Retired Marine bomb tech Joey Jones shared a series of messages from friends who were still trying to escape Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.
Jones explained that he was in contact with a number of people still on the ground in Afghanistan, many of whom were concerned that they or their family members might be unable to get through the Taliban checkpoints and crowds outside Hamid Karzai International Airport. (RELATED: ‘This Is That Day Where We Say We Lost This War’: Marine Veteran Sounds Off On Afghanistan Withdrawal)
Thread: I have been fielding/connecting individual veterans’ efforts to get friends and their families out of Afghanistan. I’ve spoken with some Americans in Afghanistan. This thread is their messages directly to me over the last week:
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“I’ve been helping try to get an interpreter out-his wife is 9 months pregnant. We were so so close but they are basically closing evacuation ops tomorrow from what I hear so I don’t think they are going to get out.”
8/25
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“I have been working from 6 am to midnight over the last 3 weeks. My family is still stuck. Tying to evacuate them on 70 of my staff. The irony is that I am helping evacuate others to the US, But can’t do anything for my own family Because of bureaucracy.”
8/24
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“I got my terp out in 2020. He lives in Dallas now but it took us 9 years to get him here. I’m trying to get his brother and his family out now”
8/25
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“terp that worked with eod techs. He is a us citizen here in the states his wife is in Afghanistan 9 months pregnant he is trying to bring her.”
8/25
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“It’s crazy what the [EOD] techs are doing on their own in order to help those interpretersand their families that helped us.”
8/25
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“Nevermind. Got word even the agency is pulling everyone out. Got her a fam escort and contact at gate. The rest is prayer. I heard from a contact that it’s all over in 48.”
8/25
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“started trying to get 2 buddies out of Kabul a week and a half ago. Terp and commando. I worked with orphans and refugees for ten years in conflict & disaster zones. So, I began figuring out what they needed. Well, before I knew it, by Friday I was helping over 1,500 SIVs”
8/23
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“What I’ve witnessed in this time is absolutely UNFORGIVABLE. What this administration has done. We have AMCIT families still in hiding.
The Taliban has already killed a few of my terps’ family members”8/23
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“no one from the government will get me out. so ive gotta take a risk ans go soon”
8/17
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
“Please rise my message to the world, I’m habib noori from Afghanistan, presidential and Ministry award holder, its been 5 day’s I’m waiting in front of HKIA I’m waiting for evacuation to get in to airport kindly help me my life is in danger I’m not safe i want to get out of Afg”
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 26, 2021
Jones has been outspoken about the situation in Afghanistan since it began to unfold, saying that there was plenty of blame to go around to both political parties for allowing the war in Afghanistan to drag on as long as it did — but adding that the Biden administration was responsible for the way that the troop drawdown and evacuation was carried out.
The @JoeBiden administration is literally leaving the lives of Americans in the hands of the Taliban… for an example of how bad actors handle these types of “promises” North Korea would tell you Otto Warmbier was a spy.
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) August 25, 2021
“The @JoeBiden administration is literally leaving the lives of Americans in the hands of the Taliban… for an example of how bad actors handle these types of ‘promises’ North Korea would tell you Otto Warmbier was a spy,” Jones tweeted.