CBS Reporter Spars With State Dept. Spox Over Situation in Afghanistan
State Department spokesperson Ned Price pushed back against criticism from CBS News correspondent Christina Ruffini over the situation in Afghanistan, telling her to “look at the investment we have made” there. During a…
State Department spokesperson Ned Price pushed back against criticism from CBS News correspondent Christina Ruffini over the situation in Afghanistan, telling her to “look at the investment we have made” there.
During a briefing on Thursday, Ruffini confronted Price over the country’s announcement that it is sending 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, as The Associated Press reports.
“I respect you, and we all know you have a job to do,” Ruffini said.
She added, “But there is no way you can sit there and say that the people of Afghanistan watching the Taliban take over provinces, watching their country crumble are now going to watch American diplomats get on military planes and leave the country that that sends a signal that the U.S. is with them in the long haul diplomatically.”
Price responded, “Look at what we’ve been doing. Look at the investment we have made in Afghanistan. Look at the investments, however you measure it.”
He continued, “Whether it is humanitarian. Whether it’s political. Whether it’s diplomatic. Whether it is the security investments that we have made.”
Price explained it is about “the priority this president attaches to the safety and security of Americans who serve in this government… that is not a priority we are willing to risk.”