated in total. Of the u. S. Citizens still there, the State Department says it has been in contact with most if not all of them. Politico also reporting the u. S. Officials gave the taliban a list of american and afghan names to evacuate in hopes of expediting The Process. This, as you can imagine, has prompted outrage from Defense Officials one telling politico, they just put all those afghans on a kill list. Lets bring in Josh Letterman at the White House, Correspondent Courtney Kube and correspondent Matt Bradley at Ramstein Air base in germany, the destination for almost all Evacuation Flights out of afghanistan. I want to bring with you courtney, yesterday a warning that more attacks could still come. Listen. Right now our focus really we have other active threat streams, extremely active threat streams against the airfield we want to take the steps we need to to protect ourselves there. We expect the attacks to continue and were doing everything we can to be prepared for those attacks. How has the american posture changed there around the airport . You have 13 u. S. Service members killed yesterday, 18 injured. Were hearing more attacks could be imminent now. What does it look like at the airport right now . So, overall, the posture has not really changed that much. Theres still about 5,400, 5,500 u. S. Troops there securing the airport. They are continuing to screen civilians as they come into the airport. Thats what happened here, willie. There was a group of, primarily marines, they were at the Abbey Gate, on the southeast corner of the airport, a place where a lot of americans and some afghan civilians and other third country nationals, the british, have been coming through that gate over the last 10 days or so. The marines were there screening individuals as they were coming through when someone exploded some sort of an explosive device, the assumption is it may have been a Suicide Vest and then there was an ensuing Gun Battle. The marines and u. S. Military are still conducting these searches even today as we speak despite there. And there still are Evacuation Flights coming and going. General mckenzie and others are stressing to us, despite this horrible attack and deadly attack, despite that the Evacuation Mission continues. And, you know, it theres something else. You played a little bit of the sound from President Biden vowing to retaliate here. Thats something that ive been talking to Defense Officials, of course, ever since this happened because one of the big questions immediately after an attack like this is the u. S. Going to respond . I think that our viewers may be surprised to find out that ever since the u. S. Military began the withdrawal, which really began in april or may of this year, with the Military Withdrawal comes a withdrawal of a lot of intelligence assets. So the u. S. Military has much less of a clear picture of where some of these fighters, potential isis fighters may be and the potential to strike back is clouder now than it was six months or a year ago, and it will only get worse as the u. S. Is gone. Since this Evacuation Mission began on august 14th, most of those efforts are fixed on kabul and, particularly, on the airport. Because the biggest concern is making sure that where the american military and civilians are headed that that is the area thats secure. It doesnt mean that the u. S. Military doesnt have the capability, the capacity to carry out a strike, the question is, will they have the intelligence to actually go after some of the people who may have carried out this Attack Yesterday. So what does this mean for the August 31st deadline from the pentagon perspective, which is now four days away. People say we have to Get Out on the 31st and this is why, because of the imminent threat of Terrorist Groups moving close to the airport now, on the other hand others say we have to get every last american and our afghan wartime partners out of there because of the threats in the country, what is the pentagons thinking right now on the deadline . They are still full steam ahead for a complete withdrawal by August 31st, willie. There has not been any change to the timeline at this point. I was struck yesterday by what we kept hearing out of officials, primarily at the White House, but someone at the pentagon as well. About how after the August 31st deadline, they would continue to work to get more people out who wanted to Get Out, particularly get americans out. I would be interested to know exactly how thats going to happen. I can only imagine that the State Department and the White House are working on some diplomatic means to try to make that happen. The u. S. Has been working with these negotiations and the talks with the taliban, the qataris have a strong presence and they have been helping in some diplomatic cases already. So i imagine they will have a role here. According to all signs and Defense Officials i speak with, they are still working to the August 31st deadline and this attack has not made any impact on that. You have to look at the military situation theyre faced with right now. So Kabul Airport, its surrounded by the city. Its surrounded by a lot of civilians and surrounded by thousands of taliban fighters. Most of these fighters are the most the strongest, most capable, theyre almost their more elite like special Forces Kind of forces in the taliban. That was a strategic decision it seems on the part of the taliban to put them there. They wanted to have their best people who would listen to the taliban leadership about what they would be doing to maintain the perimeter around the airport. The 5,400 or so u. S. Troops at that airport are completely surrounded. So and theyre almost in a fishbowl. Theres mountains surrounding them. The taliban have Rocket Propelled Grenades ways of shooting down helicopters and other aircraft. A strong amount of fire power. They are controlling some of those gates. If the u. S. Decides to stay past August 31st, against any sort of agreement that they have with the taliban right now, it would be the u. S. Would have to flow in more forces and it would potentially be a very ugly fight and i think thats one thing that Military Planners are looking at right now is the reality of what that of just how potentially bloody and how difficult a battle that would be if they decided to stay against any agreement with the taliban. The clock is ticking toward that deadline. Courtney, thanks so much. Matt bradley, lets go to you in germany where the Evacuation Flights continue to land. The president vowed the evacuations would continue. Incredible work by the United States Military even as it mourns 13 of its own, 18 more wounded. What are you seeing on your side of things and what does this mean for the evacuation now with just four days left . , you know, willie, its a good question. I dont think it means anything for the evacuation. I think it means the whole thing has to go just as fast. It adds to the imperative to get these people out. What weve seen all night here, and ive spoken with people who live around here theyve heard planes landing, coming and going here at ramstein. This is one of the largest Air Bases in the world and its an unusual sight here, seeing civilian aircraft, delta, united, Atlas Air Landing here, mixed among the c17s, c130 transport aircraft, theyre all part of the enormous operation. You can see a huge Tent City also that houses as many as 17,000 afghan evacuees. This was a Tent City built in a matter of days by u. S. Soldiers but also their Family Members, spouses, and their children. They pitched in to bring together this huge Evacuation Effort. This base has been at capacity, i was told yesterday, by the man who runs it, Brigadier General Olson that the population of the base has tripled or quadrupled in just the last week or two. And now, as of yesterday, theyre at capacity. They really cant take anymore. Theres now just about 17,000 people who are living at this base. Now theyve tried to ramp up The Processing here, theyve tried to increase the speed at which theyre getting people going, but its unclear how they can do that anymore. They have to start Routing Planes to bases in italy and elsewhere in europe. Lets talk about isisk, the group that claimed responsibility for the bombings yesterday. Youve done a lot of work covering isis over the years. What is isisk . I think its new to most people, who are they and what are their objectives . Yeah, isisk. The k comes from khorasan, a province in afghanistan. Theyve been active in the east of afghanistan. Thats where most of the Fire Fighting was. The taliban are enemies of isisk they had a lot of Fire Fights since isisk showed itself back in 2015 and that was a little bit after he saw isis sprouting up in Iraq And Syria, remember that conflict. They used to have, in Iraq And Syria, a caliphate that was about the size of britain at its height, its been beaten back in that region, but now were seeing isis once again in afghanistan. It was only a little bit ago that the taliban said that they too had extinguished isis in afghanistan. Isisk in afghanistan, its more austere in terms of its islamic outlook than the taliban if you can believe that. Theyre more conservative, more violent. Whether they came from other taliban fighters, its clear they have a lot of people in common. It seems its a lot of disgruntled taliban fighters who joined isisk because the taliban wasnt extreme enough for some reason and they decided they are looking at more of a global outlook. The Talibans View is more rooted in afghanistan itself. They want to create they want to govern afghanistan. Whereas isis has a more global perspective. Thats why you saw affiliates throughout the Middle East, throughout africa and, of course, now in afghanistan. So isisk, sounds like theyre goeg to continue fighting. But this is a small target. Theyre thouGht To have 2,000, 3,000 fighters and theyre going to be beaten back by the taliban themselves for the most part. Matt bradley, thanks so much. We appreciate it. Lets go to the White House now, Josh Letterman, obviously the Nightmare Scenario for the country, for this president losing 13 u. S. Service members, 18 more injured yesterday, scores of afghans killed, many more injured as well. The president holding fast to his decision to pull out of the country, is there any reconsideration now from the white House Point of view of the August 31st deadline . None whatsoever. We talked to officials who say what took Place Yesterday, while devastating and deadly for american troops serving there only resolidified the president s belief we have to Get Out of afghanistan and we have to do it now. The situation there in kabul are reinforcing for President Biden, according to his aides, the fact that no matter how long we stayed in afghanistan we were still going to end up with this mix of extremist groups with an afghan military that was clearly not going to be able to stand up and defend the country against taliban insurgents but also even the taliban now punta lively in control of Kabul And Afghanistan unable to prevent attacks from other groups, Rival Groups. The white House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said this was maybe the worst day of President Bidens young presidency so far. And certainly i can tell you that has been the mood here at the White House. In light of the americans that died and also true chaos as the White House is scrambling to figure out exactly what the situation is on the ground there, what the continuing threat is for potential additional attacks in the coming days while trying to do everything else on President Bidens agenda, including meeting with the israeli leader, that was supposed to be yesterday, it was quickly scrapped and moved to today. Well see that later today after the president starts his day at the White House at about 8 30 in the morning in the Situation Room with the national security advisers and according to officials were speaking to, The Key Mission Set again every single last american in the country out by that August 31st, the s. I. V. S, afghan allies, thats all important but in the few hours we have left on the ground in kabul, theyre trying to get these americans out. According to the State Department theres about 1,000 americans theyre in touch with still in afghanistan although the State Department says information is hard to get uptotheminute data on, its possible theyve gotten out of the country in a sign of true desperation on the ground in kabul, the State Department also says in had the last 24 hours, they heard from another 500 people in afghanistan who say theyre americans and want to Get Out. But the u. S. Government saying based on their experience they believe many, if not most, are not american citizens, theyre simply afghans desperate for any way to Get Out of the country. The White House sticking to the deadline but saying it will continue to extract americans after the deadline, which becomes difficult and complicated. Josh letterman, thanks so much. Joining us now retired four star navy admiral, chief international Security And Diplomacy analyst for Nbc News. And also with us, Elise Jordan and Mike Barnicle. Good morning to you all. Admiral you were with us two days ago you and joe were talking about the fear of exactly the kind of attack we saw against american troops yesterday. Heres part of your conversation with joe. I certainly want to get every last american out of there, but it seems to me, if we stayed past The End of the month, we would just be inviting an attack by isis, inviting an attack by, lets say, an even more radical element of the taliban. This is the sort of thing i would not want our troops sitting there indefinitely in this sort of situation. I am very worried we are one c17 crash, one big bomb, one Fire Fight at the Kai Corral away from this thing turning sideways. So Bottom Line, lets get this thing done. Lets Get Out of here. If we still have people on the ground, we ouGht To try and extend that deadline, but i think its like covid diminishing returns kicking in p here, lets get what we can. That was wednesday morning. Admiral your worst fears came true in horrific fashion yesterday. How did it happen and how concerned are you about Today And Tomorrow and attacks weve been told could be imminent . As i talked about, willie, its kind of the big three, one of which has occurred, a big bomb. And potentially you have to reserve the thought of a truck bomb, which is what, of course, struck the Marines In Beirut in 1983, killing 300 of them. Second is a c17 going down. Perhaps to a shoulder fired weapon. Theres no Intel Indication that the isisk have such weapons, you just never know. Those borders are pourous, there are other groups around the world would love to see that happen. And a Fire Fight break out if isisk try a main move. All of those Nightmare Scenarios. Lets start by saying there are 13 Families Today who are having the worst day of their life, american families and we ouGht To remember them. And then lets think about what comes next. Assuming we can get through what we just talked about and Get Out of here. I think the president is absolutely riGht To say we will not forgive, we will not forget. Hes kind of echoing the renaissance there. Lets also remember another famous saying from that era, which is revenge is a dish best eaten cold. What i mean by that is, lets stay focussed on this mission. Lets get as many people out as we can. Lets create mechanisms for after we depart continuing through diplomatic means, clandestine means, an underground railroad, whatever we need and then lets find isisk, probably in or the a bora where Bin Laden was and sooner or later well find them and they can join Bin Laden at the bottom of the indian ocean. Admiral many people said in the last 12 to 24 hours this is why the United States needs to Get Out in the next four days because of the Security Risks to our troops because of the Security Risks to afghan civilians trying to Get Out of there. Do you believe the events of yesterday, the tragic, terrible events and youre right we are thinking about those 13 families in America Today getting the worst Phone Call of their life, do you believe this should change the calculus at all, we should make sure that everyone gets out or does this make the case in your eyes to leave on August 31st . I think there is a tactical case that is strengthened in terms of getting out, because the situation has become essentially untenable. You have 6,000 troops, masked people trying to Get Out. Its just a Bulls Eye on a huge target. So tactically weve got to disengage from this situation. I think strategically, a jury is out in the sense that this does show us the potential for afghanistan becoming an ungoverned space. It makes you question the Talibans Ability to contain the Islam State K and other groups, including Al Qaeda. So i think the Bottom Line is tactically, finish this mission, Get Out, operationally, strategically we need to think about what are our overthehorizon capabilities, long Range Insertion of power, Cia Clan Den stein operations, coming in from a variety of ways. We need to think through those options because i think there is trouble ahead in afghanistan, unfortunately. Elise, you worked in afghanistan you know the country well, you know people inside the country now. After yesterdays horrific attack, what does it mean for the afghan people on September 1st once the american troops leave and what does it mean for what looks like now, well have to go back in from time to time as the admiral says to chase groups like isisk . Its a more grim outlook for our afghan allies hoping to Get Out who had gone through the visa process, the laborintensive, bureaucratic sometimes years long process that the State Department under the Trump Administration was unwilling because they stopped Processing Visas of our allies, and then didnt ramp up just to handle the capacity, the sheer volume in the six months that Joe Biden has been president. I guess now my question for the admiral is, how do we prosecute isisk if we have no presence in afghanistan . We arent even going to have an embassy and a marine presence at the embassy per the usual. How are we going to do this in eastern afghanistan without any kind of on the Ground Presence at all or any base . Were going to begin by looking at assets regionally, elise. So working from the inside out. Unfortunately we have no bases on the borders of afghanistan itself. Your point. However, we have friendly arab nations in the gulf under A Thousand miles away, thats a long Distance Operation but we can fly not only drones but in moments of real targeting we can bring in man strikes from that distance, as well we have our british allies and friends who have the south about 1,200 miles away. So there are bases long distance. Its not mission impossible. Its mission really hard. Were going to use our overhead sensors to generate the intelligence. Cyber will play a part here, both the taliban and islamic state are active on social media, cyber, we have capabilities to collect intelligence as you know well through a variety of means and then third and finally, despite the fact there wont be a big visible u. S. Presence there, im quite confident the cia will be able to maintain networks, they will gather intelligence, they have assets on the ground, im absolutely certain who will continue on. Look, we gather intelligence in north korea, cuba, venezuelan, iran in other places we dont have embassies. We can do it here as well. It wont be as crisp as the operation that killed Bin Laden, which was launched from afghanistan we lost those bases. This is the nightmare that President Biden was trying to avoid, hoping to avoid by getting out August 31st, with 13 americans killed. 13 Phone Calls hell have to make to new Gold Star families. But he did Stick Yesterday that it is time to Get Out of afghanistan despite everything weve been seeing the last two weeks. Heres what he said. I said 100 times terrorism is metastasized around the world we have greater threats coming out of other countries a heck of a lot closer to the United States, we dont have military encampments there, we dont keep people there, we have overthehorizon capability to keep them from going after us. Ladies and gentlemen, it was time to end a 20 year war. What did you think as you heard the President Yesterday . He was asked repeatedly about the deadline, but didnt waiver off his argument despite the horror of yesterday. Willie, i was thinking, i think the same thing that many people in the pentagon, many people who have had their hands on afghanistan policy over the 20 years past were thinking, and that is, it was always going to end this way. It was always going to end in chaos and death. I think the important thing for us, as americans, to consider today and weve all referenced it this morning, the admiral just mentioned it as well, as you did. Today there are Casualty Officers of the United States Military visiting 13 homes in this country. Today, this morning, theres a plane in the air, somewhere in the world coming across the pacific with 13 bodies in that plane. The plane will land at Dover Air Force Base in delaware. The families will be fractured forever. The families of the fallen. This is historys long list of casualties thats arriving at Dover Air Force Base. We are there on a mission to save people to help people. That mission will continue until August 31st. But this mission in afghanistan for us, as a country, is over, as well as it ouGht To be. And the admiral is correct. I think probably right now, as were speaking here, ongoing as were speaking here, there are intelligence efforts under way, i think probably the pakistani Intelligence Service is going to have to be twisted into finally helping america instead of turning their back on us, we will get justice here and justice will mean death for those who tried to do this and did this accomplished this horrific act yesterday. But this mission is over because the capacity of the enemy on the ground there, this is not walking through an airport through metal detectors, this is an enormous crowd of danger, filled with danger. If they start rocketing the runway at the Kabul Airport making it impossible for planes to leave or takeoff then were in a truly horrific position. But sadly, this was always the way it was going to end. Admiral we heard that from President Biden as well, this was inevitable, thats been rejected by some people who said, yes, there might have been chaos but we wouldnt have seen the level of Chaos Weve seen around the airport in the last couple days, live pictures at 3 00 in the afternoon, by the way, from Kabul Airport as the evacuations continue. As your Point Of View as a commander, did it have to be this way . Was this really inevitable . The tactical situation you see unfolding was not inevitable. I think strategically, Mike Barnicle is exactly right. The handwriting has been on the wall here for quite some time. Tactically, look, we say in the navy, the mark of a great Ship Handler is never getting in a situation that requires great ship handling. And a number of factors contributed to where we are in this Punch Bowl at karzai international airport, including the collapse of Will And Leadership on the part of the afghans, as Well Missteps by the u. S. Military, i include myself in that number, in how we trained the afghan security forces. Our intelligence did not indicate wed see this massive, sudden collapse and the taliban overperformed. I dont think anybody thouGht They could step up their game so swiftly. All those factors came together, willie, to create a very difficult tactical situation on the ground. Unfortunately, as mike and i were talking just a few days ago, i would have scored it well better than even we were going to see something like this. Let us all pray we can get this thing done and Get Out of there over the next few days. I want to read a tweet from a friend of mine, marine Sniper Jake Wood who started a veterans relief organization. He wrote those marines stood at the wall despite knowing a Suicide Attack was imminent. They did it because the men, women and children needed to reach safety. Thats from a marine sniper, jake wood, talking about what those americans did, what they risked knowing what was coming to help fellow americans and afghans Get Out of that country. Admiral, thank you and let me say one more thing, which is simply to all afghan veterans, to all who served in this war, over 20 years, each of them stood on that wall in One Way Or Another and guarded this country. So for the question was it all worth it . I would say, there was no Terror Attack during those 20 years, you can take some measure of satisfaction in that, because you served and stood on that wall and protected the country. Thanks for reading that quote. And that mission ends in four days. Admiral, thank you very much. Mike and elise, stay with us. We have much more ahead on the deadly attack against Service Members in this afghanistan. Well be joined by Seth Moulton who earlier this week made a controversial trip to kabul to see the Evacuation Effort firsthand. Well speak with him live. Plus the latest on the pandemic across the country. More than 100,000 people are hospitalized with coronavirus, numbers not seen since january. Also this morning, states along the Gulf Coast bracing for a possible hurricane this weekend. Well give you the latest track on that storm. A busy morning when Morning Joe comes right back. Without my medication, my small tremors would be extreme. I was diagnosed with parkinsons. I had to retire from law enforcement. It was devastating. One of my medications is Three Thousand Dollars Per month. Prescription drugs do not work if you cannot afford them. Aarp is fighting for americans like larry, and we wont stop. Thats why were calling on congress to let medicare negotiate lower Prescription Drug prices. 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As bad as any we had in a while, were talking a major Hurricane Landfall in the northern Gulf Coast and pinpointing louisiana. 45 mile per hour winds, so the storm has slowly increased. We think as we go through saturday into sunday it could really intensify, maybe even rapid intensifintensification. Heres the landfall forecast. This is just in from the Hurricane Center. Theyre saying category 3, major hurricane, just south of New Orleans, somewhere making Landfall North to morgan city. Storm surge is a huge issue along with Rainfall And Possibility of even some strong winds as far east as New Orleans. But the Wind Threat could go through Baton Rouge and rain out as we go Sunday Night into monday. How confident are we . Were 60 hours away from landfall. The black line is the Hurricane Center all the other lines are the Computer Models excellent agreement where the storm is going, the only question how strong will it be . Rapid intensification is possible and expected saturday into sunday. Hurricane watches extend through the mississippi coastline, the new Orleans Area back to louisiana and this is the huge issue, water. Theres going to be a ton of water headed for southeastern louisiana, storm surge, and then on top of that, at the same exact time we think theres a possibility of up to 20 inches of rain in southeast louisiana. You can imagine the stress on the pumps to keep that water out of New Orleans as we go Sunday Night into monday. This could be anywhere from a category 2 to a category 4 at landfall. Its not the winds im most concerned with, its all the water headed for southeast louisiana, water by far kills the most people in hurricanes and this is a dangerous situation. Talking about almost two feet of rain in some parts. Well keep a close eye on that. Bill, thanks so much. To the littest developments in the fight against coronavirus. Right now more than 100,000 people are hospitalized in the country with covid19. Thats the highest number of hospitalizations in america since january. In alabama, florida, louisiana and the state of washington, new admissions of covid19 patients are at the highest levels since the pandemic began. Across the country more children are hospitalized with covid19 than any other point in the pandemic. Joining us now, President And Ceo of University Hospital in newark, New Jersey. Doctor, its great to have you back on the show. I want to talk about what youre doing at your hospital and how things look there. But lets start with whats happening in the country, more than 100,000 hospitalizations and were seeing Record Highs for the pandemic in a number of states. Is this all about the unvaccinated . Its the primary reason, thanks so much for having me. Of course, the unvaccinated throughout the country are the main vectors now for the spread of this disease. As we see Vaccine Effectiveness waning over time for folks who did take the right step and get vaccinated over the last eight, nine, ten months, Breakthrough Infections increasing, spreading to Family Members who may be vulnerable. This is a big problem and the problem really centers on folks who are unvaccinated. Were doing as much as we can in our community here, participating in forums across the country to encourage vaccination, there are boosters are on the horizon, but its still better to get the vaccine by far than to not and were really trying to spread that message as much as possible. Doctor, whats going on with kids . We were told a year ago at the height of this, that kids were relatively safe, schools were the safest place kids could be, they tolerated the virus very well but now were seeing, as you know, i think in your own hospital, too, an uptick in young patients. What is going on with children . Is it just the fact that they are the only group of people not eligible for a vaccine, 11 and younger . One thing ill say, its concerning that it still seems to be a debate in this country about whether kids are vulnerable to the virus. We averaged over 1,200 hospitalizations for children with covid19 in the country for the last couple of weeks. Were seeing more kids in our Emergency Room and these debates are even in places you wouldnt expect like here in New Jersey we have a gubernatorial candidate who said that children are not vulnerable to the virus recently. Its inexcusable and false information that clinicians that see kids in our hospital, the Family Members of kids with Covid19 Wouldnt agree with that and its against science and the truth. We have to make sure folks are aware about everything related to school safety, the need to wear masks and vaccinate the minors who are eligible so we can stop what everyone expects which is even more of an increase in pediatric hospitalizations. Its time for people in this country, as new as the vaccine is, to get a booster shot. How soon should people start getting them . The most recent news is that Pfizer And Moderna have submitted ed that seems to suggest that six months after the initial round of vaccination would be the riGht Time to get a booster. Thats an update. And also, that theres a consideration of simultaneously authorizing boosters for folks who got J J as well. I think theres ample evidence that Vaccine Effectiveness wains over time, certainly less than a year, from six to eight months and Boosters Cant come soon enough. Compromised people, reaching out to folks who are particularly immunocompromised and were administering those boosters already. Weve talked about how you handled this inside your own hospital to get your own people vaccinated. You put in a mandate at your hospital. You went from 55 Vaccination Rate among employees, now up to 93 after that mandate went in. How has that been going since the mandate and whats the response from your employees . As you mentioned, willie, the Vaccination Effort has been successful. Were well over 90 of people coming to this campus to work, the rest have a religious or medical exemption. We only had to terminate just a couple of employees for noncompliance with the policy because ultimately people realized we cant abide by the risk of spreading this deadly disease to the most vulnerable people in the community, those with a poor outcome to covid19. We have, overall, broad acceptance among our employees they understand the rational. And every institution and employers should be mandating the vaccine. Were starting to see that across the country. Doctor, thank you for your time we appreciate it. Coming up what we know about the group that claimed responsibility for Yesterdays Attack in kabul that killed 13 u. S. Service members and injured 18 more. Andrea mitchell joins us with her latest reporting. Plus President Bidens explanation for why the United States abandoned bagram Air Base a decision thats come under heavy criticism. And congressman and marine veteran Seth Moulton joins the table after seeing the situation in kabul firsthand earlier this week. He joins us next on Morning Joe. N Morning Joe. Music playing. Theres an america we build and one we explore one thats been paved and one thats forever wild but freedom means you dont have to choose just one adventure you get both. Introducing the Allnew 3row Jeep grand cherokee l jeep. Theres only one. When subway® opened they changed the fast food game. But sometimes you gotta refresh. To be fresh. Welcome to the eat fresh refresh. 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Look at it this way folks and i have another meaning for real. Imagine where wed be if i had indicated, On May the 1st, i was not going to renegotiate an evacuation date. We were going to stay there. Id have only one alternative, pour thousands of more troops back into afghanistan. To fight a war that we had already won relative to the reason we went in the first place. I have never been of the view that we should be Sacrifiing American lives to try to establish a democratic government in afghanistan if osama Bin Laden, as well as Al Qaeda, had chosen to launch an attack when they left Saudi Arabia out of yemen, would we have ever gone to afghanistan . Even though the taliban completely controlled afghanistan at the time, would we have ever gone . President biden speaking at the white House Yesterday. Joining us now, marine Veteran And Member of the house armed services committee, Seth Moulton of massachusetts. He and republican Congressman Peter Meijer of mission made an unapproved trip this week to witness the evacuations on the grounds. Great to have you with us. Couldnt have a better voice, a marine, a sitting Congressman Someone who saw with his own eyes what is happening in kabul. What did you see there . The most extraordinary thing i have ever seen in my life was happening at Abby Gate where these troops were killed. Its an impossible Task Weve given them to sift through a sea of humanity, thousands of afghans to try to pluck out our allies, our friends and their families, their husbands, their wives, their little girls and boys. And put their kids on their back and hold their hands and literally pull them to freedom. So this i expected to see a gate with marines on one side and afghans on the other. But thats not the way this can work, because we waited so long to start this evacuation, we have to go out in the crowd. So these marines were out there. Feet from taliban with their horse whips. At tremendous risk, literally saving lives. So there are a lot of Service Men and women who die protecting our country and saving lives in the abstract. Every one of these marines who gave their lives, the legacy that they leave is thousands, thousands of afghans, friends of ours, people who trusted us, who are alive today. Ive seen a lot, ive never been more proud to be an american than i was that day at Abby Gate. I think thats an important point to make because as we talk about americans standing on the wall, that implies theyre just providing security. But the picture you painted is United States marines wading out into the crowd, relying on the taliban for security, the very people theyve been fighting for 20 years. What was that like for you to see as a veteran of several tours to see United States relying on the taliban and effectively working with the Terrorist Group . It was the most bizarre thing i could ever imagine. And these marines who grew up knowing that the taliban harbored the people who attacked us on 9 11 were now asked to work with these terrorists, but we have to to save lives and one of the most important things we learned by being there on the ground is that that crazy relationship with the taliban is actually going to be really important going forward. Because even if we extend the deadline to September 11th, the negotiated original date with the taliban, we cannot possibly save all these people. There will be Tens Of Thousands that we leave behind and the only way to get them out in the future is if we have a productive relationship with the taliban. We thouGht That being there would give us the best place on earth to advocate, like most veterans across the country believe in extending the deadline. What we learned from being on the ground is that, sadly, we got to stick with it. And we have to figure out how to get people out in the future. You talked about evacuations and how they should have started earlier, thats been a central criticism from republicans and democrats, which is lets get the people out before the guys with guns Get Out. Do you think weve gone about this backwards . Yes. But its not a time to have political debates about this. There are people who a lot of troops we have to get home safely. Thats going to be hard. The next few days are going to be really hard. Well have to rely on the taliban just to Get Out of there safely. And then we have to figure out how to get all the people out that we left behind. So we have a lot of work to get ahead of us. We went to see the Refugee Camps afterwards, where were sending all these families, these many young families that were literally pulling to freedom. And now theyre in places where we dont have enough Food And Water to stay alive. So theres a lot of work that we still have to do on the ground to save people. We have to be firmly focused on that. The White House and the president said again yesterday were sticking to the August 31st deadline, were getting out. But were committed to getting americans out after that date. What does September 1st look like . Based on what you saw yesterday, American Fighting Forces have left, but we still want to get americans out, we want to get some afghan wartime allies out, how do we go about that . Heres the blunt answer, willie, i dont know because we dont have a plan. Everything thats happening right now, these extraordinary numbers of people that were bringing out, its because of these heroic efforts by our troops and our State Department diplomats, young consulate officers trying to sort through immigration paperwork. Its because of their heroism on the ground were saving so many people not because anyone in washington gave them a plan. And, you know, look, this sadly reminds me of when i was a marine in iraq. And felt completely abandoned by washington because so many people in washington were Making Decisions that affected our lives and they had no clue what was going on on the ground. And i just vowed if if i ever get to congress im not going to repeat that mistake. Im here for the troops. Im here for the people were trying to save. Thats what matters, not what people in washington say. So what do we do . You have four days left to get american troops out, what would a good plan look like . Its late in the game but what would a good plan look like that would secure american troops so we dont see anymore marines killed outside The Gates of that airport and so that afghan allies and the families youre telling me about are not brutalized by the taliban . Again this is a ridiculous situation to be in, but we have to negotiate with the taliban. We have to keep communication with them to ensure a safe withdraw and get people out when we go. So the president is right, we need to kill the people who organized the attack who killed these u. S. Service Men And Women. But we also have to work with this other group, this other Terrorist Organization to get home. So weve got to take care of all these people that we got out. The airmen on the ground in qatar, Where Thousands Upon thousands of these refugees are coming every day are also about to get thousands of troops on top of that, and they literally dont have enough water to give people. The State Department officials said that administration lawyers were preventing donations were trying to get to the bottom of that but that has to stop because more people are going to die. Congressman, stay with us. Were at the top of the hour, 13 u. S. Service members and according to the Associated Press at least 95 afghans are dead following the Terror Attacks weve been talking about in kabul. Richard engel reports on what happened on the ground. Reporter it was every Soldier And Marine in kabuls worst fear, an attack where theyre most exposed. As troops were patting down an evacuee at a Kabul Airport gate searching for a bomb, he or she, thats still unclear, detonated one. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you. We have to touch the clothes of the person coming in. Americans have got to be in danger to do the searches. Theres no other way to do it. Reporter another bomb exploded a few hundred yards from the first. As fighters sprayed gun fire. We drove through this exact spot a few days ago, a corridor that leads riGht To an Airport Gate. The u. S. Is relying on the taliban to prescreen the crowds pushing to get into the airport hoping for a flight out of afghanistan, patting them down before theyre checked again by u. S. Troops. This new and bizarre Security Cooperation broke down. Clearly, if theyre able to get up to the marines that did the screening at the Entry Point of the base theres a failure somewhere. It was a failure by taliban operate with varying degrees of competence some of the guys are good, some are not. Reporter just a few weeks ago the u. S. Was bombing the taliban, but when the troops pulled out, now theres No One left but the taliban to protect american forces as they leave. Isisk claimed responsibility. Many of their fighters and other extremists including Al Qaeda members were in jails but when forces melted away, the prisoners escaped and for the past few weeks have been on the loose. They have one clear target, the Kabul Airport where nearly all The Americans In Afghanistan are gathered and are still gathering, until they leave. Richard engel reporting for us. Were continuing with congressman Seth Moulton here in new york. Theres been a question that some people asked, was it worth it . I heard from veteran friends who wondered the same thing from time to time, were the last two decades worth it as you watch the way were leaving the country and watching more americans die, 13 of them, and 18 injured. As you pause to think about it, pause to think about what youve seen on the ground in the last few days, what are your thoughts about the last two decades . Willie, im not going to sit here and try to argue that it was worth it. The Hardest Question that i ever got as a young, 20something Marine Officer in iraq was, hey, sir, why are we here . Its a haunting question. And the only good answer i could come up with was, so No One has to be here in our place. Thats not an adequate answer. Its true. And i i think that applies to those marines who are out there today. We can debate for a long time how they got into that place. But when i say ive never been prouder to be an american, its because these young Men And Women are out there willing to do it for all the rest of us, and for these afghan kids. You know, when you see a u. S. Marine grab a little girl by the hand that reminds you of your own daughter, thats what america is all about. They respect the absolute best of america. And weve seen so many images in the last couple of weeks of United States marines, Service Members holding afghan children, carrying them over the wall to Hopefully Freedom and a better life and thats the honor and sacrifice, sadly, that we saw yesterday. Congressman, Mike Barnicle is here with a question for you. Mike . Congressman, as we sit here today, 13 marines are on their way to Dover Air Force Base, Casualty Officers are knocking at the doors of their homes and strangely enough, impossibly enough, the miracle continues because those marines, those dead marines have been replaced by other marines who are doing the same Thing Today that cost those 13 their lives two days ago. So my question to you is, we live in a country with no draft, the marines you spoke of just a few seconds ago in iraq, the marines and the airborne who are there at kia, Kabul Airport, are there because they volunteered to be there. You were on the ground for a very brief period of time a few days ago, so did that change your view of whats going on . What did you learn . Did it change anything in your thinking about whats going on . It changed a lot, mike. Lets start with the fact that washington put them in this place. Put them in this impossible place, in this impossible situation, with a nearly impossible mission. Yet the marines on the ground are so committed to saving these afghan friends because they know that america made them a promise that they want to stay there as long as it takes. You wouldnt believe how many marines said, sir we have to find a way to extend the deadline so we can keep doing this because theres more people we can save. Thats how committed they are. As soon as those marines were killed, there were other marines who said, send me out there, let me go, ill go next. One of the most important things i learned from being there, though, was that we cant extend this deadline because we have to bring people home after we leave and without getting into the details of the negotiations thats not a tenable position if we stay beyond August 31st. Weve tried to negotiate that with the taliban. And its not going to work. Weve put ourself people in washington have put these troops in the place where they need the talibans help. I learned that one of the most difficult things the organizers of this evacuation on the ground are dealing with is actually members of congress and members of the administration who are beating down their doors trying to get their particular friends out. Thats one of the friends distracting them from the mission because theres been no system, no plan. I had been trying to we have a list of about 2,000 afghans just in my office that weve been trying to Get Out. And one night last week i stayed up all night just focused on four families. Just four families, sending hundreds and hundreds of texts and whatsapp message. I know your kids are starving and crying, stay a little bit longer because Theres Someone coming to get you, trying to get there. And at The End of the night i saved one, one out of four families. But when i saw a picture of them on the other side of the gate, a heroic journalist, his wife and two little girls about the same age as mine, i said, you know what, it was worth it. And if i can get on a Plane And Figure out how to save a few more, you better bet ill do that. Congressman, what does that process look like right now if youre a family in Kabul Or Way Outside Kabul, which is a whole other situation, what does it look like right now . How do you get to the airport . How many checkpoints are you going through . The four families youre talking about, what does that process look like . It looks chaotic. Is it as chaotic as it seems . Is it hopeful to get through the checkpoints especially going through the taliban and having worked with america sometime in the last 20 years. What is The Process if someone like you tries to get a family to safety . Let me describe it for a family i know well. They are out in a city well outside of kabul. And first they had to make the decision whether to even leave their house, to travel all these roads with taliban checkpoints knowing they were on the Target List to get to kabul. And i convinced them, i dont know, you could die on the way but my instinct is go, try to get to the airport. So they planned to leave in the morning. That niGht The taliban came to their house and made them serve dinner to them. So this family is literally making dinner for taliban soldiers before they leave the next morning to try to escape them. They got to kabul. They somehow made it to the airport by showing some semblance of paperwork that convinced the taliban we qualify to Get Out. And then they sat for days at the Airport Gate without Food And Water, watching their kids wither in the sun. While i was on the phone with them trying to convince them, stay a little longer because i have someone who can come. We finally got a heroic airman to come and literally pull them over the wall in the middle of the night because i showed them exactly pictures and grids where this family was. And carried them to safety. Now theyre in a Refugee Camp. Theyre in a Refugee Camp where they still dont have enough Food And Water. You literally reached out to someone you knew, an active Duty Service Member said heres where these people are, thats not a process, thats a favor for a buddy and pulled them over the wall . Yeah. Thats the only reason this one family is safe. Weve been watching, as weve been talking the evacuation continue, the work of the United States Military goes on. Flight after fliGht Today, 3 41 in the afternoon, despite the trauma the United States Military, the tragedy, the horror suffered yesterday, 13 Service Members killed, 18 injured. Congressman i know you have to get back to work. Were grateful to your service to the country and grateful you have given us witness to whats happening on the ground and for the work you continue to do. Thanks for being here this morning. Thank you, willie. Joining us now, peter baker, John Hudson and chief foreign affairs correspondent, andrea mitchell. Andrea has new reporting on what we know about isisk, the group claiming responsibility for the attacks in kabul. U. S. Officials have been warning for days about the threat from isisk. Culminating in a Red Alert for americans to stay away from the Airport Gates. A warning that proved all too true. What is isisk . An offshoot in afghanistan of the islamic state that originated in iraq. Created six years ago in many pakistan, a vowed enemy of the u. S. And taliban. Weve been talking about this for several days we saw it manifest itself here in the last few hours. Thousands were released from jails across afghanistan by the taliban in recent weeks since the taliban takeover in kabul. The Secretary Of State warned it was a high risk threat. Were operating in a high Risk Environment in a City And Country now controlled by the taliban with the very really possibility of an isisk attack. And isisk isnt the only terror threat. The taliban named the leader of the Hokani Network, a with a 5 Million u. S. Bounty on his head and the hokanis have strong tied to Al Qaeda. As you report one of the dynamics on the ground inside afghanistan is Taliban And Isisk are sworn Enemies Part of the reason we saw the bombing yesterday. But the fact that the taliban have brouGht This leader of the Hokani Network in to do security in kabul is really troubling. Its alarming because you have the rivals of, of course, the Taliban And Isisk, isisk is far more radical than the taliban. They view the taliban as heretics for having gone to doha and negotiated with the west. But, of course, the taliban is hardly an accommodating group. What were hearing from kabul and Outside Kabul in the provinces, what im hearing from women and from lawyers and judges and people that ive known, educators, is that theyre going Door To door and already taking young girls from if their mothers. This is hardly a moderate group, as i say, but isisk is far more ideological, far more brutal if you can be, they are generally younger so theres a generation gap. And willie, now youve got this unholy mix, this stew of jihadists, according to a u. N. Report from june, there are 8 to 10,000 extremists flocking to afghanistan from all over the region. Its becoming a hot bed and its the kind of haven for terrorists that the u. S. For 20 years fought against permitting to happen. As you talk to officials at the pentagon and State Department, whats the sense of what afghanistan looks like on September 1st . President biden made very clear that August 31st will hold as the deadline, american troops will leave and now you have this stew frankly of Terrorist Groups running the country. Im struck by the fact that the president was so determined, we will not forgive, we will not forget. It did remind me of george w. Bush after 9 11. That was a promise of a forceful response. How are we going to track these people down after after we leave . Bagram is closed, the military contractors are gone, most of the cia will be gone other than probably a few covert people on the ground but we wont have people on the ground, they say they can do this from over the horizon, that means drone attacks from 1,200 miles away, thats the nearest base. Were not getting basing rights from russia. So were going to be flying and the intelligence, that takes time and a lot of fuel to get there. So were not going to have real time, eyes on the ground. Well be doing it from overhead and whatever intel we get could be dated. Thats how we missed Bin Laden for ten years. Its going to be a difficult pursuit without question. Andrea Mitchell Thanks so much. John hudson you were first to report about a secret meeting the Cia Director and the leader of the taliban, a negotiation of some kind, what is the Cias Position now on this August 31st deadline and the role the taliban has currently with security and the role it will have in the country as the leadership on September 1st . The. Well, the cia has entered this debate on the withdrawal, on the skeptical side. That manifested itself in the Cia Director burns testimony to congress earlier this year saying that our intelligence capabilities would be diminished to some extent by our presence on the Ground Drawing back. And so, you know, there was a number of things that could have come out of the Cia Directors secret trip to meet with the taliban leadership. Now when it comes to the relationship between the United States and the taliban, i think what we have seen play out in recent days has been a fascinating turn of events for two entities that have been at war with each other for the last 20 years, the United States and the taliban. The taliban is essentially our tsa right now at the airport, checking people, were coordinating with them, asking them to close off roads. There is an incredible level of exchange happening right now. General mckenzie laid that out in his briefing yesterday. This is very unusual strange bedfellows situation. Theres a mutual threat from isisk between the United States and the taliban. So in this limited amount of time left before the u. S. Military withdrawal picks up and the evacuation ends, theyre going to be working together very closely so that the United States gets as many people out. Obviously there is not a lot of trust. The president spoke to that yesterday. No one likes the image, especially at the pentagon, especially at the White House, of working handinglove with the taliban but this is out of necessity. Thats why theyre doing it. And Seth Moulton even said off camera, the marines have to stand by and watch the taliban do what it does because theyre now partners. Peter baker we know the president spent the better part of the day in the Situation Room assessing this horrific series of events that killed 13 Service Members, injured 18 more, killed 95 afghans by the estimate of the Associated Press. Did we have any moment of consideration about the deadline . He certainly didnt seem to have any second thoughts as he came out and spoke in the East Room yesterday. No, theres no indication of that. This was a tough day for President Biden as it had been for every american. Lets hope the toughest of his presidency and we dont have worse to come. But hes been firm about this decision, even to the point of being defensive and firm about the deadline. I think if anything, this tragic event reinforces his view theres no going beyond August 31st. The sooner we finish this and the sooner we pull those last troops out the better. Theyll no longer be a risk that Congressman Moulton described. So i think hes pretty dug in at this point. We have to see how the next few days ago until tuesday, thats the period of maximum danger at this point. The Criticism Weve heard of President Biden and the military which was that it abandoned bagram Air Base, the president was asked about that pointedly yesterday heres what he said. On the questions of how to conduct an evacuation or a war, i gather up all the major Military Personnel that are in afghanistan, the commanders, as well as the pentagon. And i ask for their best military judgment. What would be the most efficient way to accomplish this mission . They concluded, the military, that bagram was not much value added. That it was much wiser to focus on kabul. And so i followed that recommendation. John, does that square with your reporting that military leadership thought it was a good idea to leave bagram . Well, this is in part, because this is really the tragedy of the entire withdrawal. Whether you love the withdrawal, whether you hate the withdrawal, bidens own metric for success that drove the Decision Making was preventing the loss of life of Military Personnel. Thats why you saw our allies stunned by the lack of Air Capability they had. Thats why you saw us leave bagram in the middle of the night. Extracting yourself from war can be very dangerous, it can be deadly. Thats why they pursued it so rapidly, arguably at the cost of Afghans Capability of fighting the taliban. But thats the ultimate tragedy of what happened here because the historic loss, the biggest loss of u. S. Forces since 2011, it happened despite the fact their main mission was to try to prevent that from happening. So it became full circle in a tragic way. We heard Congressman Moulton say the evacuation should have started months ago and that would have included using bagram as a base to hopefully prevent some of the scenes were seeing there now. Well, willie, the picture is always clearer in the rear View Mirror but nothing is more dangerous than a withdrawal from a War Zone. Its a War Zone right now today as we speak, its late afternoon in kabul but it is a War Zone there. And peter baker, i was struck yesterday watching and listening to the president of the United States who had spent most of the day in the Situation Room in the White House Making Decisions going forward. And yet, i got the sense from listening to him yesterday, when he appeared on tv that uniquely, he is uniquely, i think, feeling that the greatest decisions are being made in 13 households around america. Where do we bury our loved one, Arlington National Cemetery . Locally . I just felt it was a unique american presidency, because he is so touched by grief throughout his life, throughout most of his adult life. I was wondering what your feelings were when you saw the president as a Human Being . As an individual, apart from being president . I think thats right. Of the four president s who presided over this war in afghanistan, you know, President Biden is the only one who had a son who served in the military overseas in combat. His son, beau, of course, was in iraq, and died not of combat, not of service overseas, unfortunately of a Brain Tumor back here at home, but it still drives a lot of what Joe Biden does and thinks when it comes to the militaries, the wars. His views of the war is the perspective of a father of a Service Member, even though the Service Member has now passed away. I think he can relate in a way that others cant, the pain that these 13 families are feeling. I think youre right. Its exactly what he was trying to avoid. What he made this decision to withdraw to not have happen. So for it to play out this way is doubly tragic in that sense. And i think that you saw that, you know, very human Reaction Yesterday on the part of a president , but especially this one who has seen it upclose. The deadliest day for the american military in a decade in afghanistan yet the planes where taking off and landing from the very airport that 13 Service Members were killed. Peter baker and John Hudson, thank you both. Still ahead on Morning Joe. The Capital Police Officer who shot and killed a woman during the January 6th insurrection, explains for the first time why he opened fire. We continue to follow the aftermath of the attack in kabul. The flag at the White House is flying at Half Staff honoring the 13 Service Members killed. Youre watching Morning Joe well be right back. Jill and i, our hearts ache for all those afghan families who lost loved ones, including small children, or who were wounded in this vicious attack. And were outraged as well as heart broken. Being the father of an army major who served for a year in iraq and before that was in kosovo as a u. S. Attorney for the better part of six months, when he came home after a year in iraq, he was diagnosed, like many, many coming home with an aggressive and lethal cancer of the brain. We lost. We have some sense, like many of you do, what the families of these brave heroes are feeling today. You get this feeling like youre being sucked into a Black Hole in the middle of your chest. Theres no way out. My Heart Aches for you. Without my medication, my small tremors would be extreme. I was diagnosed with parkinsons. I had to retire from law enforcement. It was devastating. One of my medications is Three Thousand Dollars Per month. Prescription drugs do not work if you cannot afford them. 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As of yesterday more than 1,400 covid patients were hospitalized in Pediatric Inpatient Beds across the nation. The supreme Court Yesterday rejected the biden administrations latest moratorium on evictions, removing two additional months of protections for millions at risk of losing their housing. It said the centers for Disease Control and prevention had exceeded its authority. It would be one thing if congress had specifically authorized the action that the cdc has taken but thats not happened. The cdc has imposed a nationwide moratorium on evictions in reliance on a decades old statue that authorizes it. It strains credulity to believe the cdc has the authority it asserts. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement the decision will have a painful impact on families and create a greater risk of covid exposure. But the decision was hailed by Real Estate Organizations in georgia, alabama and others, who sued arguing it cost landlords billions of dollars since it was authorized by congress last year. Coming up well read from the Washington Posts latest piece on the attack in kabul and the sacrifice of u. S. Service members overseas. Reverend Al Sharpton joins us on that and more when Morning Joe comes right back. Morning joe comes right back oh yeah, we gotta take off. You downloaded the Td Ameritrade mobile app . Yeah, actually im taking One Last Look at my dashboard before we board. And you have thinkorswim mobile so i can finish analyzing the risk on this position. You two are all set. Choose the app that fits your investing style. My plaque psoriasis. The itching. The burning. The stinging. My skin was no longer mine. My psoriatic arthritis, made my joints stiff, swollen. Painful. Emerge tremfyant™. With tremfya®, adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. 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May cause headache, injectionsite reactions, back pain, and fatigue. Ask your doctor about nucala. Find your nunormal with nucala. Its moving day. And while her friends are doing the heavy lifting, jess is busy moving her Xfinity Internet and tv services. It only takes about a minute. Wait, a minute . But what have you been doing for the last two hours . Delegating . Oh, good one. Move your xfinity services without breaking a sweat. Xfinity makes moving easy. Go online to transfer your services in about a minute. Get started today. The issue of being able to vote, being able to participate in a democratic Process Shouldnt be a partisan issue. Right. The riGht To vote, the riGht To participate, to cast a vote, as i said before and so many times, its precious. Almost sacred. People died for this right. The country misses that voice. That was the late civil Rights Icon Congressman John Lewis of georgia speaking on a panel in 2012 after several states passed restrictive id laws, legislation which carries his name was passed in the house this week. Joining us now the host of msnbc Politics Nation which celebrates ten years this sunday, reverend Al Sharpton, Tomorrow Hell lead a multicity right for Voting Rights. Congratulations on ten years, its hards to make it ten days in this business, a decade is no joke. Thank you. Im excited about that. Youre commemorating that anniversary with a nationwide march for Voting Rights. Why is this issue so central right now . Martin Luther King iii and his wife Andrea Have revived his group and partnered with national Action Network and i and others the call is march because were seeing all over the country, since the 2020 election, states changing voting laws, we saw it in texas, we see it in georgia, we see it in florida. Over 40 states. And this really is undermining basic tenant this country professes to stand for. Thats one man, one vote. One woman, one vote. And its particularly been a problem in terms of people of color, particularly black people. When you see in georgia we can take out the Fulton County board, which is the Fulton County is the majority black district in atlanta. Were back to where John Lewis and Martin Luther King and others fought for. Its our responsibility to say the other way to Supersede State Laws is a federal law so the congresswoman from alabama put before the house, and it passed, the John Lewis voting advancement act. Tomorrow we meet 8 00 in the morning, pushing off from Mcpherson Park in Washington And March to the mall. Were going to pass the White House, black lives matter, were not going to the lincoln memorial. Were going to the capitol. To say the senate must pass this John Lewis bill. Terry sewell will be there. The senate must do a carve out around the filibuster and pass federal law. Otherwise we will be subjected to State Laws everywhere. So were doing this on a saturday, people are not working, we already have thousands of people taking buses. We want people to come. Covid conscience. Were doing it with masks. Were doing it right. But we cannot afford for the federal government not to interfere now. Just last night, Texas Legislature passed its law, The One that democrats had flown to washington to protest. It was a symbolic gesture in The End because its gone through. As you look at a federal law that you say is important because of the State Laws and you talk about a carve out around the filibuster. Do you have enough hope to get enough senators on board for its something that Joe Manchin and kyrsten sinema, among others, have been reluctant to entertain. They said we would listen to the John Lewis bill. S1 is too much. Whats your Hope Itll make it through the senate . When martin iii and i met with manchin and others in the senate they said well see about John Lewis. And i would challenge them. And when civil rights leaders and me met with the president we challenged him on the filibuster and the carveout. The key is the carveout. The one thing they all said is public sentiment. We want to see where the public is. Thats why its important that people show up tomorrow and march. How did we get the voting Rights Act in 65 . It is because people marched in selma, people marched around the country. It came from the bottom up, Lyndon Johnson signed the voter Rights Act he didnt lead the moment. People say what is Joe Biden going to do . I say what are we going to do . Thats why we want to focus on the capitol rather than remember what happened 58 years ago, lets look at whats happening right now, this senate must act. Youll be in washington putting the pressure on. I wanted to ask about the supreme Court Decision about the moratorium on evictions. The Supreme Court saying the cdc doesnt have the authority to put on that rule. Saying if you want to do something about eviction moratoriums it has to come from the congress. What are the realworld implications of this decision and did they make the wrong call here . They made the wrong call. Youre talking about 3. 5 Million people facing eviction. People who thouGht They had gotten some kind of reprieve on being evicted are looking this morning at possible homelessness. This is a heartless and, in my opinion, Ruthless Decision to come, which is why voting would come. The reason why it was a 63 vote in the Supreme Court is that Donald Trump was able to put these stack the court and they did a carve out to confirm some of those justices on the Supreme Court. Theyre basically saying, there are a lot of landlords in this country as well who are put out by this moratorium and just that the cdc doesnt have the authority to do it, if you want to do it put it through congress. Rove, the Washington Post has a piece this morning titled a Dark Day reminds us thousands of americans are risking everything for this rescue mission. The board writes this, quote, the Shadow Cast at Thursdays Attack at hamid Kabul Airport is deep but it cannot obscure the Brilliance And Sacrifice of u. S. Military and diplomatic personnel and those of allied nations who have moved more than 100,000 people out of harms way. Their achievement shines through what the moment decidedly does not call for is partisan Finger Pointing and point scoring. The internal divisions have done enough harm already. Our inability to debate rationally and in good faith is part of what brought if United States to this painful moment. The extraordinary Men And Women at the Kabul Airport doing their duty for the benefit of their country and fellow Human Beings have set an example and some have paid the ultimate price. The best tribute the nation could pay would be to face whatever comes next with less hatefulness and greater unity. I know you sent out a Message Yesterday suggesting we think about the family, the 13 Service Members killed. Congressman Seth Moulton was here saying he didnt want to get into the politics, yes, we could talk about the deadline but we should think of the 13 families who lost somebody they love. We cannot. We that consider ourselves progressive, we cannot become like the people we fight, to where we reduce everything to a political analysis, or taking shots at the right or left, there are some things that we should be able to rise above the partisanship and the ideological split. When you see people dead from an explosion that they had nothing to do with, their families are mourning dead. American lives lost. Afghan lives lost. Trying to seek a way out of what is going on in afghanistan. And your immediate reaction is some political analysis, no matter how brilliant it may be, it shows youre becoming as insensitive as those we claim to fight. This is the time to put our arms around the families that are suffering and for us to deal with people trying to heal the wounds that survive and make sure others are brouGht To safety. We can deal with the analysis and the division later right now this is a critical situation that we all ouGht To rise above our differences and embrace. Mike barnicle, a lot of people with itchy twitter fingers even as 13 u. S. Service members lay dead. Willie, i can remember a country when after the Beirut Bombing when nearly 300 marines were killed, i can remember a country when after 9 11, when so many died in new york and in washington d. C. , i can remember a country when violent things occurred and politicians on both sides of the aisle came together on behalf of the country moving forward. Whats happened in the last 12 hours, the Press Releases, the twitter messages from members of the republican party, from kevin mccarthy, the House Minority Leader on down, despoiling what happened by their utter its beneath contempt what theyre doing. This is not the america that we ouGht To be. This is the america thats been created through polarization over the past 10, 15, 20odd years. But it is truly, deeply upsetting that we cant stand together in a moment of true crisis, true sadness. Weve lost 13 members of the United States marine corps, perhaps more will die because several others were wounded and lie in hospitals today. The families of the bereaved deserve a country that is together on this, behind them and behind the effort that only has four more days to go. The numbers that you just cited are miraculous, over 100,000 people have been evacuated from afghanistan in two weeks time. That is an extraordinary effort. And the idea that its reduced to contemptible political acts, i dont know you just shrug your shoulders and wonder, whats in store for us. Members of the republican Party Fund Raiseing off this yesterday. 13 american Service Members killed hit this button to donate to me. Reverend al well be watching tomorrows march for Voting Rights and sundays 10th anniversary of Politics Nation. We wont miss it. Great to see you, congratulations again. Thank you. Still ahead, Evacuation Flights out of kabul resumed overnight just hours after two Suicide Bombers targeted thousands of people trying to Get Out of the country. Nbcs chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel joins us live with the latest. Morning joe is coming right back as those Evacuation Flights continue out of kabul as we speak. Limu Emu Doug oh are you using liberty Mutuals Coverage Customizer tool . Sorry . Well, since you asked. It finds discounts and policy recommendations, so you only pay for what you need. 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Mr. President , there had not been a u. S. Service member killed in combat in afghanistan since february of 2020. You said a debt line. You pulled troops out. You sent troops back in, now 12 marines are dead. You said the buck stops with you. Do you bear any responsibility for the way that things have unfolded in the last two weeks . I bear responsibility for fundamentally all thats happened of late. But heres the deal, you know i am wishing one day say these things, you know as well as i do that the former president made a deal with the taliban, that he could get all american forces out of average by may 1. In return, the commitment was made, that was a year before. In return he was given a commitment that the taliban would continue to attack others but would not attack any american forces. Do you remember that . Im being serious. Now, im asking you a question, because no, no, no, wait a minute, im asking you a question, is that accurate, to the best of your knowledge . , to the best of your knowledge. I think they have an issue that people are likely to get hurt, some as weve seen have gotten killed and that it is messy. The reason why whether my fans will acknowledge it, who have reported it, the reason why there were no attacks from the date until i came into office was because the commitment was made by President Trump. I will be out by may 1st. In the meantime, you agree not to attack any americans. That was the deal. Thats why no american was attacked. President bidens exchange with White House correspondent at Yesterdays News Conference at the White House. The president , of course, is correct, President Trump struck a deal in late february of 20s 20 with the taliban saying he believed there were shared interests, common interests that the taliban also wanted to see an end to the violence. We will play much more what the president had to say in response to the deadly terrorist attacks at The Gates at the airport in kabul. The latest from the pentagon when Morning Joe comes right back. The pentonag when Morning Joe comes right back ing new routes to reach your customers, and new ways for them to reach you. Is what business is all about. Its what the United States postal service has always been about. So as your business changes, were changing with it. With ecommerce that runs at the speed of now. Next Day And Twoday shipping nationwide. Same Day Shipping across town. Returns right from the doorstep, and deliveries seven days a week. Its a whole new world out there. Lets not keep it waiting. Welcome to allstate. Here, if you already pay for Car Insurance, you can take your home along for the ride. Allstate. Better protection costs a whole lot less. Costs a whole lot less. I had the nightmare again maxine. The world was out of wonka bars. Relax. 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The lives we lost there are leaves given in the service of liberty, the service of security, the service of others. In the service of america look their fellow brothers and sisters in arms who died defending our vision and our values in the war against terrorism, of the fallen this day, theyre a part of a great noble company of american heroes. To those that carried out this attack as well as anyone and wishes america harm, know this, we will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay. I will defend our interests and our people with every measure at my command. President Biden Vowing the United States will retaliate against the terrorists responsible for Yesterdays Attacks in afghanistan, which was the deadliest day in more than a decade, good morning, im willie geist, it is august 27th. 13 u. S. Service members and according to Associated Press at least 90 afghans are dead in kabul. More than 140 people were wounded including 18 u. S. Service members. Gunmen and two Suicide Bombers targeted the thousands of people waiting near hamid karzai international Airport Yesterday who were hoping to Escape Afghanistan and the talibans rule. The first blast ga came outside the airports gates and was found at another explosion at a hotel where would be evacuees were waiting. Gunmen opened fewer on those gathered near the airport. Isisk, the Afghanistan Affiliate claimed responsibility for the plasts. Earlier in the day, the u. S. Embassy warned americans to stay away from the airport citing a potential attack. As we showed you, President Biden spoke at the white House Yesterday where he condemned the attacks and vowed to make the terrorists pay. Nbc News Chief white House Correspondent Peter alexander has more. Reporter days before president Bidens Deadline to end americas longest war, the commanderinchief addressing what is one of the deadliest days for u. S. Troops in the entire 20year conflict. These american Service Members who gave their lives, its an overused word. Its totally appropriate, but were heroes. Heroes who had been engaged in the dangerous selfless mission to save the lives of other. Reporter the president blaming the carnage on the terror Group Isisk he has been warning about foreign days. We have been made aware, our Intelligence Community that the isisk the Arch Enemy of taliban has been planning a complex set of attacks on the United States and others. Reporter he is saying he will stay to the August 31st deadline to get the people out. We will not stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation. Reporter its a nightmare. They have faced criticism. There are bipartisan demand for change, including the reliance on the taliban for security at the airport. Top senate democrat Bob Menendez saying we Cant Trust the taliban for american security. Were they pretending like this could be a success . But thats impossible at this point. Reporter the president making this vow. To those that carried out this attack, as well as anyone wishing america harm, know this, we will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay. Peter alexander reporting there. You heard the president saying the Evacuation Mission will continue despite Yesterdays Attack, this morning, it does continue. The State Department says at least 500 americans were airlifted out of the Country Yesterday and 1,000. Remavenlt since the taliban Entered Kabul, officials say more than 500 americans and roughly 100,000 people have been evacuated in total. Of the u. S. Citizens still there, the State Department says it has been in contact with most if not all of them. Politico also reporting u. S. Officials gave the taliban a list of american and afghan names to evacuate in hopes of expediting The Process. This has prompted outrage with one telling politico, quote, they just put all those afghans on a kill list. Lets bring in our reporters, Nbc Correspondent Josh Letterman, Nbc Correspondent covering national security and the military courtney Ku Bee and the destination for all Evacuation Flights. Courtney, i want to begin with you and setcom general Mackenzie Warning Attack also still could come. Listen. Right now our focus really, we have other extremely active threat streams against the air field. We want to make sure we take the steps to protect ourselves there. We believe it is the desire to continue those attacks. We expect those atax to continue. We are doing everything we can to prepare for those attacks. How has the american posture changed around the airport the you have 13 u. S. Service members killed yesterday, 18 injuredp were hearing more attacks could be imminent. What does it look like at the airport now . So overall the posture has not really changeded that much. There is still about 5400 5500 u. S. Troops that are there securing the airport. And they are continuing to screen civilians as they come into the airport. Thats what happened here, willie, is there was a group of primarily marines. They were at the aAbby Gate, where third country nationals, the british, have been coming through that gate over the last ten days or so the marines were there screening individuals as they were coming through when someone exploded some sort of an explosive device. The assumption it may have been a Suicide Vest and a Gun Battle ensued. They are conducting searches. There are still Evacuation Flights coming and going. Thats one of the things that general mackenzie, he played sound, despite this horrible attack and very deadly attack, despite that, the Evacuation Mission continues. There is something else, you played a little of the sound from President Biden vowing to retaliate here. Thats something that i have been talking to Defense Officials of course ever since this happened. One of the big questions immediately after an attack like this is, was the u. S. Going to respond . I think that our viewers may be surprised to find out that ever since the u. S. Military began the withdraw, which really began in april or may of this year, with the military withdraw comes a withdraw of a lot of intelligence assets. So the u. S. Military has much less of a clear picture of where some of these fighters, potential isis fighters may be. And the ability to strike back at them is cloudier now than it was six months or a year ago. It will only get cloudier and cloudier as the u. S. Presence there is completely gone. The u. S. Still maintains some overhead drones, intelligence assets that are there. Since this Evacuation Mission began on august 14th, most of those efforts are fixed on kabul and particularly on the airport. Because the biggest concern is making sure the american military and civilians are headed, that that is the area thats security. So it doesnt mean they have the capacity to carry out a strike. The question is, will they have the intelligence to actually go after some of the people who may have carried out this Attack Yesterday . So, courtney from the pentagons perspective, what does all this mean for the August 31st deadline, which is now only four days away . On The One hand, many who say, yes, we do have to Get Out on the 31st say this shexactly why, because of this imminent threat of Terrorist Groups. On the other hand, others say, well, we have to stay long enough to get every american and our afghan war partners out of there. What is the pentagons thinking right now on the deadline . So they are still boasting ahead for a complete withdrawal by August 31st, willie. There has not been any change to the time line at this point. I was struck yesterday by what we kept hearing out of official itself, primarily at the White House but the pentagon as well, how halfthe August 31st deadline, that they would continue to get more people out that wanted to Get Out, particularly americans out. I would be interested to know how thats going to happen. I can only imagine they are working on diplomatic means. They have been working through the qatarries. They have a strong presence on the ground there in kabul. They have been helping in some diplomatic cases here. I imagine they will have some sort of a Role Herele according to all science and people i speak with, they are still working towards that August 31st deadline this attack has not made any impact on that you have to look at the military situation that they are faced with right now. So Kabul Airport is surrounded by the city. Its surrounded by a lot of civilians. Its surrounded by thousands of taliban fighters. Most of the fighters are the most, strongest, most capable. Theyre almost elite like special elite force, in the tal badge. That was a strategic decision, it seems, to put them there. They wanted to make sure they had their best people who would listen to the taliban leadership about what they would be doing to maintain the perimeter around the airport. The 5400 or so u. S. Troops there at that airport are completely surrounded. Theyre almost in a fishbowl. There is mountains surrounding them. The taliban have rocketpropelled grenade, ways of shooting down helicopters and other aircraft. They are a strong enough fire power. If the u. S. Decides to stay past August 31st against any sort of agreement they have with the taliban right now, it would be, the u. S. Would have to flow in more forces and it would potentially be a very ugly fight and i think thats one thing that Military Planners are looking at right now, is the reality of just how potentially bloody and how difficult a battle that would be if they decided to stay against any deadline with the taliban. Courtney, thank you so much. Matt bradley, lets go to you in germany, the Evacuation Flights continue to land. The president vowed they would continue. Incredible work by the United States Military as it mourns 13 of its own, 18 more wounded. What are you seeing on your side of things . What does this mean with the evacuation now just four days left . Reporter you know, willie, its a good question, i dont think it means anything. I think it means the whole thing has to go just as fast. It adds to the imperative. What weve seen all night here. I have spoken with people, they have been hearing planes landing, coming and going here at ramstein, you can see behind my, its one of the largest bases in the world. Its an unusual site. You cant see it, i can. Civilian acre, dell that united, Atlas Air Landing here mixed among the c7s, c130 aircraft. Theyre a part of this enormous operation. Another thing you can see is a huge Tent City that houses as many as 17,000 afghan evacway wees. Evacuees. They all pitched in to bring together this huge Evacuation Effort. And this base has been at capacity. I was told yesterday by the man that runs it, brigadier olsen, the number tripled or quadrupled in just the last week or two. Now as of yesterday, theyre at capacity. They really cant take any more. There is just about 17,000 people who are living at this base. Now theyve tried to ramp up The Processing here. Theyve tried to increase the speed at which theyre going here. They are going to have to try to route planes to italy and europe. Lets talk about isisk. The group that claimed the two bombings yesterday. Have you done a lot of work covering isis over the years. What is isisk . I think its new to most people. Who are they . And what are their objectives . Lot. The k. Comes from khorason, a province, rugged remote province. They have been active actually in the east of afghanistan. Thats where most of the Fear Fighting was. The taliban are enemies of isisk. Theyve had a lot of fights since isisk showed itself in 2015. That was a little after we saw isis sprouting up in Iraq And Syria. You remember that conflict. They used to have in Iraq And Syria a caliphate about the size of britain at its height. It has since been beaten back, thanks to mostly kurdish arab fighters. Now we see isis once again in afghanistan. It was only a little ago, the taliban said they, too, have extinguished isis. Isisk in afghanistan is more austere in terms of the taliban outlook. They are more conservative, more violent. Whether they came from other Tam Ban fighters, its pretty clear they have a lot of people in common. Its seems its a lot of disgruntled isis fighters. Because the taliban wasnt extreme enough for some reason. Theyve decided they are looking at more of a global oublg. The Talibans View is more rooted in afghanistan, itself. They want to create, govern afghanistan. Whereas isis has a more global perspective. You saw affiliates throughout the Middle East and now in afghanistan. Isisk, it sounds like they will continue fighting. This the a small target. They are supposed to have 3,000 fighters. They will be beaten back by the taliban, themselves. Thanks so much, matt. We appreciate it. Lets go to the White House now. Josh letterman, obviously, the Nightmare Scenario for the country. The Nightmare Scenario lose 13 Service Members, 18 injured, scores of afghans, many more injured as well. The president , though, holding fast to his decision to pull out of the kentucky senior there any white House Point of view . Reporter none whatsoever. Officials say what took Place Yesterday while devastating and deadly for american troops serving there, only resolidified the president s belief we have the Get Out of yoochg, we have afghanistan. We veto et now. According to his aids, no matter how long we stayed in afghanistan, we were going to ends one this mech of extremist groups, with an afghan military clearly not able to stand up and defend against taliban insurgents. Even now the taliban in control of Kabul And Afghanistan. Unable to prevent extremist attacks from Rival Groups like the khorason group. Jen psaki said this was maybe the worst day of President Bidens young presidency so far. Certainly, that has been the move at the White House in light of these americans who have died and true Chaoss Thigh Sfrugle to figure out what if continuing threat for potential additional attacks while trying to to everything else on bidens again da, including a meeting with an israeli leader. It was scrapped and moved to today. We will see that after the president starts his day at about 8 30. According to officials we are speaking to, get every americans still in the country out by that August 31st deadline. That is really the goal here. The afghan allies. That is all important. Really in these few hours we have left on the ground in kabul, theyre trying to get these americans out. According to State Department, there is about A Thousand americans theyre in touch with that are still in afghanistan. Although the State Department says since information is hard to get up to the minute data on, its possible they may have gotten out of the country in a sign of the true desperation on the ground there in kabul, willie, the State Department also says in the last 24, they heard from another 500 people in afghanistan who say theyre americans and want to get,000 they believe many if fought most of those are american citizens. Theyre afghans destined to Get Out. Thinking of the deadline, saying we will continue to extract after the deadline. Josh, thanks so much. Coming up,ed mueller james stavridis says it could go sideways. The supreme allied commander with joins us next. Biden and democrats in congress have a plan to Lower Costs for americas working families. Lower costs of healthcare premiums and the price of Prescription Drugs. Pay less for electric bills by moving to clean energy. And do it all by making the ultrawealthy pay their fair share of taxes. Itd be a win for the everyday american family. Right when they could really use one. Congress, lets get this done. Its moving day. And while her friends are doing the heavy lifting, jess is busy moving her Xfinity Internet and tv services. It only takes about a minute. Wait, a minute . But what have you been doing for the last two hours . Delegating . Oh, good one. Move your xfinity services without breaking a sweat. Xfinity makes moving easy. Go online to transfer your services in about a minute. Get started today. Joining us now nato allied commander retired four Star Admiral james stavridis. Also with us a former aide to the george w. Bush State House Alice Jordan And Msnbc contributor Mike Barnicle. Good morning to you all. Two days ago you and joe were talking about the fear of exactly the kind of attack we saw against american troops yesterday. Heres a part of your conversation with joe. I certainly want to get every last american out of there, but it seems to pe if we stayed past The End of the month, we would just be inviting an attack by isis, inviting an attack by lets say an even more radical element of the taliban. This is the sort of thing i would not want our troops sitting there indefinitely in this sort of situation. I am very worried we are one c17 crash, one big bomb, one firefight at the kia corral of this turning the sideways. Bottom line, lets get this thing done, lets Get Out of here. If we still have people on the ground, we ouGht To try to extend that deadline. I think its like covid diminishing returns kicking in here. Lets get what we can. That was on bones morning. Admiral, how did it happen . How concerned are you about Today And Tomorrow . And attacks we have been told from sent com that could be imminent. As i talked about, willie, its kind of the big three, one of which occurred, a big bomb and potentially you have to reserve the thought of a truck bomb, which is what, of course, struck the Marines In Beirut in 1993 killing 300 of them. Second is a c17 going down. There is no ill Tell Or Indication that the isisk have such weapons. You just never know. Those borders are porous. There are other groups around the world that would love to see that happen. Boy, is that a dark thought and then a firefight breaking out if the isisk try a main move. All of those remain just Nightmare Scenarios. Lets start by just saying there are 13 Families Today who are having the worst day of their life, american families. We ouGht To remember them. Lets think about what comes next. Assuming we can get through what weve just talked about and Get Out of here, i think the president is absolutely riGht To say, we will fought forgive. We will not forget. Hes kind of echoing the Borger Family from the renaissance there. Lets also remember another famous saying from that era, which is revenge is a dish best eaten cold. What i mean by that is, lets stay focused on this mission, get as many people out and mechanisms after we depart, continuing through diplomatic means, clandestine means, underground railroad. Then lets finds isisk and they are probably in Bora Bora and sooner or later they can find bin ladin at the bottom of the ocean. Coming up, the u. S. Capitol Police Officer responsible for shooting and killing a woman while defending the House Chamber january 6. What he is saying now about that day and the after math. Plus, Richard Engle joins us from the pleeft with the deadly attacks that killed 13 u. S. Service moebs. Morning show is coming right back. Sand Dollars P er month. Prescription drugs do not work if you cannot afford them. Aarp is fighting for americans like larry, and we wont stop. 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It is an impossible task we have given them to literally sift through a sea of humanity thousands the of afghans too pluck out our families, their husbands, wives, their little girls and boys and put tear kids in the back, hold their hands and literally pull them to freedom. So i expected to see a gate with marines on one side and afghans on the other. But thats not the way this can work. Because we waited so long to start this evacuation, we have to go out in the crowd. So these marines were out there feet from their moulton speaking powerfully in our last injured in Yesterdays Attack. Sources in the afghan Health Ministry tell Nbc News at least 113 people were killed, 180 were injured. Thats in addition to the 13 u. S. Service members killed and the 18 jumped. Richard engel was on the ground in kabul a few days ago. He joins us from dohar, qatar. Richard, you were at that very gate. Have you done a on the of reporting in and around the airport. Did you Sense Sense the phenixs that led to the Moment Yesterday . I didnt sense the tensions that led up to the attack, itself. There was an alitter, there was a potential for some sort of Isis Attack on the airport. It have been very tense for a long time. The reason the talibanaggressivs just described, pushing people back. Firing in the air was because they were is large. Think of it as a military base, not just an airport. There are three key gates, afghans have been screaming, pushing to that gate. Some with paperwork, who see the planes coming if, taking off. Its like a magnet, a lure. Theyve go to them to think they request Get Out of the country. Among these crowds of people who have paperwork around others dont came this Suicide Bomber as he was getting a patdown detonated his device and killed those marines and so many afghans around him. It seems this was a dual attack. Near gate, there is another building, we talk about it. Its a hotel, not exactly a home. More of almost a little military compound that is often used by contractors, called the baron hotel. That was also attacked unsuccessfully. The british are there. So this seems like it was a dual attack with at least two bombers and other militants firing into the area. One attacking the americans, the other british force,. Isis claimed the responsibility. Its clear why, isis is trying to latch onto the talibans victory, steal the talibans victory. If you imagine almost like a boxing match, they did 20 rounds with the u. S. Now its facing The End. They want the United States to leave venlg isis, their fighters have broken out of prince trying at the very last minute to give it a Sucker Punch to claim it was they, not the taliban, who pushed the United States out of the area. They pushed back their security perimeter. That all means, thats good news if you are in the u. S. And are you on that base it is a little more safe. It also means its that much more complicated for afghans two are in kaunl trying to get to the base. At this statement unless are you on a bus and you have special coordination, are you arranging it with an embassy and the taliban, your window to get back on the base has probably will be closed. You have been covering this war for the better part of two decades. We see the desperation on the faces of so many afghan people trying as you say to get into the airport. To get on to one of those planes. If they dont, what does wednesday look like . What does September 1st look like in afghanistan . Well, the taliban are trying to daum people down. They have gone on a media offensive, doing press conferences. The taliban never used to give press conferences, their spokesmen were in hiding. The taliban didnt do these kind of things. We got a written statement from a moala brother. They want an understanding and reach out and build afghanistan better. They are using similar mantra, build back better. Thats what they want to do. Thats what theyre saying. But a lot of after gangs dont trust them. They dont take them at their words. They saw what they did in power 20 years ago. They are trying to escape the country. The taliban are making assurance, they want this Air Panic to dissipate. They think at this time will once americans leave. At The End. Taliban leaders have made assurances to me and others, they want civilian airport opened. They want them to get passports. If they want to leave, they can go. They will not be checking people at the airport and stopping people gestapo style as they leave the airport. Do you believe any of that . Youve seen it with your own eyes . Reporter i believe it they are going to try this for a little while. I think we really need to wait and see what kabul looks like in a week or two. I think we need to see what Kabul And Afghanistan look like in december, january, february, once theyve settled in, once theyve faced some charges see how they react to those challenges, in this interim when theyre trying to maintain calm, stop the exodus of people. They want to round up isis. I think they will continue this tone. They are being advised by governments, like qatar, hey, you got to engage with the world. Times have changed over 20 years. I think they will stay at that for some months. Lets see if they have changed. Its historic. Its a beginning. There is a new start postthe american presence. Around a lot of questions of what that post in afghanistan will be. But are they changed . I taungd to the spokesman. He doesnt believe osama Bin Laden carried out the 9 11 attacks him they still say that every right has to confirm with sharia law. They are not being extremely clear how long the limits of Shariah Law extends. I think the proof will be evident in the next several mondays. They are showing their brutality. Hitched, thank you, as always. Joinings now two other reporters, longtime foreign journalist charlie senate. In the after math of the September 11th attacks anded a jingt senior fellow, gail see Mack Le mans and a breeze winning columnist, Eugene Robinson writes about latest attack. Charlie, let me start with you, as someone was there literally at the beginning, some 20 years ago, now seeing The End of the war on tuesday, what are your thoughts in the attacks and now we can report well over 100,000 outside the airport. Good morning, i would say like everyone, i think i wake up thinking about these 20 years of war with a heavy heart. My head goes out to the families, fallen families as well. This is a really extraordinary end to a long war, our longest war in our history. I just was there at The End of zwrul. My last Reporting Trip covered it all the way through. I think about first casualty. I was there in november of 2009, Mike Spann was the first casualty. When i think of that falaise, the first casualty of the war is truth. I think the truth has been a casualty of this war i think we have to reflect on how we got to this terrible day. And the idea that we have not actually had the truth. We havent been told the truthp we as Journalists Mate be good as well. He is one of those journalist, that has worked at this so hard. He put himself at risk. But journalism is not as strong as it used to be. I think we have to think about that in what kind of Failure And Inability to hold Power Accountable has no deal with it. The ground truth project. Thats kind of our mission. Thats why i was there on the last noted trip. Let me ask you about dohar. He has been in afghanistan the last few days about the taliban and this strange bed fellow. Congressman bolton referred to me upsetting scenes the witnesses are standing by because theyre security partners for five my skepticism. But is there any chance the taliban is different, that they mean a word they say . Or are they getting through and resouth to who they are and have always been. There is enormous concern by the afghan people. Imagine a woman spending her entire Career And Figure it out. However, i think we have a moment where we can see what is about to come. Were about to see several clashes. The first is the clash between isis and the tal basketball. Isis and the taliban are not offerings or friendly. There is trash talking going on, online, according to those that monitor such things. Thats why the islamic state would like to do anything by rest. When they are in the form of governments, it keeps and meets some of the rate. Twothirds of afghanistan is under 25. That means they do not have any memory of differenting under the taliban. They are deeply connected. You have a young early, more moment, more Education Populationing that has poured into cities. Now it will be living under a government that is really never known goemping the city it has no able to. But it is said it is going to try. The one thing that is absolutely critical is that the u. N. Establishes a humanitarian corridor and Get Out. There are many people with paper who can Get Out. If the united nations is serious, it should absolutely say, listen, you want to be in the international community. You want that u. N. Seat in new york . That was the first thing they wanted. Give us freedom of ability and help us evacuate safely. Thousands were at the airport being to rest, if there is a moment they have not governed and they have faced world bank, imf and id all freezing their assets. If they want that money, they have to be credible partners that allows mobility. Vote Moulton Zrien distributeing not describing the situation. He said calling a buddy identifying where the family was outside the gate and his buddy literally pulling them physically over the wall to freedom. Yeah, willie, i mean the ultimate casualties of war are truth as Charlie Sen Itch pointed out, also the victims of war, the people trying to leave the country they were borne into, gene, a couple of days ago, i was talking to a very significant figure in american politics. He is intimately familiar with the history of afghanistan and our role in afghanistan. He said something that really struck me. This was prior to the Catastrophe Yesterday at the gate that killed 13 marines. He said it was always going to end this way. Do you believe that . Yeah, i do. Fundamentally, i do. I mean, what happened yesterday was a tragedy, mike. But its a tragedy thats been 20 years in the writing. I dont believe there is anyway to lose a war to withdraw from a war on foreign soil other than in a tragic way. So who knew it would be a bomb at the Abbey Gate . Who knew it would happen exactly the way it happened. But this whole several weeks since the afghan government began collapsing and we began withdrawing is tragic. And i think that was inevitable. I think the lesson we dont learn, we never seem to learn as the United States is a bit of humility. A bit of perspective, a little humility about our effort to shape events for others halfway around the world . What happens now. Willie was asking all the questions. What is afghanistan gentleman to be going to be now for those young, educated, urban afghans who really werent around the last time they were charged . What is this going to be like in. The answer is its real le up to the Tom Taliban and afghan people. They are going to work it out in some way. But, yes, i do believe, mike, that this was never going to end in are a way other than messy, tragic, stunningly sad. That thats the way they sent them in. Charlie, you were on the ground during week, of course, through the month of july. We are talking today about the casualties of war open the same ground that you memged in a long piece you wrote about your latest and last visit to afghanistan that you newsed oknow. Apt a small group of girls, do you know what has happened to them . Where are they . What their status is right now. Its an interesting school. Peter Goodrip September 11, 2001, got on a flight out of logan to california. It was united airlines fliGht That crashed into the south tower. His family, mother, school teacher, Father And Lawyer wanted to honor him. They built a Girls School thats amazing. I had a great on or to get to know the school and principal. She and her family, husband and five children are out of the country in germany. They just landed yesterday. We worked hard with the Goodrich Family and many others. As part of what has been described at every turn about the harrowing journey to get people out, we had a couple people we succeeded getting out, we had some we encouraged to pull back, that felt too dangerous and threats were mounting. Theres the family. An extraordinary educator, someone that believed in the idea Girls Education would transform afghanistan. When i saw her recently, she was filled with Confidence And Courage and the idea that theyre going to stay with it. Now when i got to her on the phone, having fractured conversations with her every step of the way, the school was attacked, surrounded by the taliban, she was fleeing for her life under taliban threat. Really extraordinary harrowing journey out. Were thankful to all involved, but particularly the Goodrich Family for making sure she got out. The question is what happens to all of the girls, what happens to the other teacher. Thats the hard part, thats the hard question. Good to hear the success stories. As you say, so many are waiting for that outcome. Well be talking more in coming days. Thank you all. Finally, this morning, for the first time we are hearing from the capitol Police Officer that shot and killed a woman defending the capitol January 6th in an exclusive interview with nbc nightly News Anchor lester holt, the man breaks his silence, reveals his identity, and shares what happened that day. Your name has been battered about on the internet, youve never been officially publicly identified. Do you want to tell us who you are . My name is Michael Byrd, i am a lieutenant for the United States capitol police. For months he lived in hiding he says over this moment. His decision to use deadly force against a rioter as she climbed through a barricaded door that leads to the House Chamber. In the months since, he has been the target of threats. Can you give us the nature of some of the threats . Talked about killing me, cutting off my head, very vicious and cruel things. Racist things . There were some racist attacks as well, thats all disheartening because i know i was doing my job. Given the nature of the threats you describe, do you have any concern about showing your face and identifying yourself in. Of course i do. That is a vital point and its something that is frightening. I believe i showed the utmost courage January 6th and it is time to do that now. Responsible that day for securing the House Chambers, Byrd Couldnt see what americans were witnessing but could hear it and pleas from other officers. Were you afraid that day . Very afraid. What are you hearing on the radio . Hearing about breaches of different barricaded areas, officers being overrun, officers being down. Did you ever hear a Call Or Report of shots fired during any of this . As a matter of fact i did. There were reports of shots fired through the house main door onto the floor of the chamber. Later, those reports would prove to be false. This video captured byrd instructing members of congress to don gas masks. Tear gas on the rotunda. There are masks under your seats. He says officers barricaded the door, what he considered the last line of defense. I think yelling and screaming as loud as i was, please stop, get back, stop. We had weapons drawn. Byrd, only his Hand And Gun visible targeted a figure trying to climb through a window. He fired a single fatal shot hitting ashli babbitt. She was 35 years old, an air force veteran, trump supporter, qanon follower. We see your arm out there for considerable amount of time. Were you wavering . I was taking a tactical stance. You are hoping your commands will be complied with and unfortunately they were not. When you fired, where were you aiming . Youre tauGht To aim center mass. The subject was sideways and i could not see her full motion of her hands or anything. So i guess her movement, you know, caused the discharge to fall where it did. What did you think this individual was doing at that moment . She was posing a threat to the united States House of representatives. But an attorney for ashli Babbitts Family disputes that. He did not respond to our request for comment but in a previous statement said babbitt was not brandishing a weapon, not in close proximity to members of congress, was not imminent threat of death or serious injury to anyone. Her family points out she was not armed. Thats correct. The fact that you werent aware whether she was armed or not, did that alter the Decision Making . It did not. What should we make of the fact that there were other officers in other potentially lifethreatening situations who didnt use their Service Weapons that day . Im sure it was a terrifying situation. I can only control my reaction, my training, my level of expertise. That would be upon them to speak for themselves. Former President Trump talked about you and this incident, he says she was murdered. What does it feel like to hear that from a former president . Well, it is disheartening. If he was in the room or anywhere and i am responsible for him, i was prepared to do the same thing for him and his family. Would you have his Back Today if you were so assigned in. I sure would because its my job. As i said, your name has been on the internet for some time in an unofficial way, rumors, accusations, one of which that you had some sort of political motive, you were a political operative. I do my job for republican, for democrat, for white, for black, red, blue, green. Few years ago you were investigated for leaving your Service Weapon in a bathroom. Yes. And thats been brought up by those who were questioning your competency. Do you want to respond to that . Sure. It was a terrible mistake. I acknowledged it. I owned up to it. I accepted the responsibility. I was penalized for it. And i moved on. Multiple investigations have now upheld byrds actions on January 6th. Capitol police in their Press Release after exonerating you say your actions potentially saved members of staff from serious injury and possible death. What was it like to hear those words, to see those words . Those words meant a lot because thats exactly what i did on that day. That was my mission. That was what i prepared for and its rewarding and refreshing to hear that. Veteran capitol Police Officer, lieutenant Michael Byrd speaking exclusively with lester holt. That does it for us this morning. Thoughts headed into this weekend are with the families of all those killed outside the gate of the airport in kabul, particularly the 13 u. S. Service members. And were thinking about the 18 Service Members wounded in the terrorist attack. Chris jansing picks up coverage after a final quick break. Up co after a final quick break. Atd too exclusive. Because we only serve those who honorably served. All ranks, all branches, and their families. Are we still exclusive . Absolutely. And thats exactly why you should join. Hi there, i am Chris Jansing in for stephanie ruhle. It is friday, august 27th. We begin with more news from afghanistan. A lot of fast moving developments to tell you about this morning. Evacuation flights resuming with