US Destroys Sensitive Material in Kabul Embassy
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US media reports a memo telling US embassy staff in Kabul, Afghanistan, to evacuate the premises and destroy sensitive material.
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The United States destroys the skeletons in its closet.
Bloomberg reported that the US embassy staff in Kabul "has been told to start destroying sensitive material, underscoring that the Biden administration is preparing for the possibility that the embassy will be overrun by the Taliban," highlighting that the building is still in operation.
"[The memo] asks that they destroy anything with US logos, flags, or items which could be misused in propaganda efforts," added Bloomberg.
Two embassy sources told Bloomberg, on the condition of anonymity, that these measures are "consistent with established plans for most US forces in Afghanistan to depart by the end of the month."
Full embassy evacuation is "inevitable"
In a similar vein, Politico said, "Pentagon has started planning for a full withdrawal of the American mission in Kabul," adding that CENTCOM "sees a full embassy evacuation as inevitable."
The US-based media company indicated that US officials ordered embassy staff to "start destroying documents and equipment." The order said to destroy classified documents, electronics, and large items - while these will be crushed with a large roller, other "items which could be misused in propaganda efforts" will be disposed of too.
Earlier, CNN quoted official sources saying that the United States is considering moving its embassy to the Kabul airport with the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan.
The sources said this decision would enable the United States to evacuate its diplomats from Afghanistan in the shortest time possible if necessary, for challenges might ensue in the future, which would obstruct the transport from the embassy to the airport.
The New York Times said the Pentagon is moving "3,000 Marines and soldiers to Afghanistan [...] to evacuate most of the American Embassy and US citizens in Kabul."
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated that there are no plans or discussions on using the Hamid Karzai International Airport as a military base to launch air raids in Afghanistan or the region.
Additionally, Department of State spokesperson Ned Price shed the light on the Biden Administration's decision to evacuate US civilians from Afghanistan by saying, "This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not the wholesale withdrawal. What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint." "The implications of this shouldn’t be outsized," he added.
Price noted that the incoming forces have one reason, which is effecting the reduction in US civilian footprint, saying they will not be relocated there for any reason.
Regarding the international community's stance on the Taliban taking over the power in Afghanistan - if it were to happen - Price said any force that seeks to take control of Afghanistan "with the barrel of a gun" will not be recognized and will not have legitimacy.
These latest developments come in light of the Taliban increasing its offenses in Afghanistan and making advances. The Taliban announced capturing several provinces, as well as cutting power off in Kabul.
United States Troops Aim to Help Remove Civilians
Earlier today, the US Air Force announced sending aircraft to Afghanistan to move "thousands" of US civilians before Kabul "falls to the Taliban," and salvage US equipment, which they are worried would "fall into an adversary's hands."
This was preceded by the Pentagon expressing its concerns over the Afghan forces collapsing at this pace, especially that the Taliban are this close to Kabul.
