The scramble to get out of Afghanistan

Before the Taliban takes over most of Afghanistan there is a mad scramble by the US to get thousands of Afghan interpreters and their families out and into safety in America. These Afghans were paid well and their role was vital during the 20 years of the US-led campaign but they risked their lives and those closest to them, never more so than now as the Taliban takes over more and territory. But the evacuation is taking a long time. The first 200 or so interpreters and families have arrived in the US and are being looked after and processed at Fort Lee army base in Virginia. But there are at least 1,700 interpreters to bring to the US and now the State Department has announced that thousands more Afghans who worked for American organisations in one form or other in Afghanistan are also to be allowed to leave for the US. Except there's a nasty stipulation. They have to leave on their own steam, no special flights for them, so queuing up for flights out of Kabul is going to be a high-risk move. It all looks like last-minute panic on the part of the US administration as they watch all the hard-won towns and cities during the 20-year campaign falling to the Taliban. It's a period of terror for anyone who threw his or her lot in with the Americans, attracted by the money and guaranteed job. Right now it's a mess but the US has without question a moral obligation to get them out of Afghanistan and into safety. It's increasingly looking like another Saigon evacuation.