We’ve all seen the disturbing images of thousands of people scrambling to get out of the Karzai Airport in Afghanistan. Who will live? Who will die? Who is making it onto American planes? And who is not? What the hell is really happening on the ground?
Independent Americans continues our unique focus on the collapse of Afghanistan with an urgent new conversation with an inspiring American leader who’s working night and day to save lives. Army Veteran and humanitarian Kristen Rouse is leading “Digital Dunkirk.” A make-shift army of people all across America that are rushing to help Afghans navigate bureaucracy, avoid the Taliban, and find a golden airplane slot to safety.
Kristen is a renowned national voice for veterans, LGBTQ people, refugees and all humanity. She has been working non-stop for weeks to save as many Afghan allies as possible. She takes us inside the makeshift command center inside her home–as she works in real-time to save her own Afghan interpreter and others. Kristen is another conscience for America that will break down why all the latest news is about so much more than Afghanistan.
This is a fast-paced pod that will show you the sides you won’t see on cable news. It’ll help you understand the ground truth, avoid the spin, and understand what’s really happening. You’ll also get a deeper look into the policy failures, military challenges and humanitarian needs–and hear why Biden’s new August 31st pull-out date may be a death warrant for thousands.
Kristen Rouse (@TrueBoots) is one the most important veteran and national security advocates in America. She has served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National Guard for more than 23 years. She served in Afghanistan in for a combined 31 months with roles including mission planning for resupply convoys to remote combat outposts in eastern Afghanistan and working directly with the Afghan National Army. As a civilian, she has created regional and citywide logistics plans and programs for NYC’s Office of Emergency Management. Her experiences following her third tour of duty led her to found the NYC Veterans Alliance. Kristen continues to serve in the US Army Reserves and on the Board of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). She also teaches literature and writing as an adjunct professor and has been featured in The New York Times, New York Post, Daily Beast, CNN, MSNBC, NPR and more.
Our host, national security and political analyst and Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) explores it all with Kristen, and breaks down the latest with a unique focus on national security, media coverage, and the political dynamics from a truly independent viewpoint. It’s a fresh perspective you won’t find anywhere else on the media landscape.
