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BeyondGeography

(39,379 posts)
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 12:56 PM Aug 2021

IS threat forces US changes to evacuations at Kabul Airport

Source: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Potential Islamic State threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul, a senior U.S. official said Saturday, adding a new complication to the already chaotic efforts to get people out of the country after its swift fall to the Taliban.

The official said that small groups of Americans and possibly other civilians will be given specific instructions on what to do, including movement to transit points where they can be gathered up by the military. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

The changes come as the U.S. Embassy issued a new security warning Saturday telling citizens not to travel to the Kabul airport without individual instruction from a U.S. government representative. Officials declined to provide more specifics about the IS threat but described it as significant, and said there have been no confirmed attacks as yet.

…Tens of thousands of translators and other Afghan wartime helpers, along with their close family members, are seeking evacuation after the Taliban’s shockingly swift takeover of Afghanistan in a little over a week’s time. The fall of Kabul marked the final chapter of America’s longest war, which began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/11e1590d8f9976fae13e7ee83a6b193a

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IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,077 posts)
3. Yep, they got some info that IS creeps are lurking/arrived...
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 01:34 PM
Aug 2021

... or just Taliban creeps that are looking for a few dollars, at the least.

2naSalit

(86,775 posts)
5. I have always wondered if...
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 01:42 PM
Aug 2021

ISIS wasn't an astroturf sort of thing and conducted by mr prince or some other enemy. There's something fishy smelling here is all I'm saying, though. Something isn't adding up. As we have seen with the criminal class, they give away their secret before they actually get away. We need to be rounding these traitors up and sequester them until the investigations are over.

BeyondGeography

(39,379 posts)
11. We're teaming up with the Taliban against ISIS...Interesting times
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 04:15 PM
Aug 2021
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/21/politics/kabul-airport-terror-warning/index.html

"There is a strong possibility ISIS-K is trying to carry off an attack at the airport," a US defense official told CNN. A senior diplomat in Kabul said they are aware of a credible but not immediate threat by Islamic State against Americans at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Two US defense officials described the military effort to establish "alternative routes" for people to get to Kabul airport and its access gates, with one saying these new routes will be available to Americans, third party nationals and qualified Afghans.

The Taliban are aware of the new effort and are coordinating with the US, one of the officials said.

brush

(53,843 posts)
9. Yes, and isn't ISIS in Iraq, two countries and a thousand miles away?
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 02:29 PM
Aug 2021

Sounds like disinformation to me.

Sapient Donkey

(1,568 posts)
10. ISIS seems to have a presence in Afghanistan
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 03:06 PM
Aug 2021

There were conflicts between them an the Taliban in the past. I’m not exactly sure how things work with isis, but suspect they are not airlifting armies in from Syria & Iraq, but rather they send a couple dudes over to start up an organization with local talent. Might even just be some locals who start it up all on their own. There is also “isis” in various African countries. Even though ISIS was closer to a standing army than groups like Al Queda, it’s still closer to a terrorist group than a real army. Something like it being an idea. At least that is my impressions based on my simplistic understanding. I am open to hearing other thoughts on this.

 

Ghost Dog

(16,881 posts)
12. Disinformation? What, like propaganda, you mean?
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 05:30 PM
Aug 2021

As if there might be well-connected and -financed organisations at large in this world dedicated to producing the same?

Dopers_Greed

(2,640 posts)
7. Something is funny here
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 01:50 PM
Aug 2021

During Obama: "IS is taking over the world"
During Trump: "IS is defeated"
During Biden: "IS is back"

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
8. Good. "It's responsibility of those fleeing to get to airport themselves" was message Thursday from
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 02:17 PM
Aug 2021

National Security Advisor.

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