The Hostage Crisis Nobody Cares About

 Originally published September 7, 2021

https://www.queensjewishlink.com/index.php/opinion/5115-the-hostage-crisis-nobody-cares-about

On November 4, 1979, 52 Americans were taken hostage in Iran, prompting international outrage and nonstop media coverage.  The nightly news gave consistent reports, and ABC began the show that would eventually become “Nightline.”  For 444 days, the hostages were on the minds of every single American. But when Joe Biden left hundreds of hostages for the Taliban in Afghanistan, America forgot within a week.

On August 19, Joe Biden told George Stephanopoulos that “if there are American citizens left, we’re going to stay until we get them all out.”  This was a lie.  Biden left Americans behind, and he did so before his self-imposed deadline.  General Frank McKenzie, head of US Central Command, confirmed that Americans who wanted out of Afghanistan couldn’t make it to the airport.  The last five planes leaving Kabul didn’t have a single American onboard. And Biden pulled everyone out 12 hours before the deadline.  The Pentagon can only give estimates of “several hundred” Americans stranded by Biden.

Have any Americans gotten out since August 31, despite promises from Biden that his administration would get them out?  According to Rep. Michael McCaul, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, when asked by Fox News’ Chris Wallace: “Zero.”

McCaul continued with heartbreaking information.  “And, in fact, we have six airplanes at Mazar Sharif Airport, six airplanes with American citizens on them as I speak, also with these interpreters, and the Taliban is holding them hostage for demands right now. They – we – the state has cleared these flights and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport. So, I’m sorry, the answer to your question is zero. And that’s my concern is they’re going to demand more and more, whether it be cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan.”

When Wallace asked him what demands the Taliban are making, McCaul answered that they want legitimacy. “We know the reason why is because the Taliban want something in exchange. This is really, Chris, turning into a hostage situation where they’re not going to allow American citizens to leave until they get full recognition from the United States of America. My concern is that Zalmay Khalilzad, [our] special envoy who’s met with the Taliban, they’re in talks right now, and I think – I worry his recommendation to the administration will be to recognize the Taliban as the official government of the United States, a Taliban organization that is a terrorist organization.”

The State Department sent an email to Congress, which was viewed by CBS News, which said that these planes are waiting “if and when the Taliban agrees to takeoff.”  America used to have the capability to protect their citizens in the region, but Biden prematurely removed that, and now the only recourse the government has is bribery – either monetarily or with recognition.  

So Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States of America, has single-handedly reversed U.S. foreign policy to not negotiate with terrorists.  The administration, and their media allies, are now the spokespeople for the Taliban.  A week after the Taliban allowed an ISIS-K suicide bomber to murder 13 U.S. servicemembers and dozens of Afghans, The New York Times puts out the headline, “Pentagon Says Working With Taliban Against ISIS-K Is ‘Possible.’”  Other outlets are talking about how the Taliban are now becoming a governing body, and how they seek international legitimacy.  As the weeks go on, the verbiage of the Taliban will get softer and softer.  

And this is only talking about the American hostages left behind.  Biden also left hundreds, if not thousands, of Afghan allies behind with no plans to have them leave, and those people are as good as dead.  “There are also reports that the Taliban is now carrying out mass killings of former Afghan government officials, former Afghan defense forces,” Chris Wallace said to McCaul. “Can you shed any light on that?”

“Yes. You know, executions are taking place,” McCaul said.  “We’re getting videos coming in, stories of interpreters being, you know, blocked by the Taliban… But the retaliation has been severe, Chris. You have stories of interpreters being taken home to their families and watching, you know, their wives and families being beheaded, executed before they execute the interpreter. This is not a new and improved Taliban. This is the same old Taliban. They’re reverting back to the same brutal practices.”

The leftwing media, like CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other mainstream legacy outlets don’t have time to cover this.  After all, there’s an abortion law in Texas they hate, and crises like COVID and climate change that need a lot of coverage.  They don’t have time for the blood on Joe Biden’s hands.

They will forget these Americans, and they want you to forget them too.  You cannot.  America cannot.  Leaving Americans and our allies to die at the hands of the most brutal terrorists on the planet should not be swept under the rug or forgotten.  Don’t let it be.

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