blocked from any hope of getting on a plane. thursday was also the country's traditional end independence dad some chose to defy the taliban by flying the international flag. the taliban reportedly reacted with whips and gunfire to disperse the crowds. in places under firm taliban control, only the group's flag was to be seen on the streets. for countless, the airport is their only life line out. the u.s. says it has evacuated about 9,000 people this recent days including 350 americans on thursday, but that is nothing compared to the thousands of afghans now clamoring to get into the airport and the tens of thousands more who can't even get to the airport. cnn's nick paton walsh has the latest. >> reporter: it is america's final act in afghanistan. and it involves getting many americans and afghans loyal to