The rapid fall of the Afghan government left a national-security and humanitarian mess. Thousands of American citizens and green-card holders were left stranded. Interpreters and translators who risked their lives to support American security were left behind. Much depends on getting these people to safety, including the Pentagon’s future ability to get help from local populations abroad. What is more, these individuals’ connections and relationships may be the key to any long-term influence the United States may hold in Afghanistan, and countering a resurgent Islamic State. Private groups have launched efforts to help them escape the Taliban, but these noble efforts aren’t enough. The U.S. government and broader civil society have a national security obligation to do more
Thousands of Afghan Refugees Await Rescue. Here’s What the US Needs to Do – Defense One
