International

Secretary Blinken accused of sharing a list of names with the Taliban

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2021

Staff Writer

By Jenny Goldsberry

Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday to explain how he’s gotten busloads of people out of Afghanistan. While he denies that he shared lists of names with the Taliban, he did admit there are times when he needed to provide what he called a manifest.

“The idea that we’ve done anything to put at further risk those that we are trying to help leave the country is simply wrong,” Blinken explained to host Chuck Todd.

“The idea that we shared lists of Americans or others with the Taliban is simply wrong,” he said.

“So, in specific instances when you’re trying to get a bus or a group of people through, and you need to show a manifest to do that, because particularly in cases where people don’t have the necessary credentials on them or documents on them, then you would — you’ll share names on a list of people on the bus so they can be assured that those are people that we’re looking to bring in,” Blinken said. “And by definition, that’s exactly what’s happened. We’ve gotten 5,500 American citizens out of Afghanistan. And to the extent that in an individual case with a particular group or a bus to verify that the people on the bus or in that group were people who were supposed to come out, American citizens, especially, again, if they lacked the right document with them, that’s what we would do. But the idea that we put anyone in any further jeopardy is simply wrong.”

To date more than 100,000 people have been safely evacuated from Kabul – a testament to the bravery, skill & determination of those contributing to this mission. We grieve the U.S. service members & Afghans lost in Kabul today & send our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 27, 2021

Shortly following the suicide attack at the Kabul airport, Blinken tweeted that he evacuated 100,000 people from Afghanistan.

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.

International

The Guardian Removes Osama bin Laden’s “Letter to America” Amidst Viral Resurfacing

Published

3 weeks ago

November 16, 2023

Alexander Carter

The Guardian, a left-wing media outlet, has taken down Osama bin Laden’s notorious “Letter to America” from its website this week after the words of the deceased terrorist mastermind, responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001, gained traction on social media.

The letter, which had been published on The Guardian’s website since 2002, resurfaced online, causing a sudden spike in traffic. Social media users unearthed and shared the anti-American and antisemitic content, propelling the document to viral status. The Guardian, acknowledging the increased circulation without the full context, opted to remove the transcript.

According to reports from Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for The Guardian stated, “The transcript published on our website 20 years ago has been widely shared on social media without the full context. Therefore we have decided to take it down and direct readers to the news article that originally contextualized it instead.” The outlet declined to provide additional comments on the matter.

Osama bin Laden’s letter, translated into English, justified al-Qaeda’s attacks against the U.S. by citing American actions in Palestine. The deceased terrorist accused the U.S. of supporting the creation and continuation of Israel, labeling it one of the “greatest crimes” that must be erased. Bin Laden’s letter also propagated antisemitic tropes, claiming Jews control American policies, media, and the economy.

The 9/11 attacks, orchestrated by al-Qaeda, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and left thousands more injured. The letter’s resurgence occurred as it was shared by social media influencers on platforms like TikTok, with some expressing a change in perspective. Pro-Palestinian activist Lynette Adkins was among those who shared the letter online, prompting discussions and reflections.

The Guardian’s decision to remove the letter from its website underscores the sensitivity surrounding the content and its potential impact, particularly as young individuals across America engage with pro-Palestinian talking points. The episode has sparked debates about the influence of social media in reshaping perceptions and the responsibility of media outlets in disseminating controversial historical documents.