Force here in washington overseen by Deputy Secretary. And they built a list of americans, possibly seeking to leave afghanistan then worked to contact every single one of them repeatedly. Making 50,000 calls sending 33,000 E Mails since august 1a. They solved problem after problem to keep the mission moving forward. They did this because for thousands in the State Department and usaid employees who served in afghanistan over the past 30 years this Evacuation Operation was very personal. Many Work Hand in hand for years with afghan partners with that many who became a trusted friends. We also lost cherished members of ourforeign we also lost cherished members of our foreign Service Community of ourforeign Service Community in afghanistan, we will neverforget them. Community in afghanistan, we will never forget them. Helping americans, ourforeign partners americans, our foreign partners who americans, ourforeign partners who have been by our side for 20 years and afghans at risk at this
Afghanistan. As the Pentagon Chief and other top leaders head to Capitol Hill to brief House Members. Good morning. Im Garrett Haake in for hallie jackson. Lots to get to this hour. We start with courtney kube, Kelly Odonnell and john hudson, national Security Reporter for the washington post. Courtney, walk us through what were hearing from your sources about that decision expected from the President Today and why he has to make it now with the deadline not actually until next week . Remember, even if the deadline is August 31st, its still going to take several days, somewhere potentially in three to four days to get the nearly 6,000 u. S. Troops out Of Kabul international airport. And then theres also the equipment thats there. The u. S. Has artillery, mraps, aircraft, helicopters. If they were to get all those people and Equipment Out it will take several days. You have to back time from the deadline of August 31st until, you know, three or four days back. That puts you at The End o
In afghanistan to try to evacuate the u. S. Embassy In Kabul. Some 3,000 American Forces arriving by tomorrow. Their mission, to help american civilians and u. S. Allies get to the Kabul Airport to be Air Lifted out of the country. The military says this is a temporary mission. The speed with which the taliban is taking control appears to have caught the u. S. By surprise. The deteriorating conditions are a factor, a big factor, in why the president has approved this mission. Clearly, from their actions, it appears as if they are trying to get kabul isolated. The taliban has quickly retaken control of nearly every major city, and have just taken control of a province, just miles from kabul, with the capital now in its sights, nearly 20 years after u. S. Forces invaded and just a short time ago afghan president gani addressing the nation for the first time in days. He did not resign as many expect he do, as the taliban demanded he do so as well. Instead saying his focus is working to st
and going for a dip why do so many people like to get wet on new year s day? south africa has said goodbye to archbishop desmond tutu with a state funeral at his former cathedral in cape town. he was famous for his modesty, and archbishop tutu gave instructions for a no frills ceremony, with a simple wooden coffin. in his eulogy, president cyril ramaphosa called him the hero of the apartheid struggle, and a crusader for freedom, forjustice, for equality, and for peace . the bbc s nomsa maseko was there. family, friends, and politicians bidding farewell to a man who became one of the most important voices of the 20th century. this was a final send off for archbishop desmond tutu, following a week of events to honour him. speakers shared memories of the anglican priest who did all he could to expose and to heal the wounds of south africa s brutal past. many of the messages we received have said, thank you for sharing him with the world. well, it actually is a two way stree
hello, and welcome to bbc news. we begin with breaking news. the south korean military says it has carried out a search operation after a south korean man crossed the border into north korea. the circumstances of the apparent defection are unclear, but a military source said the unnamed man crossed from the demilitarised zone into the north on saturday evening. the office of south korea s joint chiefs of staff said it could not confirm whether the person was still alive. it said it had used a military hotline to notify the north koreans of the incident, and to ask that the man be protected. south africa has said goodbye to archbishop desmond tutu with a state funeral at his former cathedral in cape town. he was famous for his modesty, and archbishop tutu gave instructions for a no frills ceremony, with a simple wooden coffin. the bbc s nomsa maseko was there. family, friends, and politicians bidding farewell to a man who became one of the most important voices of the 20th cen