Blumenthal Urges U.S. Central Command to Prioritize Evacuation of Americans & At-Risk Allies Still in Afghanistan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) questioned Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla, nominee to serve as Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), about efforts to evacuate Americans and at-risk allies who are still unable to leave Afghanistan. At the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing this morning, Blumenthal highlighted the responsibility and duty of the United States to enable their safe passage. 

“Our credibility and power around the world depend on our keeping our word. We have given our word to the translators and interpreters and guards and drivers and all the Afghans who put their lives on the line to protect our troops and diplomats during the 20 years of our engagement there in combat, and I worry about our credibility around the world and our credibility in the next struggle,” said Blumenthal.

“I just want to say how grateful I am to the veterans group for their support in the continuing effort to enable those at-risk Afghan allies to come to this country, but I have been frustrated by, frankly, our State Department's seeming reluctance to be as engaged as it should in this effort,” Blumenthal continued.  

Blumenthal questioned Kurilla on what more could be done to facilitate the swift and safe evacuation of our at-risk Afghan allies and secured a commitment that Kurilla return to the committee with information on resources CENTCOM can provide.

“What capacity do you think CENTCOM has to facilitate the continued evacuation of the Afghan allies who remain at-risk in that country…Can CENTCOM play a role in facilitating the evacuation of those at-risk Afghan allies if asked to do so?” Blumenthal asked.

“Senator, I believe we have a moral obligation to help those at-risk Afghans to come out of Afghanistan,” Kurilla responded. “If confirmed, I commit to you to look at what options are available to be able to assist in that Department of State.”

“Will you commit to come back to the committee, I think it’s implied in your answer, with such a plan and a description of options and assets that could be made available?” Blumenthal continued.

“Senator, I will,” Kurilla said.

Over the last several months, Blumenthal has been involved in efforts to help Americans and Afghan allies leave Afghanistan. Working with a coalition of volunteers, veterans, journalists, and advocates, last October Blumenthal and his office provided critical assistance in helping secure safe passage from Mazar-e Sharif for two planes carrying American citizens, Legal Permanent Residents, interpreters and other vulnerable Afghans, and their families.

Last month, Blumenthal wrote Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield to share his support for providing additional humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and urged the United Nations to demand provisions allowing for the evacuation of at-risk Afghan allies during its negotiations with the Taliban for governmental assistance.

Last year, Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing the Honor Our Commitment Act to prioritize evacuation, processing, and resettlement efforts for Americans, Lawful Permanent Residents, and at-risk Afghan allies. He also wrote President Joe Biden calling for a clear, effective strategy to expedite the evacuation of Americans and at-risk Afghan allies who face significant, imminent risk if they remain in Afghanistan.

The video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available here and the full transcript is copied below.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. General, welcome to the committee and thank you for your service. Thanks for talking to me the other day, as we did on the phone, and answering my questions as insightfully and forth rightfully as you’re doing here at the committee. I look forward to visiting with you during your service in CENTCOM. As you and I discussed, we have been dwelling in this committee hearing mostly on the use of American power or military power, but our credibility and power around the world depend on our keeping our word. We have given our word to the translators and interpreters and guards and drivers and all the Afghans who put their lives on the line to protect our troops and diplomats during the 20 years of our engagement there in combat. And I worry about our credibility around the world and our credibility in the next struggle. Two of my sons have served. One was an infantry officer, a Marine Corp officer in Afghanistan. It took him two years to bring over his interpreter. The other was a Navy SEAL. And I just want to say how grateful I am to the veterans group for their support in the continuing effort to enable those at-risk Afghan allies to come to this country, but I have been frustrated by, frankly, our State Department's seeming reluctance to be as engaged as it should in this effort and a number of us colleagues have joined Senator Graham, Senator Ernst, myself, Senator Cardin in a measure called Honor Our Commitment which would try to enable more of those at-risk Afghan allies to come here. Let me ask you, what capacity do you think CENTCOM has to facilitate the continued evacuation of the Afghan allies who remain at risk in that country. I know it’s winter there as it is here, the airport has failings but we are America, we can fly in and out of that airport. Can CENTCOM play a role in facilitating the evacuation of those at-risk Afghan allies if asked to do so?

Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla: Senator, I believe we have a moral obligation to help those at-risk Afghans to come out of Afghanistan. If confirmed I commit to you to look at what options are available to be able to assist in that Department of State.

Blumenthal: Will you commit to come back to the committee, I think it’s implied in your answer, with such a plan and a description of options and assets that could be made available?

Kurilla: Senator, I will.

Blumenthal: Thank you. Do you think that there are necessary assets in CENTCOM right now to support that kind of plan?

Kurilla: Senator, I would have to look at the current missions if confirmed, look at the current missions assigned to CENTCOM, the resources allocated and identify the risks associated against all of those. If that additional mission is applied, what resources and does that place others at risk or go back to additional resourcing for that.

Blumenthal: Thank you. Well I welcome your commitment to come to us with a plan and description of the assets that could be made available, and if necessary additional assets that would be required. Let me ask you final question. When we're talking about defending against missiles and our allies that need those defenses, the Iron Dome is one very reliable and important means of Israel defending against its adversary’s missiles. Would you agree that replenishment of the Iron Dome capacities of Israel is important to the security of that country and potentially our own?

Kurilla: Senator, as you know the U.S. Army just got two Iron Dome batteries that are going through testing and evaluation and I believe it's had about a 90% kill rate in terms of being able to knock down targets. But I do think Iron Dome should be funded.

Blumenthal: And that it should be funded and replenished for Israel because as you have absolutely, correctly observed, it’s a very reliable defensive, emphasize defensive, mechanism.

Kurilla: It is Senator.

Blumenthal: Thank you very much general, good luck.

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