It Sure Looks Like Biden Was Going to Leave an American Behind in Afghanistan

Matt Vespa | August 16, 2021 12:45 PM

So, with Afghanistan now back in the hands of the Taliban, we’re rushing to get the hell out of there. For all the talk of standing by our Afghan allies, Joe Biden decided to say ‘see ya later.’ Look, I’m no longer persuaded by the neoconservative argument anymore. Frankly, most of the country is sick of it. We’re done nation-building. We’ve seen how trying to transport democracy into regions that have zero historical ties to such ideals is a failure. American troops don’t facilitate its growth either. It’s too much blood and treasure. I think we should have left Afghanistan, but there’s a right way to do it. Like making sure we don’t leave key allies behind and their families—since these people would certainly be killed, valuable military equipment, arms, and hostages. Apparently, these items didn’t cross the Biden administration’s mind. It’s why you see Taliban fighters perusing through weapons caches we left behind. Being photographed near Humvees and MRAP we left behind. An F-15 flight simulator is reportedly in the hands of the Taliban, along with attack helicopters. And now, as the chinooks are flying into Kabul to get our people out, we apparently forgot about Mark Frerichs.

Frerichs disappeared in Afghanistan in early 2020. He’s a civil engineer and a US Navy veteran. Yes, Trump could have tried harder to secure his release. We don’t know if his release was a topic of discussion when the Trump State Department began a dialogue with the Taliban, but with Biden setting a full withdrawal date under his watch—you’d think this would be revisited, right? Nope. The dude is being left behind.

As the Taliban seize control of Afghanistan, #MarkFrerichs, the last American hostage, is still in their custody. The US did not negotiate his release before withdrawing troops.

NEW statement today from Frerichs' sister ????
— amna (@IAmAmnaNawaz) August 15, 2021

"Please remember that my brother, Mark Frerichs, is a hostage of the Taliban. We want all US troops home safely, but my brother should be able to come home too."
-Charlene Cakora, sister of Mark Frerichs, the last American hostage in Afghanistan.
— amna (@IAmAmnaNawaz) August 15, 2021

Strong words from Fmr NSC Dir for Af/Pak, Eric Lebson, who has been working with Frerichs' family:
"Mark Frerichs is on the verge of becoming 'the Bob Levinson of Afghanistan,' another American hostage left behind because his government had other priorities..."
(more ????)
— amna (@IAmAmnaNawaz) August 15, 2021

He’s not alone. Apparently, a lot of journalists US media companies hired to cover Afghanistan are being left behind as well.

More than a hundred journalists employed by the American government’s own radio stations remain in Afghanistan as the Taliban take power..."

“Journalists are being left behind."https://t.co/DjqhRs2pN3

by @benyt
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) August 16, 2021