1 00:00:49,299 --> 00:00:50,384 Hello! 2 00:00:50,926 --> 00:00:52,386 Welcome to the program. 3 00:00:52,469 --> 00:00:53,512 My name is Jon Stewart. 4 00:00:53,595 --> 00:00:56,932 And, man, there's a lot going on in the world. 5 00:00:57,015 --> 00:01:00,269 There's Fascism on the march in Italy. 6 00:01:00,352 --> 00:01:04,063 North Korea lobbing missiles over Japan. 7 00:01:04,147 --> 00:01:05,440 From what I understand, 8 00:01:05,524 --> 00:01:10,112 people in Europe are very nervous about what's going on in Russia. 9 00:01:15,075 --> 00:01:18,662 Apparently Ukraine wants to join NATO, and they don't know where to turn… 10 00:01:18,745 --> 00:01:20,163 I don't know what to tell you. 11 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,544 But, I'm-- I'm sure them joining NATO is okay, right? 12 00:01:25,627 --> 00:01:28,672 If Ukraine joins NATO, that means world war. 13 00:01:28,755 --> 00:01:29,590 Millions die. 14 00:01:35,387 --> 00:01:37,890 Okay. So things are good. 15 00:01:38,849 --> 00:01:40,350 But speaking of international conflict, 16 00:01:40,434 --> 00:01:44,438 tonight, oddly enough, we return to Afghanistan. 17 00:01:45,314 --> 00:01:48,275 I'm sorry to say, you've been drafted. No, I'm just kidding about that. 18 00:01:48,358 --> 00:01:51,862 As you know, we were in Afghanistan for 20 years. 19 00:01:51,945 --> 00:01:55,782 But we were only there to kill Bin Laden, which we did. 20 00:01:56,783 --> 00:01:58,243 In Pakistan. 21 00:01:58,327 --> 00:02:01,330 But of course, we stayed in Afghanistan for ten more years 22 00:02:01,413 --> 00:02:03,248 because we had already paid for parking. 23 00:02:03,332 --> 00:02:04,416 Not to worry! 24 00:02:07,294 --> 00:02:10,839 Our two decades in Afghanistan were long, but they were not lonely. 25 00:02:10,923 --> 00:02:17,471 We rode into Operation Enduring Freedom 42 allied countries strong, 26 00:02:17,554 --> 00:02:20,599 each contributing to the mission. 27 00:02:20,682 --> 00:02:23,477 Norway threw in a few missiles. 28 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,897 Australia offered some planes. 29 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:28,065 England… 30 00:02:29,483 --> 00:02:30,484 gave us Prince Harry. 31 00:02:39,117 --> 00:02:41,036 And we decided to keep him. 32 00:02:47,668 --> 00:02:50,045 Because he smells like clotted cream. 33 00:02:52,214 --> 00:02:54,007 But there was a slight problem. 34 00:02:54,091 --> 00:02:58,345 None of those friends and allies spoke Pashto or Dari or Urdu 35 00:02:58,428 --> 00:03:01,598 or any of the 40 languages and 200 dialects 36 00:03:01,682 --> 00:03:05,310 that tend to populate a country drawn by the Ottoman Empire 37 00:03:05,394 --> 00:03:06,812 and then the British Empire 38 00:03:06,895 --> 00:03:08,730 and then the Soviet-- whatever they are now. 39 00:03:08,814 --> 00:03:11,400 And so it was kind of a group project, the drawing of Afghanistan. 40 00:03:11,483 --> 00:03:14,570 So what we really needed were interpreters, 41 00:03:15,070 --> 00:03:19,116 Afghans willing to defy the Taliban. 42 00:03:19,199 --> 00:03:21,702 And we needed thousands of them. 43 00:03:21,785 --> 00:03:26,373 My capability of survival really relies on their interpretation. 44 00:03:26,456 --> 00:03:30,586 They were more important to our survival on the battlefield than our weapons. 45 00:03:30,669 --> 00:03:33,922 I feel he's done more for this country than I have personally, 46 00:03:34,715 --> 00:03:35,924 and I got a Purple Heart. 47 00:03:36,008 --> 00:03:37,551 Without that asset, 48 00:03:37,634 --> 00:03:41,597 I was-- you know, I was basically deaf and in many ways culturally blind. 49 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,976 Basically deaf and culturally blind is the house band at the Pentagon. 50 00:03:46,476 --> 00:03:47,477 But-- 51 00:03:49,354 --> 00:03:50,355 We're-- 52 00:03:51,940 --> 00:03:53,442 They know all the hits. 53 00:03:54,776 --> 00:03:56,904 But we're the US of, let's say, A. 54 00:03:56,987 --> 00:03:59,907 What possible downside could there be 55 00:03:59,990 --> 00:04:05,829 for Afghans to hitch their local, primitive means of conveyance to our-- 56 00:04:06,663 --> 00:04:08,832 I'm being told it's cars. Mostly they drive cars. 57 00:04:08,916 --> 00:04:10,167 Toyota Corollas apparently. 58 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:13,754 But the point is this, why wouldn't you wanna ride with us? 59 00:04:13,837 --> 00:04:18,926 The Talibans, they call all the Afghan interpreters the American spy. 60 00:04:19,009 --> 00:04:21,595 And they call us the infidel. 61 00:04:21,678 --> 00:04:23,889 And there's no forgiveness for us. 62 00:04:23,972 --> 00:04:27,142 They will torture us, and after that they will behead us. 63 00:04:27,226 --> 00:04:28,435 Holy shit. 64 00:04:29,144 --> 00:04:30,979 With the risk that these folks are taking, 65 00:04:31,063 --> 00:04:35,609 the United States better be ready to stand by our Afghan allies. 66 00:04:35,692 --> 00:04:39,947 Their country will never be abandoned to terrorists and killers. 67 00:04:40,030 --> 00:04:43,742 As Afghans stand up, they will not stand alone. 68 00:04:43,825 --> 00:04:48,038 Our message to those women and men is clear. 69 00:04:48,789 --> 00:04:52,835 There is a home for you in the United States, if you so choose, 70 00:04:52,918 --> 00:04:55,921 and we will stand with you just as you stood with us. 71 00:04:56,004 --> 00:04:58,215 Oh, my God. This is-- This is unbelievable. 72 00:04:58,298 --> 00:05:02,845 Not only are we standing by you, our beloved Afghan allies, 73 00:05:02,928 --> 00:05:07,558 we are offering you sanctuary in our home. 74 00:05:07,641 --> 00:05:11,395 In our home. Mi casa es su casa. 75 00:05:11,478 --> 00:05:15,190 For people who actually do speak Spanish, that does not apply to you. 76 00:05:22,906 --> 00:05:24,283 It's an expression. 77 00:05:26,368 --> 00:05:29,746 But they had bipartisan assurance that we would have their backs. 78 00:05:29,830 --> 00:05:33,292 So I'm sure even when we did leave after 20 years of-- 79 00:05:33,375 --> 00:05:36,962 I think we can all agree, it was a positive geopolitical home makeover. 80 00:05:37,045 --> 00:05:42,759 There was an orderly process to protect our Afghan allies, who had worked-- 81 00:05:42,843 --> 00:05:47,306 Holy fuck. That's-- Okay, that's chaotic. That does not-- 82 00:05:47,389 --> 00:05:48,515 Is that a withdrawal? 83 00:05:48,599 --> 00:05:52,477 Oh, they're in a hurry to get out. They just-- That's not how you-- Okay. 84 00:05:52,561 --> 00:05:54,188 That's-- They're-- Okay. 85 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,401 Probably time for a little history lesson here. 86 00:06:02,571 --> 00:06:09,328 America has a bit of a toxic, international fuckboy, hit it and quit it… 87 00:06:11,455 --> 00:06:12,748 reputation. 88 00:06:14,249 --> 00:06:19,796 I think the Vietnamese would attest, the Kurds in Iraq and Syria. 89 00:06:20,756 --> 00:06:24,092 I mean, as far back as the Marquis de Lafayette. 90 00:06:24,176 --> 00:06:27,012 That's the actual picture, by the way, from 1776. 91 00:06:29,598 --> 00:06:35,354 Aside from World War 2, America tends to leave its adventures a bit messy. 92 00:06:35,938 --> 00:06:37,314 And thus… 93 00:06:39,066 --> 00:06:41,276 "The Problem with Allies." 94 00:06:42,194 --> 00:06:46,990 Geopolitical relationships are tricky when the power imbalance is so pronounced. 95 00:06:47,574 --> 00:06:49,493 And that can reveal itself in many ways. 96 00:06:49,576 --> 00:06:53,205 Trade imbalance, natural resource exploitation, 97 00:06:53,288 --> 00:06:56,333 the occasional redrawing of borders. 98 00:06:56,416 --> 00:06:59,837 But the international game is especially fraught 99 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:03,340 when it involves the military-industrial complex 100 00:07:03,423 --> 00:07:05,384 and you happen to be the host country. 101 00:07:06,176 --> 00:07:09,096 See, more powerful countries tend to come on pretty strong. 102 00:07:09,179 --> 00:07:11,098 Hey, baby. 103 00:07:11,181 --> 00:07:14,434 I know you wanna go halfsies on a democracy, baby. Come on. 104 00:07:16,186 --> 00:07:17,521 Freedom is forever, baby. 105 00:07:18,146 --> 00:07:20,774 Oh, shit. Is that my pager? I gotta run. 106 00:07:22,401 --> 00:07:26,405 And when we pull the rug out, and we will, 107 00:07:26,488 --> 00:07:27,739 bad shit can happen. 108 00:07:28,282 --> 00:07:34,079 Economic collapse, purges, lower placement on our vaunted newscasts. 109 00:07:35,622 --> 00:07:37,291 But that's the old us, baby. 110 00:07:38,041 --> 00:07:39,418 We're working on our shit. 111 00:07:40,169 --> 00:07:42,254 This time, we got you. 112 00:07:42,963 --> 00:07:44,381 There's a program. 113 00:07:44,464 --> 00:07:45,883 It's 12 steps. 114 00:07:45,966 --> 00:07:49,344 It's called the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program. 115 00:07:49,428 --> 00:07:52,181 And it provides a path to US citizenship 116 00:07:52,264 --> 00:07:57,144 to many of those who put themselves at risk by assisting the United States. 117 00:07:57,227 --> 00:08:00,647 You just do a little paperwork, submit it to the State Department, 118 00:08:00,731 --> 00:08:03,317 and soon you'll be at the Rock & Roll Museum 119 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,194 with a pocket full of Kohl's Cash. 120 00:08:09,323 --> 00:08:11,617 Since 2009, the SIV program has brought in 121 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:15,037 more than 80,000 Afghan allies and their families. 122 00:08:15,579 --> 00:08:17,831 So, to borrow a phrase of the era, 123 00:08:18,707 --> 00:08:20,334 mission accomplished. 124 00:08:20,417 --> 00:08:25,839 I'm in my hiding place somewhere in Kabul, and I'm living in panic. 125 00:08:25,923 --> 00:08:28,926 Now, I'm not asking for the US visa. 126 00:08:29,009 --> 00:08:33,722 I'm just asking for a safe place. Please get me out of here. 127 00:08:33,804 --> 00:08:36,725 Please expedite our process. 128 00:08:40,354 --> 00:08:42,105 Expedite our process. 129 00:08:42,188 --> 00:08:45,108 You know, we are almost getting killed, man. 130 00:08:45,192 --> 00:08:46,193 Fuck! 131 00:08:46,735 --> 00:08:47,945 We didn't get everybody? 132 00:08:48,487 --> 00:08:51,990 Yes, apparently, since our orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan, 133 00:08:52,074 --> 00:08:58,247 over 100,000 SIVs, as well as their families, are stuck. 134 00:08:59,081 --> 00:09:04,002 And the processing of applications is piling up denials and delays. 135 00:09:04,628 --> 00:09:08,715 To give you a sense of what's keeping our treasured allies from joining us, 136 00:09:08,799 --> 00:09:11,802 what's getting them denied for the visa program, 137 00:09:11,885 --> 00:09:14,555 it's time to play America's favorite game show: 138 00:09:15,222 --> 00:09:16,473 Shit Outta Luck. 139 00:09:16,557 --> 00:09:21,353 Will our Afghan friends make it safely to the land of Cinnabon and Mountain Dew, 140 00:09:21,436 --> 00:09:22,771 or will they be… 141 00:09:24,064 --> 00:09:25,524 say it with me… 142 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,780 Shit Outta Luck! 143 00:09:40,330 --> 00:09:42,708 We probably should have rehearsed that earlier. 144 00:09:46,962 --> 00:09:48,380 You got the whole audience going, 145 00:09:48,463 --> 00:09:49,464 "I did not know 146 00:09:51,425 --> 00:09:53,719 that this was a participatory…" 147 00:09:55,095 --> 00:09:57,097 The goal of Shit Outta Luck is simple. 148 00:09:57,181 --> 00:10:00,184 Land on a national treasure and score that big visa, 149 00:10:00,267 --> 00:10:03,353 or land on Torchie, and you're shit outta luck. 150 00:10:03,437 --> 00:10:05,189 Bring up the board, Pauly. 151 00:10:05,814 --> 00:10:08,275 All right. Here we go! 152 00:10:10,611 --> 00:10:11,612 First up. 153 00:10:12,196 --> 00:10:14,615 He's nearly completed his application. He should be all set. 154 00:10:14,698 --> 00:10:17,701 Let's go, big visa, big visa, big visa, no Torchie. 155 00:10:17,784 --> 00:10:18,952 Stop! 156 00:10:19,036 --> 00:10:20,120 Oh, fuck. 157 00:10:22,664 --> 00:10:27,044 Apparently the application was denied, these are true, 158 00:10:27,127 --> 00:10:29,546 because the Afghan SIV 159 00:10:29,630 --> 00:10:34,760 didn't have access to a scanner in Afghanistan. 160 00:10:34,843 --> 00:10:37,846 Hey, you expect me to process a paper application? 161 00:10:37,930 --> 00:10:40,265 What am I, fucking Fred Flintstone over here? 162 00:10:40,933 --> 00:10:43,852 Denied. You're shit outta luck. Bring the board back up. 163 00:10:43,936 --> 00:10:47,231 Interpreter number two, all he needs is an interview with the US embassy 164 00:10:47,314 --> 00:10:49,274 to complete his SIV application. 165 00:10:49,358 --> 00:10:50,359 Let's go! 166 00:10:50,442 --> 00:10:53,362 Big visa, big visa, no Torchie. And stop! 167 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,281 Fuck! 168 00:10:57,699 --> 00:10:58,825 This is true. 169 00:10:59,535 --> 00:11:02,829 The interview that you do for your SIV application 170 00:11:02,913 --> 00:11:05,290 has to be at the US embassy. 171 00:11:05,374 --> 00:11:10,254 Which is really hard because it no longer exists. 172 00:11:13,048 --> 00:11:14,758 Now you participate. 173 00:11:18,178 --> 00:11:19,638 Denied. Board. 174 00:11:20,222 --> 00:11:21,431 One last contestant. 175 00:11:21,515 --> 00:11:23,642 He had all his shit together. 176 00:11:23,725 --> 00:11:27,187 His application had been in for six years. 177 00:11:27,271 --> 00:11:29,773 Remember, these are real people. 178 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:31,441 Let's go! 179 00:11:32,025 --> 00:11:35,737 All right, Torchie. Come on, baby. Don't come up. Big visa! 180 00:11:38,407 --> 00:11:40,325 Can't verify service. Can't verify service. 181 00:11:40,409 --> 00:11:41,702 Can't verify service. 182 00:11:42,578 --> 00:11:43,620 Torchie, you're-- 183 00:11:44,454 --> 00:11:46,790 You're fucking-- No, don't even-- 184 00:11:46,874 --> 00:11:48,250 Come on. 185 00:11:49,585 --> 00:11:51,962 It turns out, for many interpreters, 186 00:11:52,045 --> 00:11:56,049 their service with the United States cannot be verified. 187 00:11:56,133 --> 00:11:59,052 Because on our way out of Afghanistan, 188 00:11:59,761 --> 00:12:01,763 we burned all the records. 189 00:12:03,140 --> 00:12:04,725 In our defense, 190 00:12:04,808 --> 00:12:07,978 we do keep identifying data about our Afghan allies 191 00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:10,105 on biometric storage devices. 192 00:12:10,981 --> 00:12:14,318 In our non-defense, we left those behind, 193 00:12:14,401 --> 00:12:16,862 and they are now in the hands of the Taliban, 194 00:12:17,362 --> 00:12:23,744 who can use those data devices to retaliate against our Afghan allies. 195 00:12:23,827 --> 00:12:26,955 So, I guess we're helping some Afghans, 196 00:12:27,039 --> 00:12:28,874 just not the ones we thought. 197 00:12:29,708 --> 00:12:33,170 This is an outrage, and we need to speed this shit up. 198 00:12:33,670 --> 00:12:36,590 The Taliban has their data. 199 00:12:36,673 --> 00:12:39,551 Look, we are moving just as quickly as we can. 200 00:12:39,635 --> 00:12:43,222 We have mobilized significant resources 201 00:12:43,305 --> 00:12:48,602 to do all we can to make a dent in the applicants. 202 00:12:48,685 --> 00:12:52,564 Fuck that paper-pushing, pencil-neck geek wearing his dad's suit motherfucker! 203 00:12:55,984 --> 00:12:57,694 This isn't time for some bureaucratic-- 204 00:12:57,778 --> 00:13:00,656 We need presidential intervention, executive action. 205 00:13:00,739 --> 00:13:01,907 Put out the signal. 206 00:13:01,990 --> 00:13:03,534 Save us, Dark Brandon. 207 00:13:05,369 --> 00:13:07,704 Oh, save us, Dark Brandon. 208 00:13:08,664 --> 00:13:10,541 You're our only hope. 209 00:13:11,917 --> 00:13:13,126 President Biden announced today 210 00:13:13,210 --> 00:13:17,464 that the United States will take in as many as 100,000 refugees. 211 00:13:18,966 --> 00:13:21,343 It worked. Lord Biden has risen. 212 00:13:22,553 --> 00:13:23,804 Tell us, great one. 213 00:13:23,887 --> 00:13:25,556 This program will be fast. 214 00:13:26,390 --> 00:13:28,433 It needs to be fast. 215 00:13:28,517 --> 00:13:29,852 It will be streamlined. 216 00:13:29,935 --> 00:13:33,313 Streamlining would be very helpful to the process. 217 00:13:33,397 --> 00:13:36,316 And will ensure the United States honors its commitment to go to-- 218 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,401 to the people of Ukraine. 219 00:13:38,110 --> 00:13:39,152 What the fuck? 220 00:13:41,738 --> 00:13:43,031 Did you just say Ukraine? 221 00:13:43,115 --> 00:13:44,908 I mean, I'm all for helping Ukraine. 222 00:13:44,992 --> 00:13:47,035 I mean, they're in a terrible humanitarian crisis, 223 00:13:47,119 --> 00:13:50,372 and they're the reason the East Village has such good diners. But… 224 00:13:52,666 --> 00:13:59,548 how in God's name did we admit more than 100,000 Ukrainians in under 5 months 225 00:14:00,716 --> 00:14:05,470 while 100,000 SIV applicants have been in limbo for years? 226 00:14:06,471 --> 00:14:10,017 Why would we fast-track one group over another? 227 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:11,143 Why would the-- 228 00:14:13,729 --> 00:14:16,648 Why would the Ukrainian people have an easier time 229 00:14:16,732 --> 00:14:20,485 getting into the United States than Afgh-- 230 00:14:22,779 --> 00:14:24,323 I can't figure it out. 231 00:14:26,450 --> 00:14:27,451 Per-- 232 00:14:28,660 --> 00:14:31,205 Perhaps it's as simple as pierogi, yes, kebab, no. 233 00:14:31,288 --> 00:14:32,706 That's probably it. 234 00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:35,292 But there is hope on the hill. 235 00:14:35,375 --> 00:14:39,171 President Biden could do more to expedite the process. 236 00:14:39,254 --> 00:14:43,133 And there is a bill called the Afghan Adjustment Act 237 00:14:43,217 --> 00:14:47,346 that would alleviate at least some of the obstacles facing our Afghan allies. 238 00:14:47,429 --> 00:14:49,223 It has bipartisan support. 239 00:14:49,932 --> 00:14:51,266 But it has hit some snags. 240 00:14:51,808 --> 00:14:57,189 And whenever we talk about Afghanistan, the snag it hits is always the same. 241 00:14:57,272 --> 00:15:01,860 They need to be thoroughly and completely vetted for security concerns. 242 00:15:01,944 --> 00:15:04,530 We must ensure that they are properly and thoroughly vetted. 243 00:15:04,613 --> 00:15:08,408 The vetting and interview process must be strengthened and enforced. 244 00:15:08,492 --> 00:15:11,161 It's not just interpreters who worked with US forces. 245 00:15:11,245 --> 00:15:13,205 They have to have been loyal interpreters, 246 00:15:13,288 --> 00:15:16,458 and of course there has to be vetting of all those people as well. 247 00:15:17,251 --> 00:15:18,669 Vetting. No, I get you. 248 00:15:19,211 --> 00:15:23,298 Is there anyone that could put that a little more directly and ignorantly? 249 00:15:23,382 --> 00:15:27,636 Child brides. They have a child bride. Thirteen, 14 years old. 250 00:15:28,804 --> 00:15:31,515 And we're gonna resettle them, I guess, with a child bride. 251 00:15:31,598 --> 00:15:33,725 Are they doing that? With a child bride. 252 00:15:37,521 --> 00:15:40,482 Is it me, or did he sound more jealous than angry? 253 00:15:42,150 --> 00:15:43,902 What? Anyway. 254 00:15:43,986 --> 00:15:48,031 I'm sure our Afghan allies will understand. 255 00:15:48,115 --> 00:15:49,867 It's not like our actions in this war would affect 256 00:15:49,950 --> 00:15:53,579 their ability to, you know, work with us again 257 00:15:53,662 --> 00:15:55,622 if we needed them to, right? 258 00:15:55,706 --> 00:15:58,250 I was in combat, standing shoulder to shoulder 259 00:15:58,333 --> 00:16:00,335 with American soldiers at every step. 260 00:16:00,419 --> 00:16:02,337 I saved their lives in many ways. 261 00:16:02,421 --> 00:16:04,131 But in the end, they forgot me. 262 00:16:04,798 --> 00:16:07,092 If I had known this is how I would be left, 263 00:16:07,176 --> 00:16:09,344 I would never have chosen to work with them. 264 00:16:09,428 --> 00:16:12,764 Well, that does sound extreme… ly rational. 265 00:16:12,848 --> 00:16:14,057 Take a look at this. 266 00:16:17,352 --> 00:16:20,981 -We have those beautiful words… -…that define our country… 267 00:16:21,064 --> 00:16:23,609 …carved into the base of the Statue of Liberty. 268 00:16:23,692 --> 00:16:24,776 Give me your tired… 269 00:16:24,860 --> 00:16:26,361 -…but not… -…too tired. 270 00:16:26,445 --> 00:16:27,279 Your poor… 271 00:16:27,362 --> 00:16:28,906 …but not stupid. 272 00:16:28,989 --> 00:16:31,074 -Your huddled masses… -…unless… 273 00:16:31,158 --> 00:16:32,034 -…they are… -…Muslim… 274 00:16:32,117 --> 00:16:33,744 -…Arab or… -…Kurds… 275 00:16:33,827 --> 00:16:37,623 …people who may have a brown complexion and dark hair… 276 00:16:37,706 --> 00:16:39,041 -…and helped us… -…in a war… 277 00:16:39,124 --> 00:16:40,000 …that we started. 278 00:16:40,083 --> 00:16:41,293 We don't want them. 279 00:16:41,376 --> 00:16:42,377 Do you have any… 280 00:16:42,461 --> 00:16:44,421 -…Swedes or… -…Norwegians? 281 00:16:44,505 --> 00:16:45,964 -And by the way… -…we are… 282 00:16:46,048 --> 00:16:47,716 -…thinking of invading… -…Brazil… 283 00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:50,844 -…Italy, Switzerland… -…and maybe… 284 00:16:50,928 --> 00:16:51,803 …Greenland. 285 00:16:51,887 --> 00:16:53,472 Would you help us? 286 00:16:53,555 --> 00:16:55,682 -We have a lot of weapons… -…and we don't want them to… 287 00:16:55,766 --> 00:16:56,850 …go bad. 288 00:16:56,934 --> 00:16:58,060 -We're good. -We're great. 289 00:16:58,143 --> 00:16:59,728 Listen, we're the best in the world. 290 00:16:59,811 --> 00:17:01,230 Right? Right? 291 00:17:01,313 --> 00:17:02,814 We're America. 292 00:17:04,107 --> 00:17:06,443 You maniacs! 293 00:17:08,028 --> 00:17:09,029 Welcome back. 294 00:17:10,864 --> 00:17:13,032 Well, it's evidently clear 295 00:17:14,535 --> 00:17:17,579 that our elected officials have failed our Afghan allies. 296 00:17:17,663 --> 00:17:21,834 But the American veterans who fought next to them have not. 297 00:17:21,916 --> 00:17:24,377 Veterans have formed advocacy groups, lobbied Congress, 298 00:17:24,461 --> 00:17:26,839 and, in some cases, set up their own operations 299 00:17:26,922 --> 00:17:30,092 to try and get their interpreters out of Afghanistan. 300 00:17:30,175 --> 00:17:31,802 To hear more about these efforts 301 00:17:31,885 --> 00:17:35,472 and the efforts to make it here through SIV or humanitarian parole, 302 00:17:35,556 --> 00:17:37,099 we have Matt Watters, 303 00:17:37,182 --> 00:17:40,060 a US Special Forces sergeant who served in Afghanistan, 304 00:17:40,143 --> 00:17:41,478 and Shafiullah Sahil, 305 00:17:41,562 --> 00:17:45,440 a former Afghan interpreter for the US Special forces. 306 00:17:45,524 --> 00:17:46,692 Guys, welcome very much. 307 00:17:47,651 --> 00:17:48,902 Thank you for having us. 308 00:17:49,736 --> 00:17:53,490 Matt, I'm gonna start with you. 309 00:17:53,574 --> 00:17:55,951 How did you get involved with-- 310 00:17:56,034 --> 00:17:57,494 Was-- Was Shafiullah Sahil-- 311 00:17:57,578 --> 00:18:00,330 -And you go by Sahil? -Yes, last name is Sahil. 312 00:18:00,414 --> 00:18:01,874 Was Sahil your interpreter? 313 00:18:01,957 --> 00:18:04,668 And is that how you got involved with this? 314 00:18:04,751 --> 00:18:07,462 Well, so, I deployed to Afghanistan in 2020. 315 00:18:07,546 --> 00:18:10,465 And we were part of a counterterrorism force. 316 00:18:10,549 --> 00:18:13,760 Afghan Special Forces was working with US Special Forces. 317 00:18:13,844 --> 00:18:17,723 And, you know, I speak as much Pashto or Dari as they spoke English. 318 00:18:17,806 --> 00:18:20,267 And so we needed Sahil and other interpreters 319 00:18:20,350 --> 00:18:22,561 to make sure that the mission could actually happen. 320 00:18:22,644 --> 00:18:24,730 And Sahil actually saved my life on that deployment, 321 00:18:24,813 --> 00:18:26,523 as well as other members of our team. 322 00:18:26,607 --> 00:18:29,276 -So we got to know him really well, and-- -No, no, no. 323 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:30,360 Sahil… 324 00:18:31,361 --> 00:18:32,654 Look at you. 325 00:18:34,323 --> 00:18:35,240 What happened? 326 00:18:35,324 --> 00:18:38,869 So, once in-- in one compound, 327 00:18:38,952 --> 00:18:41,371 I was just speaking with the kids of the village. 328 00:18:41,455 --> 00:18:46,543 And I was trying to get some important information from them. 329 00:18:46,627 --> 00:18:49,838 So, one of the kids said, like, 330 00:18:49,922 --> 00:18:54,426 "The Taliban told us they had some mines, IEDs on the way." 331 00:18:54,510 --> 00:18:57,930 So they told the villagers not to walk that way 332 00:18:58,013 --> 00:19:01,141 because they knew that the team is coming here. 333 00:19:01,225 --> 00:19:02,559 So Matt was standing, and I just told-- 334 00:19:02,643 --> 00:19:05,395 "Hey, sir, this kid is saying these things." 335 00:19:05,479 --> 00:19:08,524 So after that, we just became best friends and… 336 00:19:09,942 --> 00:19:11,109 That'll do it. 337 00:19:12,236 --> 00:19:14,696 I once helped a friend of mine move. 338 00:19:17,366 --> 00:19:20,494 It's so interesting to hear the government talk about, "We must vet these people." 339 00:19:20,577 --> 00:19:23,080 The level of trust-- You've just met. 340 00:19:23,163 --> 00:19:25,791 That information was crucial to you. 341 00:19:25,874 --> 00:19:28,126 Yeah, we hadn't asked him to talk to the local kids. 342 00:19:28,210 --> 00:19:30,254 And so it was kind of an eye-opening experience 343 00:19:30,337 --> 00:19:32,464 about how seriously he took his job 344 00:19:32,548 --> 00:19:36,176 and also how vital he was to our survival while we were there. 345 00:19:36,260 --> 00:19:39,137 Are you nervous at this point 346 00:19:39,221 --> 00:19:43,308 that the US is going to withdraw and you're going to be left vulnerable? 347 00:19:43,392 --> 00:19:46,436 So at that time, we didn't know that the US will be leaving. 348 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:47,980 That's why the missions were stopped. 349 00:19:48,564 --> 00:19:53,277 And after, like, few months, the threats started from the Taliban. 350 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:54,361 So they said, like, 351 00:19:54,444 --> 00:19:58,866 "We found out who you are. You have killed our brothers." 352 00:19:58,949 --> 00:20:02,369 Or, like, mujahideen. "And you were involved on those missions." 353 00:20:02,452 --> 00:20:06,415 So, they were about to find my place, and they wanna find me and… 354 00:20:06,498 --> 00:20:08,917 -You have a family. -…and kill me. I have a family. 355 00:20:09,001 --> 00:20:13,881 And finally after that I got a phone call, and that phone call, 356 00:20:13,964 --> 00:20:16,258 the guy was asking me, "Are you Shafi?" 357 00:20:16,341 --> 00:20:17,843 I said, "Yes. Who are you?" 358 00:20:18,343 --> 00:20:19,928 He said, "Okay, don't ask who I am. 359 00:20:20,012 --> 00:20:24,433 I found you, and I will show you who I am once I catch you." 360 00:20:25,350 --> 00:20:28,103 -And then you see-- -Sahil, you have got to get caller ID. 361 00:20:28,187 --> 00:20:30,314 Let me explain something. 362 00:20:30,397 --> 00:20:34,067 This is fright-- Do you have any idea that this is now happening to Sahil? 363 00:20:34,568 --> 00:20:38,906 Yeah, so Sahil and I stayed in touch after the deployment. 364 00:20:38,989 --> 00:20:41,116 -Okay. -And we texted back and forth. 365 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,162 And, I mean, for myself and for other members of my team, 366 00:20:45,245 --> 00:20:47,748 it was nerve-racking because this guy had saved our lives, 367 00:20:47,831 --> 00:20:50,751 and now we're basically sacrificing him to be targeted by the enemy 368 00:20:50,834 --> 00:20:52,836 that we had all targeted together. 369 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,256 And it didn't sit right, and so, we knew about the SIV program. 370 00:20:56,340 --> 00:20:57,799 We helped him fill out the paperwork. 371 00:20:57,883 --> 00:21:00,177 We gave him some money, told him to go into hiding. 372 00:21:00,260 --> 00:21:03,680 And then we had to wait about two months, 373 00:21:03,764 --> 00:21:05,766 and then we found out that he was denied. 374 00:21:05,849 --> 00:21:06,683 Yeah. 375 00:21:06,767 --> 00:21:08,143 Why were you denied? 376 00:21:08,227 --> 00:21:12,439 So, I was just like 17 days short of the work-- 377 00:21:12,523 --> 00:21:15,526 the minimum work requirement that they want for the SIV. 378 00:21:15,609 --> 00:21:17,986 Yeah, and we thought that he would be grandfathered in 379 00:21:18,070 --> 00:21:20,030 because he didn't choose to stop working. 380 00:21:20,113 --> 00:21:22,491 The United States government terminated his contract. 381 00:21:22,574 --> 00:21:25,744 And so, it wasn't like this was something due to bad performance 382 00:21:25,827 --> 00:21:26,828 or any issue like that. 383 00:21:28,539 --> 00:21:32,251 In that moment, do you feel like there's no recourse for you? 384 00:21:32,334 --> 00:21:33,335 Do you feel hopeless? 385 00:21:33,418 --> 00:21:35,379 So, I was just hiding at home 386 00:21:35,462 --> 00:21:38,674 on the 15th of August when the Taliban took over the country. 387 00:21:38,757 --> 00:21:41,593 So then Matt and the other team members, 388 00:21:41,677 --> 00:21:44,555 they just told me to have your kids and wife and go to the Kabul airport. 389 00:21:44,638 --> 00:21:48,559 And we went because we had no other choice. 390 00:21:48,642 --> 00:21:50,561 You go to the airport in Kabul. 391 00:21:50,644 --> 00:21:53,313 You're there with your children, who are how old? 392 00:21:53,397 --> 00:21:55,566 My oldest son is five years, 393 00:21:55,649 --> 00:21:57,860 and my daughter, she's three years. 394 00:21:57,943 --> 00:22:00,153 And my wife, she was pregnant at that time. 395 00:22:01,363 --> 00:22:04,616 Did they just wave you in? How did-- What happened? 396 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:07,244 Thousands of people were trying to get into the airport. 397 00:22:07,327 --> 00:22:09,872 There was a lot of shooting and firing, you know? 398 00:22:09,955 --> 00:22:12,541 And the people just were-- They were just running toward us. 399 00:22:12,624 --> 00:22:15,085 And at that time, my wife, she just tripped. 400 00:22:15,169 --> 00:22:18,005 She tripped over, and the people were running over. 401 00:22:18,547 --> 00:22:20,299 So-- And I had my both kids. 402 00:22:20,382 --> 00:22:24,136 And I also didn't want the people to run over my kids. 403 00:22:24,219 --> 00:22:28,390 And I was trying to block the people and also save my wife. 404 00:22:29,183 --> 00:22:30,642 And then she collapsed. 405 00:22:30,726 --> 00:22:33,896 And finally, I mean, because of the very hot weather, 406 00:22:33,979 --> 00:22:37,858 my kids were about to-- I was thinking that they are going to die. 407 00:22:37,941 --> 00:22:40,444 And the water that we had with us for drinking, 408 00:22:40,527 --> 00:22:43,739 I was just pouring that water on my kids' heads. 409 00:22:43,822 --> 00:22:46,700 I didn't want to lose them. 410 00:22:47,492 --> 00:22:51,747 So, after three days, struggling to get into the airport, 411 00:22:51,830 --> 00:22:55,626 Matt told-- spoke to some soldiers inside the airport. 412 00:22:56,293 --> 00:23:00,589 And he told me to have my daughter, Mina. 413 00:23:00,672 --> 00:23:02,299 She had a red dress. 414 00:23:02,382 --> 00:23:06,929 And I put her on my shoulder that the soldier can identify me 415 00:23:07,012 --> 00:23:08,597 -and they can let me in. -Wow. 416 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:13,227 After that, we landed in Washington on 26th August last year. 417 00:23:13,894 --> 00:23:15,979 When-- When were you-- Please. 418 00:23:17,940 --> 00:23:20,734 When were you able to reconnect? 419 00:23:22,861 --> 00:23:24,530 I think it was sometime in September. 420 00:23:24,613 --> 00:23:26,990 I got a text from a USCIS officer. 421 00:23:27,074 --> 00:23:29,535 So, US Citizen and Immigration Services. 422 00:23:29,618 --> 00:23:33,372 And they said that this guy named Sahil is in New Jersey, 423 00:23:33,455 --> 00:23:35,040 and he wants to see you. 424 00:23:35,123 --> 00:23:37,960 And, I was pretty blown away 'cause I live in New Jersey. 425 00:23:42,798 --> 00:23:44,341 -So I drove there as-- -So-- Just-- 426 00:23:44,424 --> 00:23:47,511 I mean, New Jersey's a big place. You're not gonna just run into each other. 427 00:23:47,594 --> 00:23:49,972 -Yeah. -And he was able to-- 428 00:23:50,055 --> 00:23:52,975 And at that point, what-- 429 00:23:53,058 --> 00:23:54,810 Did the government set you up somewhere? 430 00:23:54,893 --> 00:23:56,019 How-- What happened? 431 00:23:56,103 --> 00:23:58,605 So, they took us to the hotel, 432 00:23:58,689 --> 00:24:01,400 and then Matt and-- His father, actually. 433 00:24:01,483 --> 00:24:05,153 His father came to the hotel, and he took me to their house. 434 00:24:05,779 --> 00:24:08,490 So, we are still living with them in that house. 435 00:24:08,574 --> 00:24:09,575 Oh, really? 436 00:24:09,658 --> 00:24:11,368 -Yeah. -And they have helped us. 437 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,579 Remarkable. 438 00:24:17,416 --> 00:24:21,420 A US veteran fighting the anger of moral injury, 439 00:24:21,503 --> 00:24:27,134 having to go above and beyond to pull the man who saved his life, 440 00:24:27,217 --> 00:24:28,927 whose life is now under threat. 441 00:24:29,011 --> 00:24:35,142 And this is the best-case scenario that this country has to offer right now. 442 00:24:35,225 --> 00:24:37,561 Wasn't there something called the Afghan Adjustment Act 443 00:24:37,644 --> 00:24:40,147 which was gaining some momentum in a bipartisan fashion? 444 00:24:40,230 --> 00:24:41,732 And what happened to that? 445 00:24:41,815 --> 00:24:43,650 Well, so, I think there's two groups of people. 446 00:24:43,734 --> 00:24:46,445 There's basically the Afghans who are here in the United States 447 00:24:46,528 --> 00:24:47,529 under humanitarian parole. 448 00:24:47,613 --> 00:24:50,032 -That grants 'em two years legal status. -Right. Two years-- 449 00:24:50,616 --> 00:24:54,453 For those people, like Sahil, they're basically in their second year. 450 00:24:54,536 --> 00:24:57,748 So they're nervous that they're gonna be deported after that time period is up. 451 00:24:57,831 --> 00:25:00,000 And so they need the Afghan Adjustment Act, 452 00:25:00,083 --> 00:25:02,586 which will basically grant them a path to getting a green card. 453 00:25:03,086 --> 00:25:04,379 For the second group of people, 454 00:25:04,463 --> 00:25:08,467 which is 100,000-plus people who have applied for an SIV 455 00:25:08,550 --> 00:25:10,135 and are still stuck in Afghanistan-- 456 00:25:10,219 --> 00:25:13,388 So the State Department, right now, flies out about 150 a week. 457 00:25:13,472 --> 00:25:15,516 -If you just do the math-- -150? 458 00:25:15,599 --> 00:25:16,600 150. 459 00:25:16,683 --> 00:25:20,437 And there's 100,000-- 150,000 there? 460 00:25:20,521 --> 00:25:22,356 It's gonna take decades with that. 461 00:25:22,439 --> 00:25:23,732 We're never getting it done. 462 00:25:23,815 --> 00:25:25,400 They're not gonna be around by the time-- 463 00:25:25,484 --> 00:25:26,860 -Right. That's insane. -Yeah. 464 00:25:26,944 --> 00:25:29,279 And so, they need more flights. 465 00:25:29,363 --> 00:25:33,408 We also have a gentleman right now in Afghanistan 466 00:25:34,326 --> 00:25:35,536 who is joining us. 467 00:25:35,619 --> 00:25:38,247 We're obviously going to blur his face. 468 00:25:38,330 --> 00:25:40,749 And we will call him "Mosa." 469 00:25:41,792 --> 00:25:45,546 He also worked for the United States. 470 00:25:45,629 --> 00:25:49,383 Mosa, you are in Afghanistan at this moment. 471 00:25:49,466 --> 00:25:51,260 Yes, I am. I am, Jon. 472 00:25:51,343 --> 00:25:55,764 Mosa, I wanna ask you a question. Was there an implied agreement 473 00:25:55,848 --> 00:25:59,184 between you and who you were working with, the United States, 474 00:25:59,268 --> 00:26:00,978 that you would have safe passage? 475 00:26:01,061 --> 00:26:03,564 Yeah, Jon, when-- 476 00:26:03,647 --> 00:26:06,024 when the Taliban took control of the country, 477 00:26:06,108 --> 00:26:09,611 I was pretty sure that I am among the evacuees 478 00:26:09,695 --> 00:26:12,781 because I managed my job very well, 479 00:26:12,865 --> 00:26:15,868 and beside that I was also an SIV applicant, 480 00:26:15,951 --> 00:26:19,413 which means that the Department of State have my data. 481 00:26:19,496 --> 00:26:23,458 But, unfortunately, I failed to get inside the airport. 482 00:26:23,542 --> 00:26:28,088 What has your life been like since those chaotic days, 483 00:26:28,172 --> 00:26:32,426 waiting for some bureaucratic progress from the United States? 484 00:26:32,509 --> 00:26:36,471 I live in hiding since I'm left behind. 485 00:26:38,348 --> 00:26:42,978 And I change my appearance when I go outside for any needs 486 00:26:43,061 --> 00:26:46,690 or to buy any groceries for home, and it's very difficult. 487 00:26:46,773 --> 00:26:49,651 And beside that I have two children, Jon. 488 00:26:49,735 --> 00:26:53,071 One is six years old, and another-- my daughter is three years old. 489 00:26:54,072 --> 00:26:57,326 I'm not able to send them to school because I'm scared. 490 00:26:57,409 --> 00:27:02,623 I'm also very-- in a criti-- facing a very critical financial situation as well. 491 00:27:02,706 --> 00:27:06,585 And it's very difficult right now, the life is very difficult here. 492 00:27:06,668 --> 00:27:09,963 I need the United States government 493 00:27:10,047 --> 00:27:13,008 to expedite the process and get me out of the country. 494 00:27:14,134 --> 00:27:19,681 Well, Mosa, I can't thank you enough for risking your life 495 00:27:19,765 --> 00:27:23,185 on behalf of the American people. 496 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:25,729 I truly hope that-- 497 00:27:26,772 --> 00:27:30,609 that we're able to break through whatever political impasse there is. 498 00:27:30,692 --> 00:27:33,654 And thank you so much for joining us, and please stay safe. 499 00:27:34,780 --> 00:27:36,823 Thank you, Jon. Thank you. 500 00:27:36,907 --> 00:27:38,158 Thank you, Mosa. 501 00:27:38,242 --> 00:27:39,952 Thank you, Sahil. Thank you, Matt. 502 00:27:41,078 --> 00:27:43,914 It's certainly the least that we can do as a country, 503 00:27:43,997 --> 00:27:46,834 and we appreciate you being here to share your stories. 504 00:27:46,917 --> 00:27:48,001 Take a look at this. 505 00:27:50,546 --> 00:27:52,506 Hey there, other country. 506 00:27:52,589 --> 00:27:55,175 Has American foreign policy let you down? 507 00:27:55,259 --> 00:27:58,595 Did the support we promised disappear in a puff? 508 00:27:58,679 --> 00:28:01,056 Have you been fucked in the name of freedom? 509 00:28:01,557 --> 00:28:04,518 Why don't you… enjoy a Happy Meal? 510 00:28:04,601 --> 00:28:08,397 Yeah, America did that too, and you're loving it. 511 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,191 So when our regular imperialism lets you down, 512 00:28:12,401 --> 00:28:16,321 our cultural imperialism will be there to pick you up. 513 00:28:16,405 --> 00:28:17,573 Drone attack? 514 00:28:17,656 --> 00:28:18,866 Yummy! 515 00:28:18,949 --> 00:28:19,992 Secret coup? 516 00:28:20,075 --> 00:28:21,451 Hello. 517 00:28:21,535 --> 00:28:22,953 Illegal arms sale? 518 00:28:23,036 --> 00:28:24,246 Delicious. 519 00:28:24,329 --> 00:28:26,164 More illegal arms sales? 520 00:28:27,833 --> 00:28:31,044 We just can't stop selling guns to bad people. 521 00:28:32,713 --> 00:28:35,090 The point is, wars may come and go. 522 00:28:35,174 --> 00:28:37,384 And presidents change every four to eight years. 523 00:28:37,467 --> 00:28:39,970 But you know who will never let you down? 524 00:28:44,266 --> 00:28:47,769 Freedom ain't free but McDonald's has a dollar menu, 525 00:28:47,853 --> 00:28:49,855 which is super almost free. 526 00:28:50,856 --> 00:28:53,567 Offer not good in countries that invaded Ukraine. 527 00:28:57,696 --> 00:28:58,780 All right. 528 00:28:59,990 --> 00:29:01,116 Now… 529 00:29:02,492 --> 00:29:04,786 For any meaningful bill to get passed in the Senate 530 00:29:04,870 --> 00:29:06,371 that could help our Afghan allies, 531 00:29:06,455 --> 00:29:09,124 it must go through the bipartisan Judiciary Committee. 532 00:29:09,208 --> 00:29:12,544 So we went down to DC to speak with the chair of that committee 533 00:29:12,628 --> 00:29:14,630 and see what the holdup is. 534 00:29:20,010 --> 00:29:24,515 Senator Durbin, you are the chair of the Judiciary Committee, 535 00:29:24,598 --> 00:29:30,854 powerful committee that has jurisdiction over immigration policy in America. 536 00:29:30,938 --> 00:29:34,149 So, in terms of the Afghan translators, 537 00:29:34,233 --> 00:29:36,401 there's humanitarian parole, 538 00:29:36,485 --> 00:29:39,988 there's the Special Immigration Visa program, SIV, 539 00:29:40,072 --> 00:29:43,116 and there's just applying for standard refugee status. 540 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:49,289 So, is SIV-- Is that the best avenue 541 00:29:49,373 --> 00:29:54,711 for those Afghans who are looking to come here 542 00:29:54,795 --> 00:29:58,006 and escape the Taliban and escape that situation? 543 00:29:58,090 --> 00:30:00,759 A lot of people here are on humanitarian parole. 544 00:30:00,843 --> 00:30:03,971 I describe it as the new rule in baseball 545 00:30:04,054 --> 00:30:08,267 that says, a tie game and extra innings, you put somebody on second base, 546 00:30:08,350 --> 00:30:11,019 in the hopes that the game will end sooner. 547 00:30:11,103 --> 00:30:14,982 Well, humanitarian parole puts that person on second base 548 00:30:15,065 --> 00:30:17,442 but never guarantees that a batter's coming up. 549 00:30:17,526 --> 00:30:19,570 So they may turn the lights out in the stadium, 550 00:30:19,653 --> 00:30:22,531 and you're still sitting there on second base, saying, "I'm going nowhere." 551 00:30:22,614 --> 00:30:23,615 -SIV-- -Although… 552 00:30:24,366 --> 00:30:27,619 second base might be better than the dugout, which is being bombed. 553 00:30:27,703 --> 00:30:30,038 That's right. I concede that point. 554 00:30:30,122 --> 00:30:31,790 -Right. -When it gets down to SIV, 555 00:30:31,874 --> 00:30:34,543 these are people who have a legitimate claim that, 556 00:30:34,626 --> 00:30:37,754 "We were there for you. Now be there for us." 557 00:30:37,838 --> 00:30:40,966 The problem is that their numbers are large. 558 00:30:41,049 --> 00:30:44,219 And the system that Biden inherited from Trump 559 00:30:44,303 --> 00:30:46,430 was in shambles, intentionally. 560 00:30:46,513 --> 00:30:48,724 And what we're doing is vetting. 561 00:30:48,807 --> 00:30:51,560 We're asking hard questions about who these people are. 562 00:30:52,060 --> 00:30:56,773 And they're saying, "The documents that prove what we did are gone. 563 00:30:56,857 --> 00:30:59,151 We left them behind. In fact we were told to. 564 00:30:59,234 --> 00:31:01,153 Don't take anything incriminating 565 00:31:01,236 --> 00:31:04,823 to a spot where the Afghans-- Taliban can use it against you." 566 00:31:04,907 --> 00:31:07,409 And so there are all sorts of hurdles. 567 00:31:07,492 --> 00:31:10,954 The administration is working toward the same-- the same goal, which we share. 568 00:31:11,038 --> 00:31:12,164 Right. 569 00:31:12,247 --> 00:31:14,208 It's just a massive undertaking. 570 00:31:14,291 --> 00:31:15,834 Let's get to the vetting 'cause this is-- 571 00:31:15,918 --> 00:31:19,379 Right now, I was looking at the SIV program, and… 572 00:31:20,422 --> 00:31:22,257 So, if you want to apply for SIV-- 573 00:31:22,341 --> 00:31:23,717 Let's say they were a translator, 574 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,304 and now they're in hiding from the Taliban and they're living in Afghanistan. 575 00:31:27,387 --> 00:31:28,388 And-- 576 00:31:28,472 --> 00:31:32,142 So, the first thing they need to do is get a one-year employment verification letter. 577 00:31:32,976 --> 00:31:37,272 Then they'd get a recommendation letter from a direct supervisor. 578 00:31:37,356 --> 00:31:41,318 You have to complete the Form DS-157. 579 00:31:41,401 --> 00:31:45,531 That's your Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application. 580 00:31:45,614 --> 00:31:48,200 I'm only going through this 'cause I'm helping my son apply to college. 581 00:31:48,283 --> 00:31:49,660 It's a very similar process. 582 00:31:49,743 --> 00:31:51,995 Here's one that I thought was interesting. 583 00:31:52,079 --> 00:31:56,166 "A scanned copy of Afghan electronic passport." 584 00:31:56,250 --> 00:31:58,669 And then a scanned copy of your employee badge. 585 00:31:58,752 --> 00:32:02,714 Well, then what you would do is, you would scan your documents 586 00:32:02,798 --> 00:32:06,844 and then upload them, submit them. 587 00:32:06,927 --> 00:32:08,011 So… 588 00:32:10,639 --> 00:32:12,140 are we insane? 589 00:32:13,892 --> 00:32:18,522 They're living in a country where they're on the run from the Taliban. 590 00:32:19,481 --> 00:32:21,108 They worked for us. 591 00:32:21,191 --> 00:32:25,612 Why are we asking them to submit letters of recommendation 592 00:32:25,696 --> 00:32:28,198 when they worked for us? 593 00:32:28,282 --> 00:32:30,576 We've already got all that from them. 594 00:32:30,659 --> 00:32:31,910 The premise is sound. 595 00:32:31,994 --> 00:32:35,163 We never want to allow a dangerous person, knowingly… 596 00:32:35,247 --> 00:32:36,081 Right. 597 00:32:36,164 --> 00:32:39,501 …to come into this country or to stay here if they're a danger to Americans. 598 00:32:39,585 --> 00:32:40,586 Sure. But this is even-- 599 00:32:40,669 --> 00:32:44,173 I mean, even if you get that done and you get approved… 600 00:32:46,341 --> 00:32:49,094 you have to go to the embassy. 601 00:32:49,178 --> 00:32:50,971 -You need an interview. -Yes. 602 00:32:51,763 --> 00:32:53,265 Do we have an embassy there? 603 00:32:53,348 --> 00:32:55,893 I'm not sure it's a functioning embassy. 604 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,061 -In the consulate-- -It's a building. 605 00:32:58,145 --> 00:33:01,064 So, we're talking about the need for a lily pad. 606 00:33:01,148 --> 00:33:06,028 And that may mean leaving Afghanistan to go to a third country in the meantime. 607 00:33:06,111 --> 00:33:10,073 But why are we treating allied workers, 608 00:33:10,157 --> 00:33:14,578 those who risked their lives on behalf of the United States of America in a war-- 609 00:33:14,661 --> 00:33:19,958 Why are we putting them through a process as though they were an unknown entity-- 610 00:33:20,042 --> 00:33:22,127 -Doesn't make sense. No. -It doesn't make sense. 611 00:33:22,211 --> 00:33:25,380 So, what we have is this Afghan Adjustment Act, 612 00:33:25,464 --> 00:33:29,635 which Senator Klobuchar, Democrat, Graham, Republican, 613 00:33:29,718 --> 00:33:33,180 are cosponsoring with other Democrats and Republicans, 614 00:33:33,263 --> 00:33:35,474 which basically said, "Okay, you want more vetting? 615 00:33:35,557 --> 00:33:37,142 We're for vetting. Let's do it." 616 00:33:37,226 --> 00:33:43,857 On a scale of reparations for African Americans to PACT Act, 617 00:33:43,941 --> 00:33:46,693 how close are we to getting that done? 618 00:33:46,777 --> 00:33:48,237 On that continuum. 619 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,113 There are bipartisan-- 620 00:33:50,197 --> 00:33:52,658 There is a bipartisan group supporting this bill. 621 00:33:52,741 --> 00:33:53,992 -Right. -It's good. 622 00:33:54,076 --> 00:33:58,080 But we need that critical number of ten Republicans who will support us. 623 00:33:58,830 --> 00:34:01,375 We wanna get it on a bill that has to pass. 624 00:34:01,458 --> 00:34:03,919 I won't try and explain what's wrong with the Senate. 625 00:34:04,002 --> 00:34:05,504 It'd take too long. But-- 626 00:34:05,587 --> 00:34:07,422 You want to attach it to, like, an omnibus 627 00:34:07,506 --> 00:34:11,802 or the defense spending NDAA so that they can sneak it in there. 628 00:34:11,885 --> 00:34:13,929 You-- They wouldn't do it as a stand-alone. 629 00:34:14,012 --> 00:34:17,306 Not sneak it in, but put it on a bill that is destined to pass. 630 00:34:18,183 --> 00:34:19,184 And… 631 00:34:21,018 --> 00:34:23,522 -You say potato. -I say po-tah-to. 632 00:34:23,605 --> 00:34:26,817 Now, if it-- If it passes, what changes? 633 00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:31,655 We create this pathway for many of these Afghan refugees 634 00:34:31,737 --> 00:34:35,409 to eventually get the ticket to ride, a green card. 635 00:34:35,492 --> 00:34:36,869 Graham and Klobuchar have said, 636 00:34:36,952 --> 00:34:38,453 "If you wanna vet, keep vetting. 637 00:34:38,536 --> 00:34:40,080 But get it done quickly, 638 00:34:40,163 --> 00:34:42,291 because there are so many people that deserve our help." 639 00:34:42,373 --> 00:34:45,127 Well, look-- Let's take a different tack for a moment. 640 00:34:45,210 --> 00:34:47,880 Ukraine is having, obviously-- 641 00:34:47,963 --> 00:34:50,591 They're at war with-- You know, Russia has invaded them. 642 00:34:50,674 --> 00:34:52,592 And they have a humanitarian crisis. 643 00:34:52,676 --> 00:34:59,433 And so we create a program for Ukraine and Ukrainians who wish to come here. 644 00:34:59,516 --> 00:35:01,560 And within a couple of months, 645 00:35:01,643 --> 00:35:07,065 I think 100,000 Ukrainians have come here on humanitarian status. 646 00:35:07,149 --> 00:35:10,110 Ukraine has a difficult time, even in their own country, 647 00:35:10,194 --> 00:35:13,697 determining who might be helping the war effort for Russia. 648 00:35:13,780 --> 00:35:18,493 And for Afghans, we throw up our hands and say, 649 00:35:18,577 --> 00:35:22,539 "Look, we're trying, but you just have to be able to get a scanner." 650 00:35:22,623 --> 00:35:25,167 -Consider the contrast. -Yeah. 651 00:35:25,250 --> 00:35:29,546 When it comes to governments, we trust the Ukrainian government, 652 00:35:29,630 --> 00:35:31,381 and we are working with them. 653 00:35:31,465 --> 00:35:36,303 Taxpayers are supporting them in massive amounts to defeat Putin. 654 00:35:36,386 --> 00:35:38,138 I'm not suggesting that 655 00:35:38,222 --> 00:35:42,434 that program for humanitarian parole for Ukrainians is wrong. 656 00:35:42,518 --> 00:35:47,731 I'm only suggesting that Afghans have certainly earned something 657 00:35:47,814 --> 00:35:49,983 much more robust than what they're getting. 658 00:35:50,067 --> 00:35:52,110 -But the point I was trying to get to is… -Yeah. 659 00:35:52,194 --> 00:35:56,156 …Ukraine is a government that works with the United States. 660 00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:57,991 The same can't be said for the Taliban. 661 00:35:58,075 --> 00:36:00,577 -In terms of-- -But these people worked for us. 662 00:36:00,661 --> 00:36:02,162 -Do we trust us? -They worked for-- 663 00:36:02,246 --> 00:36:06,041 They worked for us, but the folks who are resisting this in Congress… 664 00:36:06,124 --> 00:36:07,960 -Yes. -…on the Republican side-- 665 00:36:08,043 --> 00:36:11,213 Some of them don't want any immigrants from anywhere. 666 00:36:11,296 --> 00:36:13,173 -I mean, that is a closely-- -Right. 667 00:36:13,257 --> 00:36:14,967 Not a closely guarded secret. 668 00:36:15,050 --> 00:36:16,051 And secondly, 669 00:36:16,134 --> 00:36:20,681 when you're dealing with non-white, non-Christian immigrants, 670 00:36:20,764 --> 00:36:25,185 the record suggests that they're going to be more skeptical 671 00:36:25,269 --> 00:36:26,770 as to whether they should be allowed. 672 00:36:26,854 --> 00:36:30,983 Why won't the administration, then, create a humanitarian relief program? 673 00:36:31,066 --> 00:36:32,067 I mean, basically, 674 00:36:32,150 --> 00:36:35,362 the Ukrainian humanitarian parole was not a legislative act. 675 00:36:35,445 --> 00:36:36,446 It was an executive act. 676 00:36:36,530 --> 00:36:38,824 It seems convenient to be able to say, 677 00:36:38,907 --> 00:36:41,785 "Republicans won't vote for the Adjustment Act," 678 00:36:41,869 --> 00:36:44,288 or, "It will be difficult to convince them." 679 00:36:44,371 --> 00:36:45,914 But there's not a lot of evidence 680 00:36:45,998 --> 00:36:49,751 that the Democrats have the stomach to push it, 681 00:36:49,835 --> 00:36:51,211 to put it on the floor, 682 00:36:51,295 --> 00:36:55,174 or that the executive has the stomach to issue an order. 683 00:36:55,257 --> 00:36:56,842 -Well, I can tell you this. -Yeah. 684 00:36:56,925 --> 00:36:59,011 This room where I chair this committee-- 685 00:36:59,094 --> 00:37:01,263 By the way, beautiful. 686 00:37:01,346 --> 00:37:02,764 Thank you. 687 00:37:02,848 --> 00:37:04,683 We have confrontation here. 688 00:37:04,766 --> 00:37:07,186 -And I'm not afraid of that at all. -Sure. 689 00:37:07,269 --> 00:37:09,563 I think the president's on board for all of that. 690 00:37:09,646 --> 00:37:11,356 I don't think he's resisting any of it. 691 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:12,816 As for the timing of it, 692 00:37:12,900 --> 00:37:17,738 I haven't noticed anything that says we're going slow for some political reason. 693 00:37:17,821 --> 00:37:19,823 He's moving as quickly as he can. 694 00:37:19,907 --> 00:37:24,369 The veterans who fought for America in Afghanistan. 695 00:37:24,453 --> 00:37:27,414 They feel a great debt of gratitude 696 00:37:28,207 --> 00:37:32,336 to all those in Afghanistan who risked their lives on their behalf, 697 00:37:32,419 --> 00:37:35,130 and they feel that we've betrayed them. 698 00:37:35,631 --> 00:37:40,302 Not just the Afghans, but the veterans as well. 699 00:37:40,385 --> 00:37:43,096 That we've betrayed their sacrifice. 700 00:37:44,097 --> 00:37:45,307 I think they're right. 701 00:37:45,390 --> 00:37:46,975 When it gets right down to it. 702 00:37:47,059 --> 00:37:51,480 I think we should've given special consideration to those SIVs-- 703 00:37:51,563 --> 00:37:55,234 or those that really risked their lives and their families' lives 704 00:37:55,317 --> 00:37:57,861 to help us and to keep our troops safe. 705 00:37:57,945 --> 00:37:59,029 I mean, for God's sake. 706 00:37:59,112 --> 00:38:01,698 God forbid we're ever in a similar situation in the future, 707 00:38:01,782 --> 00:38:03,450 we want the native population to say, 708 00:38:03,534 --> 00:38:05,118 "These people are not bad people. 709 00:38:05,202 --> 00:38:07,538 The Americans are here for the right reason. Let's help 'em." 710 00:38:07,621 --> 00:38:09,665 How could we possibly make that case? 711 00:38:09,748 --> 00:38:11,458 Well, we can't make the case 712 00:38:11,542 --> 00:38:14,545 when you look back at how we treated these folks. 713 00:38:14,628 --> 00:38:20,384 We had provided support for Afghans in a fight against Russia. 714 00:38:21,927 --> 00:38:25,764 And when the Russians withdrew, we withdrew our support. 715 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:30,811 And that radicalized a good portion. 716 00:38:30,894 --> 00:38:33,146 That's what created Al Qaeda. 717 00:38:34,648 --> 00:38:39,820 How are we not committing the same sin, making the same mistake? 718 00:38:39,903 --> 00:38:42,781 You are guilty of linear rational thinking. 719 00:38:44,324 --> 00:38:48,078 -We're in the capital of the US. -Yes. 720 00:38:48,161 --> 00:38:50,956 Election is just weeks away. 721 00:38:51,039 --> 00:38:54,042 And this is not the best moment for linear rational thinking. 722 00:38:54,126 --> 00:38:57,504 What we're trying to do is to beg, borrow, whatever it takes 723 00:38:57,588 --> 00:39:01,592 to get as many of these Afghans who helped us into the United States. 724 00:39:01,675 --> 00:39:03,552 This Adjustment Act, it can pass. 725 00:39:03,635 --> 00:39:05,345 I believe it will pass this year. 726 00:39:05,429 --> 00:39:08,307 Final question, then, would be-- And thank you so much for taking the time. 727 00:39:08,390 --> 00:39:10,184 I know it's an uncomfortable conversation. 728 00:39:10,267 --> 00:39:15,731 If it doesn't find its way into another bill that is sure to pass, 729 00:39:15,814 --> 00:39:18,400 and we don't make it through in the midterms, 730 00:39:18,483 --> 00:39:20,986 would you support the kind of executive action 731 00:39:21,069 --> 00:39:24,823 that we would need to take to get these folks out of harm's way 732 00:39:24,907 --> 00:39:27,826 and to the United States where they could be vetted 733 00:39:27,910 --> 00:39:32,414 but finally be given some safe haven on second base? 734 00:39:32,497 --> 00:39:33,582 Yes. 735 00:39:33,665 --> 00:39:36,001 All right, sir. Much appreciated. 736 00:39:36,084 --> 00:39:37,252 -Thank you -Thank you. 737 00:39:38,712 --> 00:39:39,922 All right. 738 00:39:41,465 --> 00:39:42,674 You believe him, right? 739 00:39:43,759 --> 00:39:45,552 A senator wouldn't lie. 740 00:39:46,762 --> 00:39:49,389 Would a senator lie to your face? No! 741 00:39:50,307 --> 00:39:52,684 Of course we're gonna believe him. That's our show. 742 00:39:53,393 --> 00:39:55,187 But clearly, we're not done with this issue. 743 00:39:55,270 --> 00:39:57,940 For more information, please check out these resources. 744 00:39:58,023 --> 00:40:01,485 Or you can always find them at our website, 745 00:40:01,568 --> 00:40:03,529 which I have never visited. 746 00:40:03,612 --> 00:40:05,739 Never logged onto it. Not even sure. 747 00:40:05,822 --> 00:40:08,951 Don't know if it's a password. I don't even know what's on it. 748 00:40:09,826 --> 00:40:12,120 Have heard the podcast. In passing. 749 00:40:13,455 --> 00:40:14,540 Didn't care for it. 750 00:40:15,874 --> 00:40:17,084 All right, everybody, 751 00:40:17,167 --> 00:40:21,004 it's time for the only thing that would make this episode worse for Afghans, 752 00:40:21,088 --> 00:40:23,507 Ted Cruz sharing his opinion. 753 00:40:23,590 --> 00:40:26,426 Here it is, your moment of Cruz. 754 00:40:26,969 --> 00:40:31,807 You know, we just saw a citizen blogger dressed as Osama bin Laden 755 00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:34,476 cross the Rio Grande. 756 00:40:35,060 --> 00:40:37,145 -Now, nobody stopped him. -Wow. 757 00:40:37,229 --> 00:40:42,234 It suggests to you, gosh, if one person dressed as Osama bin Laden were to cross, 758 00:40:42,317 --> 00:40:45,571 how many other Osama bin Ladens could cross?