The Great Afghanistan Rescue: A Nation's Effort To Bring Home Its Own

The number of Americans rescued from Afghanistan has been difficult to confirm, with U.S. officials reluctant to provide estimates. However, it is believed that several thousand Americans have been evacuated. According to a statement by President Biden on August 31, 2021, 98% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to, with approximately 100 to 200 Americans remaining in the country. The evacuation efforts involved the U.S. military, diplomats, and intelligence professionals, who faced significant challenges in completing the mission.

The US evacuated 120,000 people from Afghanistan, including 5,500 Americans

The US has successfully evacuated 120,000 people from Afghanistan, including 5,500 Americans. This was one of the biggest airlifts in history, with the number of evacuees more than doubling what most experts thought possible. The evacuation mission was carried out by the US military, diplomats, and intelligence professionals, who bravely risked their lives to get people out of the country.

The evacuation effort began on August 14, 2021, and ended on August 31, 2021, marking the end of the 20-year Western attempt to create a stable democracy in Afghanistan. During this time, there was a constant stream of evacuation updates from the Biden administration, including the number of military flights, types of aircraft, and the total number of people evacuated.

The evacuation of Americans was a particularly critical aspect of the operation. Initially, the Biden administration was reluctant to provide an estimate of how many Americans needed to be rescued, as the number was constantly changing. However, as the operation progressed, the administration provided more specific numbers. On August 25, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that 4,500 Americans had been evacuated in the past 10 days, and there were up to 1,500 Americans still seeking to leave.

The evacuation of Americans was not without its challenges. Some Americans were far beyond Kabul and did not have a safe or fast way to get to the airport. Additionally, Americans staying in Afghanistan often had family members who were not US citizens and faced difficulties in getting permission to leave. Despite these obstacles, the evacuation effort was a success, with 98% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave being able to do so.

The US evacuation efforts also extended beyond its citizens, with thousands of citizens from allied countries, locally employed staff of the US Embassy and their families, and Afghan translators and interpreters being evacuated as well. The US remains committed to evacuating any remaining Americans who want to leave and ensuring safe passage for anyone wishing to depart Afghanistan.

100-200 Americans remained in Afghanistan and wanted to leave

The Biden administration has stated that between 100 and 200 Americans who intended to leave Afghanistan were left behind after the final U.S. military withdrawal and evacuation efforts. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the number is likely closer to 100, and that the U.S. government is trying to determine the exact figure. These Americans are primarily dual citizens and longtime residents who initially decided to stay in the country due to family ties.

The Biden administration has faced criticism for failing to evacuate all Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan. However, the administration has emphasised the complexity of the evacuation efforts and the fact that Americans are not required to register with the local embassy or consulate when they arrive in a foreign country. Additionally, some Americans may have chosen not to register with the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan.

The White House has stated that 98% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to do so. President Joe Biden has affirmed the U.S. government's commitment to helping the remaining Americans who want to leave, stating that "there is no deadline" for their evacuation. Diplomatic efforts to ensure safe passage for Americans and others who want to leave Afghanistan are ongoing, led by Secretary Blinken.

The exact number of Americans left behind in Afghanistan is difficult to determine, as private citizens do not need to declare their travels to the country. Additionally, some Americans who initially decided to stay may later choose to evacuate. The Biden administration has helped approximately 234 Americans leave Afghanistan since the end of August, but the total number of Americans remaining in the country is unknown.

250 Americans were still seeking evacuation

The U.S. government has been evacuating its citizens from Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. The Biden administration has been criticized for its handling of the evacuation, with some arguing that it was poorly planned and executed.

On August 30, 2021, a day before the U.S. withdrawal deadline, a State Department official stated that there were "below 250" Americans still in Afghanistan who were seeking to be evacuated. This was a decrease from the previous week, when Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that there could be up to 1,500 Americans seeking evacuation.

The White House reported that since August 14, when the evacuation mission began, approximately 116,700 people had been evacuated from Afghanistan, including 5,500 U.S. citizens and their families. The U.S. government continued its efforts to evacuate citizens even after the August 31 deadline, with 479 Americans evacuated from Afghanistan by February 2022.

The Biden administration maintained that it was committed to evacuating all Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan and that there was no deadline for these efforts. They emphasized that the dynamic nature of the situation made it challenging to provide precise numbers of those evacuated and those still seeking evacuation.

In addition to evacuating U.S. citizens, the U.S. government also facilitated the evacuation of Afghan partners and allies who had worked with or supported U.S. efforts in the country. The State Department affirmed its commitment to evacuating "those who worked with us" and ensuring safe passage for any American citizen or Afghan partner who wished to leave Afghanistan.

The evacuation process was not without challenges and complexities. U.S. officials acknowledged the difficulty in determining the exact number of Americans in Afghanistan, as registration with the local embassy or consulate was not mandatory. Furthermore, the vetting process for Afghan citizens eligible for special visas was intricate, involving biometric and biographic background checks.

Private rescue missions, led by organizations like Task Force Argo, also played a significant role in evacuating Americans and Afghans from the country. These groups collaborated with the U.S. State Department and Defense Department, utilizing safe houses and digital communication networks to facilitate evacuations.

9,000 Americans were left in Afghanistan when the Taliban took over

The Biden administration's evacuation of Afghanistan has been described as "one of the biggest airlifts in history", with over 120,000 people evacuated to safety. However, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that as many as 9,000 Americans were left in Afghanistan during the evacuation. This is a significantly higher number than the 100 to 200 Americans that Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed wanted to leave.

The Biden administration stuck to the lower estimate, despite many outlets reporting evidence to the contrary. In his speech on ending the 20-year war in Afghanistan, President Biden stated that 90% of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan were able to. However, this figure was later corrected to 98%.

The discrepancy in numbers may be due to the fact that Americans in Afghanistan are not required to register with the local embassy or consulate, and thus, it is difficult to determine an exact figure. The State Department has had to rely on manifests and outreach to determine who needs help evacuating.

The evacuation of citizens, legal permanent residents, and eligible Afghans is now a diplomatic issue handled by the State Department. They are working with other countries to open up air and land routes for continued evacuations.

4,500 Americans were evacuated from Afghanistan in 10 days

The evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan was a highly complex operation, with the US government facing challenges in providing precise numbers of how many Americans were in the country and how many had been evacuated. On August 25, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that 4,500 Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan over the past 10 days. This figure represented the number of US citizens who had been evacuated since August 14, when the Taliban closed in on Kabul, marking the end of a 20-year Western attempt to create a stable democracy in Afghanistan.

The evacuation efforts were carried out by the US military, who faced significant security threats, including from ISIS-K terrorists, who were sworn enemies of the Taliban. The evacuation took place over a period of 17 days, during which American troops, diplomats, and intelligence professionals worked tirelessly to get American citizens out of the country. This involved identifying Americans who wanted to leave, contacting them, and guiding them to the airport. The operation was further complicated by large crowds seeking to leave the country and the dynamic security situation on the ground.

The evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan was part of a larger effort to evacuate at-risk individuals, including Afghans who had worked with the US and were eligible for special visas, as well as citizens of US allies and partners. The total number of people evacuated from Afghanistan during this period was approximately 116,700, including about 5,500 US citizens and their families. This figure included those evacuated by both the US government and private rescue missions carried out by veteran and volunteer groups.

The US government's handling of the evacuation and its decision to end the 20-year war in Afghanistan sparked criticism and concerns, particularly regarding the safety of Americans and vulnerable Afghans left in the country. Despite these concerns, the Biden administration maintained its commitment to evacuating Americans and vulnerable Afghans, stating that there was "no deadline" for those who still wanted to leave. The complex and dangerous nature of the evacuation operation highlighted the bravery and dedication of those involved in ensuring the safe evacuation of Americans and others from Afghanistan.

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