News from Afghanistan: British soldiers rescue American journalist as Biden orders troops to stay put | World | New
Leonard T. Koonce
2 min read
An American journalist detailed his perilous journey to escape Afghanistan from Kabul airport with a “window of opportunity” provided by British troops. The Washington Post’s Susannah George told MSNBC that she was only able to reach her flight after British troops arrived to evacuate compatriots from a safe haunt. Joe Biden said US soldiers had not extended their security perimeter beyond the immediate area of Karzai Airport, with Americans seeking to evacuate being told to proceed to the airport unescorted.
The Washington Post chief correspondent said: “We were able to escape Kabul.
“We were lucky because we were able to use a window where British troops were carrying out their own evacuations.
“These troops had cleared part of the road in front of one of those gates at the airport, which you now see pictures of those gates.
“And there are only hundreds of people crammed against them.”
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She continued: “These British forces had pushed these people back past the Taliban checkpoint and cleared part of the road that allowed us that little window of opportunity to use this piece of road to get inside. from the military airport and getting to a flight would take us out of Kabul.
Ms George shared more details on her crew’s escape from Kabul, writing: “Initially the men were cautious before helping us.
“We were not part of their evacuation, and the officer said they needed approval from the US Embassy.
“But after a few phone calls, they agreed to wave Tassal, another Washington Post employee, and their families through the Taliban checkpoint.”
President Biden said on Friday “we have no indication that they were unable to enter Kabul, via the airport.”
Mr Biden faces pressure to extend the evacuation deadline beyond August 31.
He said discussions were underway with leaders of other countries over extending the deadline.
The president said: “There is no way to evacuate so many people without pain and without the heartbreaking images that you see.
“We have made changes, including the extension of the access area around the airport – the security zone.
“We have a long way to go and a lot can still go wrong.”
