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Do you feel like having been through this with i imagine the elation and relief that you're feeling today, do you feel like you have anything that you have learned that you can say right now about things that can be done to change that process right now, to get people out right now? things that can be done in the short term to fix what is obviously a broken system, at least to save some more lives in coming days? >> sure. it's worth noting that the system did not work for zak. even though the fact that zak is evacuated, it wasn't due to the system. it was due to the bravery and heroism of some...

System did not work for zak. even though the fact that zak is evacuated, it wasn't due to the system, it was due to the bravery and heroism of some air force folks and some marines who rallied around and picked zak's family up from outside that gate. and so he's still not successful in his siv application. he's still not actually past the first phase which is chief admission approval. what could be added to the system, i think common sense and potentially a little human aspect. if maybe an officer can attest that i served with this person and puts their name on the line, maybe that, i think, d...

I can assure them and you can ursure them on our behalf that we in the pentagon will do everything we can to help get them out of the country over the next couple of weeks. >> it's been more than 12 hours since you asked that question. you've been talking to people in kabul. i mean, have afghans been able to do that? talk about this process to get on the list, does that require an internet hook up? how -- what is this? >> it's not just an internet hook up. it requires letters of recommendation. it requires security checks. it can take years to get through that bureaucracy. and i know plenty of...

To do that? talk about this process to get on the list, does that require an internet hook-up? how -- what is this? >> it's not just an internet hookup. it requires letters of recommendation. it requires security checks. it can take years to get through that bureaucracy. and i know plenty of people who have been calling me, my phone has been burning up, anderson, for the last couple of days. and they tell me, oh, my s.i.v. application was rejected because of some discrepancy about this or that or they didn't receive this or whatever, a myriad of different reasons that you can get for an online...

Seen a total of six flights of those afghan siv applicants here to the united states. that amounts to about 1,000 of those siv applicants and their family members. but as you state, there are still upwards of 10,000 of these applicants plus their family members who are desperately th trying to get out of the country. the top u.s. diplomat at the embassy in kabul put out just today an internal memo urging those at the state department here in washington to consider a broader number of afghans they would consider evacuating, folks who may not qualify for the siv application but do qualify as ref...