The State Department official tasked with overseeing the chaotic US evacuation from Afghanistan in August 2021, John Bass, told congressional investigators that he was sent to Kabul only after the Taliban took control and was given no plan or insight into who qualified for evacuation. Despite being in charge of the US embassy in Kabul since January 2020, Bass was sent to help with the evacuation four days after the Taliban took over, with almost no preparation beforehand. The lack of planning by the State Department led to several major challenges that may have been avoidable.
Bass arrived in Kabul on August 19, 2021, with no clear understanding of the State Department’s role in the evacuation of Americans and their Afghan allies. He was unaware of how long the mission would last and had limited information about who qualified for evacuation. Bass stated that the goal was to enable the departure of as many American citizens and Afghans with ties to the United States as possible, while coordinating with allied nations to achieve the same objective. However, he was not given a list of categories or prioritization for evacuation, relying instead on his previous experience as Ambassador to Afghanistan.
In Kabul, Bass encountered numerous challenges, including crowd control and physical security issues at the airport. Despite being in charge of temporary personnel sent to assist with the evacuation, Bass noted that Ross Wilson, the head of the embassy staff in Kabul, should have had overall authority over the operation. Instead, the Defense Department took the lead, with Bass serving as the main State Department contact. Other State Department employees reported directly to Bass, leading to confusion about Wilson’s role during the evacuation.
The lack of clear planning and guidance persisted throughout the evacuation process. Senior foreign service officer James DeHart, who arrived in Kabul to assist Bass, described the situation as chaotic and unprecedented. Planning had to be created from scratch, and decisions were made based on the timeline and available resources. The uncertainty surrounding the mission’s end date made on-the-ground planning difficult, as decisions were contingent on the timeframe provided. Additionally, determining who was eligible for evacuation was largely done ad hoc, with eligibility standards being revised continuously.
Bass stated that the evacuation prioritized lawful permanent residents, Afghans who worked closely with the US government, and individuals at risk due to their affiliations. Eligibility standards were adjusted based on the evolving circumstances on the ground, with consular professionals using their judgment to determine who could board flights. Despite efforts to maximize assistance, some Afghans were evacuated without proper documentation, reflecting the challenges faced in accurately identifying eligible individuals. Of the over 120,000 people evacuated, the majority were Afghans who had worked with the US government, with a significant number of Americans choosing to remain in Taliban-controlled areas due to various reasons.
Bass acknowledged the difficulties faced during the evacuation process, emphasizing the shifting priorities and challenges encountered on a daily basis. He expressed trust in the consular professionals tasked with making eligibility determinations, highlighting their experience in evaluating individuals’ legal pathways to the United States. Despite the lack of clear plans and guidance, Bass and his team managed to evacuate thousands of individuals, including Americans and Afghan allies, amidst the chaotic and rapidly changing circumstances in Afghanistan.
