Operation Pineapple Express
by Lt. Col. Scott Mann
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Regular ANA units, unpaid for months, were handing over their U.S.-supplied equipment to the Taliban, who offered money for each rifle and vehicle, eachbox of ammunition.
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“How many countries will want to work with us when we treat our partners like this?”
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During evacuation operations in rough places, the most terrifying moment comes when the last flights leave, when there’s no one behind to provide cover or watch your tail. HKIA was no exception. Charlie Company had arrived amid chaos, and they were leaving in chaos.
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“When institutions failed in 2021, the best of America showed up.” Like most of the citizen liaison networks, the members of Task Force Pineapple, whoeventually numbered more than one hundred volunteers, were a mix of retired and active-duty U.S. special operations forces, foreign service officers, congressional staff from both parties, former intelligence officers, a Biden political appointee, and more. As just one group among groups, they looked at the massive collapse, saw that no one else was coming, and stepped forward and showed America what leadership looks like in the darkest of times.
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Volunteer groups have always been an integral part of any successful civil society.
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When no one showed up from our government. Veterans and civilian volunteers honored a promise and demonstrated what leadership looked like.
