General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy are there so many non-military Americans still in Afghanistan anyway?
I remember the Biden people were telling non-essential staff to get out months ago.
And certainly once it was clear the Taliban was taking control, shouldn't they have gotten to the airport first?
Is it media types or what? They say thousands of Americans left in country.
msongs
(67,381 posts)dalton99a
(81,426 posts)rockfordfile
(8,700 posts)I met a person a few years ago that had a kid in Afghanistan as a contractor. He wasn't happy about it.
Texaswitchy
(2,962 posts)Not a place I would stay.
walkingman
(7,591 posts)working for a defense contractor was there was almost a 1:1 ratio of troops to contractors. Lots of people doing most of the essential work of the military except combat and in some cases even that.
It's all about the flow of easy money. If taxpayers were really aware of what happens during one of our wars they would be outraged...or maybe not?
LymphocyteLover
(5,639 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)ever since there was a war there, too.
LymphocyteLover
(5,639 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)Americans who were there before the war started - well, I'd have left then.
But if as an American I'd stayed there the last 20 years, I'd have left when the State Department started recommending leaving.
LymphocyteLover
(5,639 posts)hlthe2b
(102,190 posts)to leave. No, they are not in it for the $$. I've worked with them in past years in other areas (often dangerous) parts of the world. The cynical would never believe their sincerity nor their dedication, but I've seen it upfront and personal.
I'm sure there are military contractors looking to squeeze out the last profits and mercenaries as well.
question everything
(47,460 posts)Agree. I have heard a teacher being interviewed, lamenting all her work will be for naught
Sympthsical
(9,056 posts)Private contractors often provide services for the military. There were also contractors working with the Afghan government and military.
In war, not everyone is either part of our military or government. Plenty of private citizens wander over to make a buck. They get paid a lot because of the danger. For example, one of the problems with the Afghan army is that they were reliant on American contractors to service their air force. The State department banned them from entering the country a bit ago. So, no one was servicing the planes.
Just one example of hundreds.
There are also aid workers there as well under private NGOs.
Hekate
(90,616 posts)Teachers and medical people are only a part of it, and they arent there for the money, but because their hearts have told them to go where most needed.
LymphocyteLover
(5,639 posts)when it was recommended that they leave weeks ago.
rockfordfile
(8,700 posts)It seems at first the people running around at the airport was caused by the corrupt Afghanistan President leaving.
haele
(12,645 posts)Church/Missionary groups. Corporate liasions and Branch offices. Agents for various organizations, government and otherwise. Educators and other groups.
Some of them in more remote areas may have just learned about the collapse of the old government this week and are trying to get out now, especially if there's no cell service around and they have to depend on spotty radio or satellite phones, and may not have checked in for a while.
Haele
betsuni
(25,442 posts)Talking about trying to get to the airpot, that American military wouldn't let him in even though they saw him and he yelled that he and his family were American.
Didn't think he was military or government, probably had his own company. Looked it up, and yes, owns his own company.
He knew this was coming. He's worried about getting his family out. There was plenty of time, no visa problem. I wanted the news guy to ask why he waited until the last minute. There were all these suitcases around his apartment, but if he wanted to bring lots of stuff he should've left months ago. Now he says he'll wait until commercial flights resume.
Also, he held up a printed out document he said was from an email the State Department sent him and claimed it was sent out to Afghans who now have a "bogus document" of a visa and are flocking by the hundreds of thousands to the airport -- some kind of primitive conspiracy theory. Don't trust this guy at all, no way. Suspicious.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)for making it to airport. Good luck.
CanonRay
(14,093 posts)and stashing it overseas. Plus he was an adrenaline junkie. He's dead now. Died on the day he finally "retired". Karma baby.