NBC News' Richard Engel reports from Kabul on the chaotic scenes from Hamid Karzai International Airport Monday as Afghans attempt to leave following the Taliban’s breach of the capital city.
"» Subscribe to MSNBC:
About: MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 95 million households worldwide, MSNBC offers a full schedule of live news coverage, political opinions and award-winning documentary programming — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Connect with MSNBC Online
Visit msnbc.com:
Subscribe to MSNBC Newsletter: MSNBC.com/NewslettersYouTube
Find MSNBC on Facebook:
Follow MSNBC on Twitter:
Follow MSNBC on Instagram:
Richard Engel: Scenes Of Chaos And Desperation At Kabul Airport
Dude, get out of there!
Just like the woman Clarissa on fox woman get out of there..they told her stand aside she is woman as she’s reporting
Fun fact: Trump lost the 2020 election.
Biden is much smarter than his supporters. You’ve got us there.
Fun fact: You’re an airhead
Joe is doing a great job 😂😂😂
Kurds?
Not ready after twenty years means not ready ever…
@Michel’le J that is it exactly , no excuse for them to have not been prepared after 20 years 🧐🤷♂️🤷
@Denise when did any Afghanis carry out terror attacks on the US? it was never about terrorism. it was about money
@Adam Wright Of course wars are all about gaining land, resources or protecting financial interests. I just find the whole thing sad. For some it is not about the money but just the “power”. Afghanistan’s population is only 0.5 % of the world’s population. Every man woman and child that wants to leave the country should be free to do so and every country should open their arms to as many as they can. That goes for people that are living in horrible conditions all over the world. We all need to stop and breathe and vote some grandmothers into office. Personally I don’t have to worry about money because I will be well off for the rest of my life….. if I die next week. hagd
@brooksstella in a way i wish you were right . But in a little over 6 months this man has the country to its knees.
@brooksstella I don’t know if you’ve ever been in the military but this operation was a disaster. With the military force we have we could dictate the timetable of the withdraw and the taliban would not have been able to interfere. The outcome of this operation was the worst case senerio. Just as bad if not worse than Vietnam. We just equipped a bunch of terrorists with a high tech army!
Americans can’t be more willing to die for their country than they are.
This is such a dumb take
@wily wascal peace shouldn’t be something that has to be asked for. but sadly it appears in some countries, something that has to be PAID for. after 20 years, did they expect America to pay forever? everyone craps on America for sticking it’s nose in where it doesn’t belong, then craps on them again when they pull out. there is no winning in this scenario. just get the translators out.
@rapunzel eh? ~ Agreed, with a couple of minor caveats. Try our best to get out anyone out that is in danger from the Taliban, which includes more than just translators. It was a no-win, Catch-22 situation, and tend to agree with Biden that pulling people out sooner would have only hastened and guaranteed a collapse. And, as Biden pointed out in his speech, many were unwilling to leave before the collapse.
It isn’t necessarily wrong to ask for or want peace, and part of the reason for the collapse is that many Afghanis were tired of the fighting. But the kind of peace they will get under the Taliban is unlikely to be very peaceful or remain peaceful, and was therefore an unreasonable expectation. In such a scenario, winning peace requires fighting.
Also, Afghani men are demonstrating themselves unwilling to protect their women or fundamental human rights for even themselves. While we should all deplore what is happening in Afghanistan, it seems to me that many of these otherwise well-meaning folks not just seeking political gain that are wanting to blame Biden do not wish to face the harsh realities of the limitations of U.S. power and foreign interventions under such circumstances. I think they seek comfort in deluding themselves, “Well, if only we had done this thing or that thing different,” ignoring that freedom, democracy, and human rights aren’t something another can serve up on a silver platter, but rather a desire and expectation of a nation’s citizenry and things for which they are willing to fight to gain and keep.
This is what you would be reading if the propaganda outlets actually told you the FACTS:
What’s unfolding in Afghanistan is tragic. Today, President Biden tried to defend his Afghanistan policy, but there is no way to defend this catastrophe. The more than $2 trillion spent; the 2,448 American lives lost; the 20,000+ American military wounded; and the promises made by both Democrat and Republican administrations that we would stay the course until they had freedom and democracy—all for nothing. The Taliban who took over the country are Islamic extremists who have no mercy and no respect for human life. As of today, the Taliban controls more territory than before we invaded.
How did this happen? Khairullah Khairkhwa, part of ‘Gitmo 5’ released in 2014, planned Taliban’s return: US INTEL OFFICIALS BEGGED OBAMA NOT TO RELEASE THIS MAN FROM GITMO. He did it anyway. He is the person who organized and led the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
The decision to abandon the promises made to Afghanistan is a death sentence for many freedom-loving Afghans. Today we saw some try to cling to a departing aircraft, only to fall to their deaths in a desperate attempt to escape what they know the Islamist Taliban brings. Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for America as translators and in other jobs are left as targets for these butchers because there was little thought given to a plan to get them out safely. Every woman who has received an education in the last 20 years is now at risk. The Taliban considers women sub-human, and they have a reputation for killing women who have been educated. Mothers who teach their daughters to read and write are executed by these brutal Islamic extremists. The Taliban is taking girls 15 years and younger from families and raping then trafficking them. They are also killing husbands with young wives and doing the same.
Christians in the country are now hiding out in the mountains with just the clothes on their backs. Winter will be approaching soon and there is no way to get them aid. The Taliban has a ‘list’ of Christians and churches and believers are now being hunted.
There was a plan for American/foreign withdrawal, based on certain goals being met by the Afghan leadership and military. THESE GOALS HAVE NOT BEEN MET! The Afghan military has proven they are not willing to fight for their own freedom/Democracy. Biden’s decision was made without regard to this plan solely for symbolic/political optics since 9/11 was the date chosen, 20 years from the terrorist attacks that brought about the war.
I have NEVER agreed with America operating as the ‘policeman’ of the world or ‘nation-building’. As far as I am concerned, virtually every police action/war we have risked our soldiers lives in since WWII have been driven by the ‘military machine’, the legalized corruption (lobby money) or our thirst for oil. BOTH political parties are responsible for these senseless military exercises!!
YES, our troops should not be there or in MOST every other place in the world but NO ONE can believe this is the proper way to handle it! When did so many people become so ‘sold out’ to a political party that they will defend ANYTHING that party decide’s to do? How can any country in the world trust America now??
@Trailin’ Annie you don’t need to watch anything from TODAY. look at just about anything from the past 20 years. look at the amount of money the ‘government’ employees siphoned to fund those massive home they have. how many BILLIONS of dollar… BILLIONS AND BILLIONS were dumped into this country, one of the poorest countries on the planet, and they STILL can’t defend themselves? they were making deals with the Taliban for months to just walk away. THAT is what you should thinking about. you cannot make someone even stop smoking, what makes you think you can make a country self sufficient if they don’t want to be. this is not about Biden. it’s about corruption in a poor country. if you are so worried about theses people, adopt a family. put your money where you mouth is. bring them to your home, pay their way, and pay for them to live.
Geez, are all those guys abandoning their wives and kids??
@Ken Albertsen LOL. Dude you are like Einstein of racism. So many racist tropes in a single comment. Bravo! You must vote red!
This is what you would be reading if the propaganda outlets actually told you the FACTS:
What’s unfolding in Afghanistan is tragic. Today, President Biden tried to defend his Afghanistan policy, but there is no way to defend this catastrophe. The more than $2 trillion spent; the 2,448 American lives lost; the 20,000+ American military wounded; and the promises made by both Democrat and Republican administrations that we would stay the course until they had freedom and democracy—all for nothing. The Taliban who took over the country are Islamic extremists who have no mercy and no respect for human life. As of today, the Taliban controls more territory than before we invaded.
How did this happen? Khairullah Khairkhwa, part of ‘Gitmo 5’ released in 2014, planned Taliban’s return: US INTEL OFFICIALS BEGGED OBAMA NOT TO RELEASE THIS MAN FROM GITMO. He did it anyway. He is the person who organized and led the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
The decision to abandon the promises made to Afghanistan is a death sentence for many freedom-loving Afghans. Today we saw some try to cling to a departing aircraft, only to fall to their deaths in a desperate attempt to escape what they know the Islamist Taliban brings. Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for America as translators and in other jobs are left as targets for these butchers because there was little thought given to a plan to get them out safely. Every woman who has received an education in the last 20 years is now at risk. The Taliban considers women sub-human, and they have a reputation for killing women who have been educated. Mothers who teach their daughters to read and write are executed by these brutal Islamic extremists. The Taliban is taking girls 15 years and younger from families and raping then trafficking them. They are also killing husbands with young wives and doing the same.
Christians in the country are now hiding out in the mountains with just the clothes on their backs. Winter will be approaching soon and there is no way to get them aid. The Taliban has a ‘list’ of Christians and churches and believers are now being hunted.
There was a plan for American/foreign withdrawal, based on certain goals being met by the Afghan leadership and military. THESE GOALS HAVE NOT BEEN MET! The Afghan military has proven they are not willing to fight for their own freedom/Democracy. Biden’s decision was made without regard to this plan solely for symbolic/political optics since 9/11 was the date chosen, 20 years from the terrorist attacks that brought about the war.
I have NEVER agreed with America operating as the ‘policeman’ of the world or ‘nation-building’. As far as I am concerned, virtually every police action/war we have risked our soldiers lives in since WWII have been driven by the ‘military machine’, the legalized corruption (lobby money) or our thirst for oil. BOTH political parties are responsible for these senseless military exercises!!
YES, our troops should not be there or in MOST every other place in the world but NO ONE can believe this is the proper way to handle it! When did so many people become so ‘sold out’ to a political party that they will defend ANYTHING that party decide’s to do? How can any country in the world trust America now??
@miss understood Imagine your brain being so broken that you think false flag is a real thing in any context or situation.
@Ken Albertsen kind of like how you are huddled around a little burning cross, eating McDonald’s, not able to leave your trailer without a robe on, and even then having to be escorted by other incel’s to the local Walmart for fear of Antifa.
They sure aren’t fighting for their country, but their isn’t either. It could have been handled better but, it’s past time to come home.
Corruption made it worst. Their president leaving the country in chaos says it all.
@JoJo White it already happened. Enough with the bs past. The reality is right there poking your eyes. Their people don’t want change! 20 years of self interest, wait for this day to come and escape.
@David F Apparently it is also a liberal point of view since Democrats have voted to keep it going all these years. And Obama (who was President for eight years) did nothing.
@Maryella Rose Let’s vote in a Libertarian then. The heck with Republicans and Democrats. 🙂
@David F let’s do it. I’m game. I am sick of both sides.
@Maryella Rose 2 thumbs up. 🙂
An army can be trained, equipped, and fed but without leadership and the will to fight, that army will run in the face of combat. I am a veteran and don’t care about politics but why should the U.S. military members or allies continue to die for them? when they just proved that they are unwilling to fight for themselves. I just feel sorry for the civilians and the translators. Even worse, their leader abandoned them. Blame whomever one feels to blame but the ultimate fault is their own.
Speaking of “their leader abandoned them” ….Trump shouted about walking with his mob to the WH. Instead, he got in a bulletproof car, got driven to the WH, and watched it all on TV while grinning. Same for Jr and other chief inciters. Some men don’t lead from behind, ….they don’t lead at all.
No matter WHO ordered it, when we left, this was bound to happen. We cannot continue to spend and spend (money and our soldiers’ lives) for people who Will Never Change!!
@David F if Trump were president Democrats would rightfully be calling this a bumbling, incompetent, tragedy.
@Maryella Rose I’m glad to see someone else agrees with me. Doesn’t matter who’s side you are on, the other side is going to berate you know matter what. Hence why I reregistered as “non Affiliated” in 2007. 🙂
Biden has been president for 8 months ,it doesn’t matter who started it ,He is now president he can stop it at anytime during the last 8 months
@SteveBillie Roberts nuke
@David F maybe not ,the thing is this president promised something better ,this withdraw was done in a rush with no regard for human life,The thing is at anytime this president could have stopped it ,,It’s funny to me anything that happened to Americans when trump was president was on him and the media made him pay for it , could you imagine what the main stream Media would have said if trump would have thrown a birthday party with 350- 700 people there without mask ,he would have been a super spreader, a domestic terrioest you name it ,not just the media ,But all the people that hated him ,but now the shoe is in the other foot ,and it’s just it would have happened to anyone else,It’s sad ,I say if trump did something wrong call him out ,but if Biden or any other president does something wrong call them out ,It for sure a bias ,I mean Biden openly admits and even brags about getting the Ukraine proecuter fired or Ukraine wasn’t getting the billion dollars in aide money ,Quid pro whatever shoot it’s even on tape of Biden telling the story ,So let’s stop bullcrap and call it what it is the guy screwed up burn him in the media and admit it ,stop showing favoritism,If trump screws up or our next president screws up call them out make them responsible and then maybe they won’t do it again ,dang this is a real Shame
The US has a crazy short memory or we have so much money and so little regard for the mission we don’t care if we are successful or not. I remember the 80s when we mocked Russia for its retreat from Afghanistan and now here we are.
“as they stand up we’ll stand down”.
All those people trying to get on planes, but not a woman or child in sight????
I thought about that too
Mad respect to Richard for reporting from Kabul.
I’d use a dang green screen LOL
Makes you wonder, How’s he gettin out ?
@Oceania 23 with us army’s plane
@Enhanced Potato Will he be traveling inside the plane or outside ?
@Oceania 23 we’ll find out 😅
There’s no such thing as happily ever after in Afghanistan.
Think Alexander would disagree
@Matthew Trujillo things have Change, would you say? We are in 21st century. Beside, if Alexander hasn’t died, not sure how long he can keep the grip on Afghanistan either.
It may not be yours, but these folks just wanted the foreigners out – they went back to who they are within hours.
lol do you mean there is no win over afg no one has ruled this country history say so
The US was never going to win this war. Afghanistan is called “the graveyard of the Western Powers” for a reason.
“The military side of the airport” is really one of the largest NATO bases in Afghanistan, equipped with housing, stores, offices, restaurants, gyms, etc. Let’s just call it what it is.
That will be fun to loot, for the crazed gun-totting deists, ….when the last plane is leaving the tarmac. Oh look, Allah be praised, a box of Rice Crispies!
I think that Biden understood that this was likely to happen, but staying another year, or even another decade, would not make a difference.
Of course it wouldn’t. The taliban was waiting for their moment regardless. We could have been there for 20 more years and we’d be hearing these same stories.
Would you have given Trump that much credit if it happened when he was president? I didn’t think so.
@Maryella Rose sure would’ve I’ve been saying to bring the troops back since Osama died
Mike Pompeo helped hand the Taliban the keys. They even took pictures to commemorate it.
@Maryella Rose No because if it would have worked they way he wanted, he would have been gloating and praising himself, if not then he would have blamed Obama or the Democrats somehow.
Talk about who the people were that the Americans installed after they took Afghanistan 20 years ago. What intentions led to those choices.
I feel sorry for the Afghan people but our military never tells anyone when how or why they are leaving for any reason That is supposed to keep them safe, I wish the Visa’s were started way before now, I can only pray for them
Mind Begs the Question:
USA Govt armed Afghans against Russia
Terrorists – Evil
To arm Terrorists – Bigger Evil
No?
All those translators that risked their lives helping to save US armed forces lives, just being hung out to dry. So sad.