“Irresponsible” for saying Americans are “stuck” in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON – White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday berated a reporter who asked him about Americans “stranded” in Afghanistan – insisting it is “irresponsible” to use this term despite numerous reports that Americans could not get on flights.

Biden administration officials say they don’t know how many US citizens remain in the country after the Taliban takeover last week, but some alert media they can’t reach Kabul airport to be evacuated.

“I think it is irresponsible to say that the Americans are stuck. They are not. We are committed to bringing back Americans who want to return home, ”Psaki said during his daily press briefing.

“We are in contact with them by phone, by text, by e-mail, by any means that allows us to reach the Americans to bring them home if they want to return home.”

Pressed by Fox News’ Peter Doocy to find out if the Americans are stranded, Psaki added, “I’m calling you just for saying we are stranding the Americans in Afghanistan when I said – when we were very clear that we don’t. let’s not leave the Americans who want to go home. We’re going to take them home and I think it’s important for the American public to hear and understand.

The crisis in Kabul has put the White House on the defensive over President Biden’s preparations for the withdrawal of American troops by August 31 after 20 years of war. The Taliban’s rapid offensive left many Americans behind enemy lines.

A senior US official told the Post on Monday that the White House estimates that around 4,000 Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan, which means thousands could remain in areas controlled by the Taliban.

The official said the Pentagon initially estimated there were 8,000 to 10,000 Americans in Afghanistan and the State Department estimated 10,000 to 15,000 US citizens.

Officials in the Biden administration continued on Monday to plead ignorance about the precise number of Americans who may need rescue.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday that “the reason we can’t give you an exact number is that not all Americans who enter Afghanistan are going to put themselves in a database at the US Embassy “.

Numerous press reports report Americans unable to reach Kabul airport. An American, David Marshall Fox, told the Post Thursday that he and his son tried unsuccessfully to enter the airport on Wednesday, showing his US passport.

Washington Post reporter Susannah George revealed on Monday that British troops helped her get to Kabul airport so she could board an American evacuation flight.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week that the approximately 5,200 US troops in Kabul “do not have the capacity to come out and round up a large number of people” because they have to provide security at the airport.