Trying to Save U.S. Allies in Afghanistan

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

The New Yorker

Barack, Washington, Wickenden, News, Obama, Politics, Wnyc, Lizza, President

4.3 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2021

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Twelve years ago, David Rohde, then a reporter for the New York Times, was kidnapped by the Taliban outside of Kabul. Seven months later, he escaped confinement alongside the Afghan journalist Tahir Luddin. Luddin subsequently immigrated to the U.S., and has become an American citizen, but his family—including his wife and several of his children—still live in Kabul. With the announcement of the U.S. troop withdrawal in Afghanistan and the growing influence of the Taliban in the country, Rohde has worked with Luddin to bring his family to the United States. But, despite their efforts and the assurances of the U.S. State Department, Luddin’s wife and children remain in Afghanistan, and now fear Taliban reprisal for their attempts to leave. David Rohde joins Carla Blumenkranz, filling in for Dorothy Wickenden, to discuss the plight of Afghans who are trying to flee the country, and what the Biden Administration can do now to save the lives of its allies in Afghanistan.

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Transcript

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0:44.0	Things people love.
0:47.8	This is The Political Scene, a weekly conversation with New Yorker writers and guests about politics.
0:54.5	It's Thursday, August 19th. I'm Carla Blumacrance with New Yorker writers and guests about politics. It's Thursday, August 19th.
0:56.7	I'm Carla Blumecrance, news director of New Yorker.com, filling in for Dorothy Wickenden.
1:03.2	The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan has caused a humanitarian crisis.
1:09.6	Western diplomats and citizens are being evacuated,
1:12.6	but Afghans attempting to leave the country face bureaucratic obstacles,
1:16.6	lack of viable transport,
1:18.6	and the increasing threat of reprisals by the Taliban.
1:22.6	David Rode is an executive editor of New Yorker.com.
1:26.6	Before he joined our staff, he reported from Afghanistan. David Rode is an executive editor of New Yorker.com.
1:30.2	Before he joined our staff, he reported from Afghanistan.
1:37.0	Nearly 13 years ago, he and two Afghan associates were kidnapped by the Taliban outside Kabul.
	...

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