With Joyce away this week, Preet speaks with NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel, who is reporting on the unfolding crisis on the ground in Afghanistan. Speaking from the airport in Kabul, Engel gives an update on the status of the U.S. military’s evacuation effort as the Taliban solidifies control of the country. And he doesn't mince words.
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Preet Bharara:
Hey, folks. Preet here. Joyce is away this week. So, instead of our usual episode of CAFE Insider, we’re going to address the gut-wrenching story many of us are attempting to process: the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan. As Afghanistan’s government collapsed over the weekend, effectively ceding control to the Taliban, the US military scrambled to evacuate thousands of civilians trying to flee the country. The 20-year US war in Afghanistan, it appears, is ending right where it began, under Taliban rule.
To help us wrap our minds around some of these stunning developments, I’m joined today by NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent, Richard Engel, who’s been covering the situation on the ground in Kabul. No stranger to the realities of war, Richard has been stationed all throughout the Middle East from Baghdad to Beirut, to Benghazi. In 2012, he and his crew were abducted in Syria, where they were held hostage for five days. Richard joins me now on the ground at the airport in Kabul. Richard Engel, thanks for being on the show.
Richard Engel:
