U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Defends The Administration's Afghan Policy

.@SecBlinken says U.S. contact with Taliban has been “very important to making sure that we can actually advance our own interests in getting people out safely and effectively as possible”: “They are in control of Kabul. That is the reality.” pic.twitter.com/Via2dhdbIu

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 22, 2021

NEW: @SecBlinken says U.S. has evacuated 8,000 people from Afghanistan in the past 24 hours alone, adding that Biden administration officials are in “direct contact” with American citizens and Afghan allies attempting to leave. pic.twitter.com/1qcQGNEDAz

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 22, 2021

 

CBS News: Blinken says U.S. will "do whatever it takes" to evacuate Americans from Kabul 

Washington — Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged Sunday that the U.S. will do "whatever it takes" to get all Americans who want to leave Afghanistan out of Kabul as the administration works to contain the fallout from the Taliban's takeover of the country. 

In an interview with "Face the Nation," Blinken said the Biden administration has found the "safest and most effective way" to get U.S. citizens to the main airport in Kabul for their evacuation out of Afghanistan is by making direct contact with them and guiding them on the best way to the airport and what to do when they arrive. 

The "president, secretary of defense have been clear that we will do whatever it takes to get Americans home and out of harm's way," he said on "Face the Nation."  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Blinken defends handling of program to help Afghans who helped US -- CNN 

Update #2: Blinken on Taliban's role in evacuations: 'They are in control of Kabul. That is the reality' -- The Hill  

Update #3: Chris Wallace presses Blinken on apparent contradictory remarks from Biden (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: The terror has threat just exploded. This is not going to be the case in the future .... Terror threat in Afghanistan has diminished since 2001, Blinken says (Politico).