You can file this in the non-yet-confirmed file for a while, it is now after 10 PM August 30, Kabul time, and it looks like the very last stages of our flight from Kabul is in the works.
I'll set up this Twitter thread from well-connected independent journalist Emily Miller.
“Private advice being circulated by deputy assistant secretary of defense is for all visa holders/high risk pers, including those who had submitted their names to an evacuation manifest, to leave Kabul immediately. ‘As soon as the US is out, the roundups will begin.’”
— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) August 30, 2021
There was some dissection on this point:
“Some of the plane nerds are saying 3 C-17s are inbound. Appears to be the case on flight radar, but they look to be maybe 30 away. No one knows how long they will be on the ground.
My advice remains go nowhere near the airport now. It will be festooned with TB once US leaves”
— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) August 30, 2021
But if you consult FlightRadar24.com for the status at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, at this writing, there are two USAF C-17s based out of Qatar's Al-Udeid airbase on the ground. What is significant is while there are three KC-135 aerial refuelers along the route, there are no other aircraft from any nation inbound to Kabul. So this looks like the last flight out.
Both Americans and Afghans are being turned away at airport checkpoints by the Taliban and American forces.
SCOOP: Biden Admin Probed for Blocking Americans from Entering Kabul Airport — @SenRonJohnson "receiving reports that contradict the Biden admin’s narrative and are troubling to say the least" https://t.co/WN7BmFLTTu
— Adam Kredo (@Kredo0) August 30, 2021
UPDATE via @repdarrellissa: "We are guiding American citizens to known Kabul airport entry points, but they are being repeatedly turned back by the Taliban. Situation has deteriorated to where entry points our people passed through days ago are now impeded by the Taliban” https://t.co/obvF7p7X4w
— Adam Kredo (@Kredo0) August 30, 2021
All that stands between these Americans & safety/home is the US govt & military.
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) August 28, 2021
Texts from operator rescuing American mom and 3 kids to MMNC (Multinational Coordination Center) which has sole authority for granting access to HKIA (Kabul Airport). @SecDef #evacuation pic.twitter.com/hLjj2oMszd
— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) August 30, 2021
If there were going to be a big push to evacuate folks on the last day, you'd expect more aircraft than this in the area. You also wouldn't expect to see US passport holders turned away.
All appearances are that when the sun rises on Kabul on August 31, the only Americans remaining will be those we abandoned.
