Nets Unbothered By Americans STILL in Afghanistan, Inaccurate Numbers

Tuesday’s State Department release new statistics on the number of Americans still held captive in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. It also revealed how many Americans, lawful residents and others were rescued after the U.S. pulled out than was originally reported to Americans. It was not a topic that interested the liberal broadcast media (ABC/NBC, CBS/NBC), who covered holiday shipping deadlines and coverage for more than four minutes.

Fox News had to make the announcement, even though the topic was a hot one during the media briefing.

“The Biden administration now says there are fewer than a dozen Americans remaining in Afghanistan who wanted to leave,” announced Special ReportBret Baier will anchor the newscast. “But there is confusion over how many were initially stranded after the U.S. military withdrawal as opposed to what was said publicly by administration officials at the time.”

Benjamin Hall, State Department reporter was on the case and pointed out discrepancies in President Biden’s statements after withdrawal and the State Department’s actions since.

HALL: Today, the White House was forced to defend itself again against discrepancies regarding the number of Americans still stranded abroad in Afghanistan. The State Department had released numbers that showed the figure was much higher than what President Biden stated in August.

JOE BODEN, PRESIDENT There is some intent to leave.

“But according to the State Department, since August the 31st, the U.S. has directly assisted 929 lawful residents leaving Afghanistan. 479 citizens and 450 permanent residents,” he reported.

Hall also reminded viewers of Biden’s now-broken promise to keep troops in Afghanistan until all Americans were brought home:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS – Are you committed in making sure troops remain until all Americans who want to leave —

BIDEN: Yes.

STEPHANOPOULOS – — has been removed.

BIDEN:  Yes.

“The State Department now says there are fewer than 12 Americans still left in Afghanistan who want to leave. But today, Senator Mitch McConnell believes it could be far higher,” Hall noted.

To make matters worse, many of those who fled Afghanistan did not qualify for U.S. visas. “[W]hat we’ve also learned is of the 82,000 Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. in August and September, only 30,000 of them were eligible for SIV visas, that’s around 40 percent. And that also just sheds a light on how poor some of the vetting was,” Hall concluded on the subject.

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You can find the transcript below. To read it, please click on “expand”.

Fox News Channel’s Special Report
December 14, 2021
Eastern at 6:00:47

BRET BAIER: First, there are shifting numbers of Americans still on the ground in Afghanistan. Let’s not forget the thousands of Afghan allies.

Biden’s administration claims that there are now fewer than 12 Americans still in Afghanistan, who want to leave. However, there are still questions about the number of Americans who were actually left in Afghanistan after the withdrawal. This is contrary to the public statements made by officials.

Benjamin Hall is the State Department’s correspondent. Good evening, Benjamin.

BENJAMIN HALL: No. Bret. Bret, good evening. The August/September withdrawal was largely about how many Americans were still in Afghanistan and what could be done to rescue them. We now know that the numbers we received at the time were not correct.

[Cuts to video]

JEN PSAKI, PRESS SEECRETARY: Just to reiterate, the United States doesn’t track Americans traveling abroad.

HALL: After the State Department published figures that proved the number of Americans still in Afghanistan was significantly higher than the August claims by President Biden, today’s White House had to respond.

JOE BODEN, PRESIDENT There is some intent to leave.

HALL

PSAKI – There have been many people who wanted to leave the country since that time and we must help them.

HALL: According to the State Department however, 929 Afghan lawful immigrants have been displaced by the U.S. since August 31st. 479 residents, 450 permanent residents. People Biden claimed he won’t go.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS : Do you have a commitment to keeping troops in place until every American wants out?

BIDEN: — Yes.

STEPHANOPOULOS – — has been removed.

BIDEN:  Yes.

ANTONY BLINKEN – Let me make it clear: There is no end date to our efforts to assist any American citizen.

HALL: According to the State Department, there are now less than 12 Americans in Afghanistan that want to go. Senator Mitch McConnell, however, believes that it may be higher.

SEN. MICHAEL MCCONNELL (R–KY): It is also known that both American citizens as well as permitted residents are still stranded in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, which we know better than what the Biden administration would like to admit.

HALL: The conditions are worsening on the ground. A total of 22.8million people will be facing a potentially deadly famine in this country, which is more than half its population. Numerous people are at risk of total disaster and the security situation continues to deteriorate as ISIS K attacks.

[Cuts back to live]

And Bret, what we’ve also learned is of the 82,000 Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. in August and September, only 30,000 of them were eligible for SIV visas, that’s around 40 percent. This also sheds light on the poor quality of some of the vetting.

(…)