As I head back to D.C. for votes this week, my team and I are still focused on moving Afghan nationals to the Hamid Karzai International Airport, for eventual transport out of Afghanistan. 1/9
Our office is working on evacuating over 500 Afghans, from all walks of life, who have helped the United States and the cause of freedom. It's been many long nights for me and my team over the past week, and it has been maddening. 2/9
Although this may be on the tactical side, there are several key hurdles that must be overcome for us to live up to our commitment to safely evacuate our Afghan partners. 3/9
First, the airport gates need to be open & approachable. That will entail risk to U.S. forces. But I sincerely hope that conversation is being debated and not dismissed out of hand, since so many of our brave men and women on the ground are chomping at the bit to help. 4/9
Second, we need a systematic and orderly process for our Afghan partners - both men and women - to get through the gates, and to be efficiently processed by U.S. forces. 5/9
Everybody is using every connection they can muster - down to contacting the individual Marines guarding the gates - and we need to establish and communicate a clearer process for all to follow. 6/9
This process must also ensure that women are getting through, since that appears to be a real discrepancy. 7/9
Third, and most importantly, the August 31 deadline must be pushed back. That, too, entails risk since I understand it was negotiated with the Taliban. But these are the tough choices confronting us. 8/9
After 20 years at war, our actions over the next week will leave the most lasting impression around the world - and I want the U.S. to be known as a nation that takes risks for those who risk everything for us. 9/9
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