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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep183: The Haqqani Security Partner and the Ignored Sniper Warning: Colleagues Jerry Dunleavy and James Hasson explain that the US relied on the Haqqani network—suicide bombing experts with ties to Al-Qaeda—for security, revealing that a sniper team identified t

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Society & Culture, Arts, News, Books

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 13 December 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Haqqani Security Partner and the Ignored Sniper Warning: Colleagues Jerry Dunleavy and James Hasson explain that the US relied on the Haqqani network—suicide bombing experts with ties to Al-Qaeda—for security, revealing that a sniper team identified the likely ISIS-K bomber based on specific intelligence but was denied engagement authority by leadership, leading to the deadly attack hours later.
1842 RETREST FROM KABUL

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is CBSI in the world. I'm with Jared Dunleaving and James Hassan. Their new book is Cabell.

0:05.4

It's the story of the retreat from Afghanistan and Kabul in August of 2021. The story is unfinished,

0:12.0

but there are pieces we can speak to. The CIA maintained the Black Gate, it was called,

0:18.5

opposite the CIA's Eagle Base.

0:21.7

There's also the concern of the NSU.

0:24.3

These are special acronyms that need interpretation.

0:27.4

James, the CIA was working very hard, out of uniform, in and out,

0:33.0

bringing people through what you describe as a hole in the wall.

0:37.0

The military, the Marines and the

0:39.2

82nd Airborne manning the gates, they knew about this, or some did and some didn't, but in

0:45.9

general, I take it, this was extremely helpful to get the most critical SIVs and TIRPs and members of government,

0:57.2

the people in most in danger, plus American citizens out.

1:00.5

Is that how it was used, James?

1:02.3

As a general matter, yes.

1:04.5

So as you mentioned, there were the main gates

1:07.2

that we talked about before.

1:09.2

And then there was what was called Blackgate,

1:12.8

which was essentially a little more than a nondescript hole in the wall, basically a few,

1:23.6

you know, well-discised doors that could open. And that was kind of basically on a direct line to the CIA's compound in Kabul.

1:35.8

And that was, that was well known as Eagle Base, is what it was called.

1:41.0

And that was to the north of the airfield.

1:44.5

It was kind of to the northeast somewhat.

...

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