Posted on Aug 31, 2021
a-private-operation-run-out-of-a-hotel-conference-room-has-helped-evacuate
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A coalition of war veterans, Afghan diplomats, wealthy donors, defense contractors, nonprofit workers, and off-duty U.S. officials — in an "on-the-fly" effort run out of a conference room at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. — have helped evacuate approximately 5,000 refugees from Afghanistan in the past two weeks, The Wall Street Journal reports. The self-named "Commercial Task Force" is now "one of the most successful known private" efforts to rescue those on the ground, looking to escape.
"This is not who we are as a people," said Jim Linder, a retired general and task force member, referencing the at-large evacuation effort. As president of Tenax Aerospace, Linder's connections "helped the group charter planes for rescue flights," the Journal writes.
At the task force's helm is Zach Van Meter, a private-equity investor "spurred to action" at the urging of his business associate, a former U.S. Army commando, per the Journal. Eager to help, Van Meter rented out the hotel's Peacock Lounge and set up shop. His group has now negotiated refugee spots with the United Arab Emirates and is talking with officials from Albania, Ukaine, and other countries.
With evacuation routes closing, the "volunteers are looking at land routes and possible airlifts from smaller cities, as well as countries willing to host those Afghans who have already escaped," writes the Journal. At 3 a.m. on Sunday, the last of them left the lounge "for good and moved their work elsewhere."
"This is not who we are as a people," said Jim Linder, a retired general and task force member, referencing the at-large evacuation effort. As president of Tenax Aerospace, Linder's connections "helped the group charter planes for rescue flights," the Journal writes.
At the task force's helm is Zach Van Meter, a private-equity investor "spurred to action" at the urging of his business associate, a former U.S. Army commando, per the Journal. Eager to help, Van Meter rented out the hotel's Peacock Lounge and set up shop. His group has now negotiated refugee spots with the United Arab Emirates and is talking with officials from Albania, Ukaine, and other countries.
With evacuation routes closing, the "volunteers are looking at land routes and possible airlifts from smaller cities, as well as countries willing to host those Afghans who have already escaped," writes the Journal. At 3 a.m. on Sunday, the last of them left the lounge "for good and moved their work elsewhere."
a-private-operation-run-out-of-a-hotel-conference-room-has-helped-evacuate
Posted from theweek.comPosted in these groups: Afghanistan Refugees
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
Posted >1 y ago
How do you volunteer for this fabulous endeavor?
(6)
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1LT Voyle Smith
>1 y
If I wished to join the group, I would contact Tenax Aerospace and ask to be connected to Jim Linder, who is said to be a task force member.
(5)
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(0)
Posted >1 y ago
But the grand poobah said anyone who wants to leave could.
(2)
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(0)
MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
>1 y
Yes, but it seems that the only way out being offered to them is a permanent exit furnished to them by the Taliban . . .
(2)
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(0)
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