2021-08-25 12:36:11

“Massacre of My Dreams”: Afghan Reporter Bilal Sarwary on Fleeing Kabul, Afghanistan’s “Brain Drain”

The United States has helped evacuate over 75,000 people since the end of July from the Kabul airport, but the Taliban is now allowing passage only to people with foreign passports or an invitation from the U.S. or one of its allies.

President Joe Biden says U.S. troops are on pace to leave the country by the August 31 deadline, despite pressure from U.S. allies in the G7 to stay longer to help more people flee the country. We speak with Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary, who fled Kabul in recent days after reporting on Afghanistan for 20 years.

He says his plane out of the country was an encapsulation of the brain drain from the country, with some of the most prominent artists, journalists and other civic leaders fleeing for their lives. “This is Afghanistan going down the drain in a matter of seconds,” he says.

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

On DN!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.

Missed an episode?  Check out DN on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. 

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.

Afghanistan Amy Goodman Bilal Sarwary Democracy Now! Free Speech TV Joe Biden Kabul Kabul Airport United States War

Human Rights and Equality

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | Black and Brown Women: The Ignored Voices in Abortion Rights

This Week In White Supremacy | Black and Brown Women: The Ignored Voices in Abortion Rights

Rising Up With Sonali

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | The Killings of Climate Activists Worldwide

Democracy Now! | The Killings of Climate Activists Worldwide

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Nashville Mayor Addresses Nashville's 'Nazi Problem'

Democracy Now! | Nashville Mayor Addresses Nashville's 'Nazi Problem'

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Voices for Peace: Israelis and Palestinians Unite

Democracy Now! | Voices for Peace: Israelis and Palestinians Unite

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | Ta-Nehisi Coates on the West Bank: Confronting Apartheid

This Week In White Supremacy | Ta-Nehisi Coates on the West Bank: Confronting Apartheid

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | UN Redeemable

This Week In White Supremacy | UN Redeemable

Rising Up With Sonali | How A Yes! Magazine Investigator Debunked Allegations Against Hamas

Rising Up With Sonali | How A Yes! Magazine Investigator Debunked Allegations Against Hamas

Related

The Thom Hartmann Program

The Thom Hartmann Program | Does the Left Needs its own Media Ecosystem?

The Thom Hartmann Program | Does the Left Needs its own Media Ecosystem?

The Thom Hartmann Program

The Thom Hartmann Program | American Society Used to Benefit from the Wealthy

The Thom Hartmann Program | American Society Used to Benefit from the Wealthy

The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show | The Fallout of the Washington Post's (lack of) Endorsement

The Rick Smith Show | The Fallout of the Washington Post's (lack of) Endorsement

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Al Jazeera Journalists Targeted Amid Gaza Conflict

Democracy Now! | Al Jazeera Journalists Targeted Amid Gaza Conflict

Proud Partners