The Taliban knows when they have someone at their mercy. That’s an instinct that criminals and terrorists have honed and refined, and their tells them the same thing that any objective analyst could tell you: Biden is their b**ch.
The Taliban is refusing to let charter flights with international passenger lists depart from the country until the White House meets their demands.
New: CBS has learned multiple flights are being held on the ground at the Mazar-i-Sharif airport in Northern Afghanistan… by the Taliban. 1/
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
An email from the State Department to members of congress — and viewed by CBS — acknowledged that charter flights are still on the ground at the Mazar-i-Sharif airstrip and have permission to land in Doha "if and when the Taliban agrees to takeoff. 2/
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
"The Taliban is basically holding them hostage to get more out of the Americans," a senior congressional source told CBS News. 3/
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
That’s CBS reporting that. And there’s more:
The group Ascend, an NGO that teaches young women leadership through athletics, told CBS News they have two planes that have been waiting for six days ready to take between 600 and 1200 people — including 19 American citizens and two permanent residents. 4/
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
"The U.S. airfield in Qatar that has been standing by, ready to receive, is now beginning to pack up," Marina LeGree, the executive director, told CBS News. "We hope visibility will add pressure to force a solution. Six days of talks are not encouraging." 5/
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
SIX DAYS is a big deal. And don’t think for a SECOND the nature of the NGO doesn’t play a part in the Taliban’s choice of hostage.
Make no mistake, this is a hostage crisis. A VERY predictable one that pretty much everyone predicted except for Biden and his team of idiots. I am going to say again that if this were the Trump administration they would be making A HUGE DEAL out of this.
But with Biden? So far the State Department’s response is “tough beans.”
The State Department advised members of congress to tell groups seeking to evacuate out of Mazar-i-Sharif that the US does not have personnel on the ground in that location and does not control the airspace. 6/
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
Well that’s what the Biden admin is saying to the NGOs and allies. To the press? They say what they always say:
Congressional and NGO sources say here are at least two physical plans on the ground and six more with approved clearance. The obstacle is the Taliban — which controls the airport and is not letting people board or the planes take off.
CBS has asked @StateDept for comment..
— Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) September 5, 2021
Nothing. Nothing at all.