Politics

Blinken shirks questions, walks away after announcing ‘small number of Americans’ left in Afghanistan

August 31, 2021 | | Print Article

Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a press briefing following the last of U.S. troops and diplomats being pulled out of Afghanistan and, as he finished, he pointedly ignored any questions from the press, turned his back, and walked away.

Hundreds of Americans are now effectively stranded behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. But Blinken scurried off before one question could be asked about that or his vacationing in The Hamptons as the country fell to the Taliban. He was heavily criticized for it.

“More than 123,000 people have been safely flown out of Afghanistan. That includes about 6,000 American citizens. This has been a massive military, diplomatic and humanitarian undertaking – one of the most difficult in our nation’s history,” Blinken proclaimed.

“The military mission is over. A new diplomatic mission has begun,” he posited in what looked like a “hostage video,” according to Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin.

(Video Credit: Forbes Breaking News)

“We will continue our relentless efforts to help Americans, foreign nationals, and Afghans, leave Afghanistan if they choose,” Blinken declared, adding that the U.S. “made extraordinary efforts to give Americans every opportunity to depart the country.”

In a scripted speech that smacked of placating the masses, Blinken crowed about ending the war and the troop presence in Afghanistan after 20 years of conflict. He pushed diplomacy with monstrous terrorists.

He admitted that a “small number of Americans- under 200” were left in Afghanistan.

Many believe the number of Americans stranded in Afghanistan is much higher and could be at the mercy of the Taliban. They could possibly be taken into captivity, far outpacing the Iran hostage crisis under former President Jimmy Carter.

As Blinken ended his speech, a number of reporters attempted to shout questions at him. He simply ignored them and walked away from the podium, echoing how President Biden turned his back on a reporter for daring to ask a question about Afghanistan.

Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin pointed out the horrific optics of Blinken’s speech. That along with Biden issuing a paper statement on the end of the war made for a terrible justification of a deadly and botched withdrawal.

“First, let me say I was shocked that the president released a paper statement on the end of the Afghan War. He says he is going to speak to the nation tomorrow, but a paper statement, I find that very strange,” Griffin remarked on Monday.

“I thought that the secretary of state’s statement, which was videotaped and he was looking slightly off-camera, I mean it looked like a hostage video. It was not the kind of production values that you would expect for such a moment in time,” she asserted.

Blinken was blasted by critics for his weak speech and cowardly exit afterward. Many took a parting shot accusing him of rushing back to The Hamptons.

“You gotta answer reporter questions after a speech and a moment like this,” CNN anchor Jim Sciutto stated.

“Wow no questions for Blinken. The plane back to the Hamptons must be waiting,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock sarcastically quipped.

“How perfect. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after confirming hundreds of Americans have been left behind in Afghanistan, turns and walks away. No questions,” Townhall.com editor and Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich remarked.

Even The Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe hit Blinken for offering “one-way communication with the American people” following his “long speech.”

NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck called him “weak,” and tweeted, “Turning your back and walking away — the symbol of defeat for this administration.”

“Blinken takes no question after 15 min remark delayed over an hour. Guess he doesn’t want to keep the Hamptons waiting much longer,” The Floridian reporter Mona Salama commented.

Author and former member of the foreign policy advisory panel to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign George Papadopoulos chimed in as well, tweeting, “Blinken is completely out of his depth, unpresentable and a fool. This entire administration must resign in disgrace.”

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