US Military Members Try to Rescue Friend in Afghanistan
2021-08-20
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1Mohammad Khalid Wardak was a well-known national police officer who worked alongside American special forces.
2He had no plans to leave Afghanistan.
3He planned to stand with his fellow Afghans to defend his homeland after U.S. forces were gone.
4Then, the government collapsed.
5His president fled.
6And now Khalid, as his friends call him, is in hiding.
7He hopes that American officials will honor his loyalty by helping him and his family escape from the Taliban.
8But time and U.S. policy are against him.
9Interpreters and others who worked for the U.S. in Afghanistan are permitted to apply for special immigrant visas.
10But Afghan military members or police officers are not.
11The State Department said they could apply for refugee status,
12but Khalid's supporters say his family needs to get out now.
13His friends in the U.S. military say he is a "brother in arms" who helped save many lives.
14They are asking for help - from elected leaders and officials - to get Khalid and his family inside the Kabul airport so they can be taken to another country.
15The U.S. still controls the airport, where Americans and some Afghans are leaving the country.
16Army Special Forces Sgt. Major Chris Green worked with Khalid.
17He is among several current and former military members pressing his case.
18"It is this nation's duty to help those who helped us and were loyal to us and their country," he said.
19Robert McCreary is a former White House official under President George W. Bush.
20He worked with special forces in Afghanistan.
21He said those like Khalid are top Taliban targets because of their work with U.S. forces, and they deserve special attention.
22"They're shouting his name in the street, looking for him, hunting for him," McCreary said.
23Khalid came to the rescue in March 2013, when a special forces group in eastern Afghanistan's Wardak province was attacked.
24He hurried into the valley with a police team to defend his American partners.
25In 2015, Khalid lost part of his right leg in an attack.
26Friends in the U.S. military helped get him medical care and an artificial leg outside the country.
27A month later, he was again leading special police operations in Afghanistan alongside the U.S., Green said.
28Along the way, he helped catch al Qaeda and Taliban leaders.
29He went on to serve as police chief in Ghazi and then Helmand, where he was wounded again last month.
30He continued to direct the resistance from his hospital bed.
31"Khalid was - is - a true patriot to Afghanistan, but also resolute in support to the Americans," said Green, who said he saw Khalid's bravery and leadership many times.
32Khalid even went on television and radio to say, "how we were protecting the Afghan people and the Americans, and then daring the Taliban to drop their terrorist methods and come fight him face to face," Green said.
33McCreary said Khalid and his family should be able to apply for special immigrant visas or refugee status because he no longer works for the Afghan government.
34"People in Khalid's situation ... had no plans of leaving Afghanistan," McCreary said.
35"They were staying there to fight to the end."
36If they can leave, many in the U.S. military would gladly offer to help.
37"Without a doubt, any one of us would take these guys, these police officers, these Afghan soldiers into our homes, with their families, and do anything we could to help them just continue to live," Green said.
38McCreary warned that time is running out.
39"We know what's going to happen, and it's not good," he said.
40I'm Jill Robbins.
1Mohammad Khalid Wardak was a well-known national police officer who worked alongside American special forces. He had no plans to leave Afghanistan. He planned to stand with his fellow Afghans to defend his homeland after U.S. forces were gone. 2Then, the government collapsed. His president fled. And now Khalid, as his friends call him, is in hiding. He hopes that American officials will honor his loyalty by helping him and his family escape from the Taliban. 3But time and U.S. policy are against him. Interpreters and others who worked for the U.S. in Afghanistan are permitted to apply for special immigrant visas. But Afghan military members or police officers are not. The State Department said they could apply for refugee status, but Khalid's supporters say his family needs to get out now. 4A brother in arms 5His friends in the U.S. military say he is a "brother in arms" who helped save many lives. They are asking for help - from elected leaders and officials - to get Khalid and his family inside the Kabul airport so they can be taken to another country. 6The U.S. still controls the airport, where Americans and some Afghans are leaving the country. 7Army Special Forces Sgt. Major Chris Green worked with Khalid. He is among several current and former military members pressing his case. "It is this nation's duty to help those who helped us and were loyal to us and their country," he said. 8Robert McCreary is a former White House official under President George W. Bush. He worked with special forces in Afghanistan. He said those like Khalid are top Taliban targets because of their work with U.S. forces, and they deserve special attention. "They're shouting his name in the street, looking for him, hunting for him," McCreary said. 9Wounded two times 10Khalid came to the rescue in March 2013, when a special forces group in eastern Afghanistan's Wardak province was attacked. He hurried into the valley with a police team to defend his American partners. 11In 2015, Khalid lost part of his right leg in an attack. Friends in the U.S. military helped get him medical care and an artificial leg outside the country. A month later, he was again leading special police operations in Afghanistan alongside the U.S., Green said. 12Along the way, he helped catch al Qaeda and Taliban leaders. He went on to serve as police chief in Ghazi and then Helmand, where he was wounded again last month. He continued to direct the resistance from his hospital bed. 13"Khalid was - is - a true patriot to Afghanistan, but also resolute in support to the Americans," said Green, who said he saw Khalid's bravery and leadership many times. Khalid even went on television and radio to say, "how we were protecting the Afghan people and the Americans, and then daring the Taliban to drop their terrorist methods and come fight him face to face," Green said. 14McCreary said Khalid and his family should be able to apply for special immigrant visas or refugee status because he no longer works for the Afghan government. "People in Khalid's situation ... had no plans of leaving Afghanistan," McCreary said. "They were staying there to fight to the end." 15If they can leave, many in the U.S. military would gladly offer to help. 16"Without a doubt, any one of us would take these guys, these police officers, these Afghan soldiers into our homes, with their families, and do anything we could to help them just continue to live," Green said. 17McCreary warned that time is running out. 18"We know what's going to happen, and it's not good," he said. 19I'm Jill Robbins. 20Alex Sanz, Tammy Webber and Matt Lee reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do and Susan Shand was the editor. 21________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23interpreter - n. a person who translates the words that someone is speaking into a different language 24brother in arms - expression. a soldiers fighting together with other soldiers, especially in a war 25persecute - v. to treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly especially because of race, affiliation or religious or political beliefs 26patriot - n. a person who loves and strongly supports or fights for his or her country 27resolute - adj. very determined: having or showing a lot of determination 28province - n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into 29artificial - adj. not natural or real; made, produced, or done to seem like something natural 30dare - v. to tell (someone) to do something especially as a way of showing courage 31What do you think of the current situation for those who helped the U.S. military in Afghanistan? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.