Duties We Owe: Fulfilling Our Debt to Our Afghan Allies
In the heart of the United States, the symbol of freedom and prosperity continues to shine bright. This beacon of hope has been a beacon for many, including Danny Nguyen, a graduate of the United States Military Academy and a current officer in the United States Army.
Forty-one years ago, Danny Nguyen's mother and her family left Vietnam with few possessions, fleeing the final offensive by Communist forces in April 1975. They were among the over 130,000 Vietnamese refugees evacuated before Communist tanks rolled into Saigon.
Like many others, they were in-processed through four different military facilities in the United States. Danny Nguyen's mother worked and earned a college degree, later raising three children. Today, Danny Nguyen and his sisters have strived to fulfill the American dream every day.
The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, currently in place to assist at-risk individuals in Afghanistan, mirrors the efforts made during the Vietnam War. President Ford sought to ensure a speedy evacuation for as many at-risk persons as possible in the final days of the Vietnam War, a sentiment echoed today as we face similar challenges in Afghanistan.
However, there is a need to expand the SIV program and increase resources for speedy processing. The United States admitted at least sixty thousand refugees a year for several years after the Vietnam War, a figure that could be replicated today.
In addition, there is a need to increase airlift capabilities in and out of Kabul to supplement military cargo lift. Western governments such as Germany and allied forces conducted military evacuation operations in Kabul in August 2021 to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other at-risk individuals amid the US troop withdrawal and the Taliban's rapid takeover.
Moreover, there is a need to establish more third-country safe havens for processing refugees and those who fear for their lives in Afghanistan. This would not only provide a safer environment for processing but also alleviate the pressure on Kabul's infrastructure.
Danny Nguyen, a member of the Long Gray Line, hopes that Afghans who risked their lives to assist the efforts in their country will be resettled in the United States soon. He recalls President Reagan's farewell address in 1989, where he recounted the story of a refugee from Indochina being rescued by an American sailor, saying, "Hello, American sailor. Hello, freedom man."
It is a reminder of the hope and opportunity that the United States represents, and a call for action to ensure that those who have risked their lives for freedom continue to find a safe haven in the land of the free. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.
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