The NPR Politics Podcast Tens of Thousands Evacuated—And Many Thousands More To Go
Aug 25, 2021
Greg Myre, NPR's national security correspondent, dives into the urgent challenges of the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan. He highlights the race against time to airlift Americans and Afghan allies before the approaching deadline. Myre discusses the complexities in identifying evacuees and the evolving criteria for who qualifies. He sheds light on the Taliban's attempts to project a new image amidst longstanding skepticism, while also addressing the impending humanitarian crisis and the political pressures surrounding the situation.
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Evacuation Challenges
- The U.S. aims to evacuate all Americans and Afghan allies by August 31st.
- The exact number of Americans in Afghanistan is unknown due to a lack of mandatory registration.
Helicopter Rescues
- About 4,400 Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan as of August 25th.
- The military has used helicopters for extractions, highlighting the lengths taken.
Who Remains?
- Thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghans may still need evacuation.
- The criteria for evacuation has expanded beyond SIV holders to include at-risk individuals.