In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman questions why the United States evacuated embassy personnel from Sudan while declining to organize a broader evacuation for thousands of American civilians trapped in the conflict.
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer during the 2006 Lebanon evacuation, Ackerman examines the history and importance of Noncombatant Evacuation Operations, known as NEOs.
Americans Abroad and Government Responsibility
Ackerman argues that protecting American citizens overseas has long been treated as a core duty of the U.S. government, especially when violence erupts suddenly and civilians cannot safely leave on their own.
Sudan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan
The essay compares the Sudan crisis with earlier evacuations in Lebanon and Afghanistan, showing how the shadow of Kabul may have shaped the Biden administration’s reluctance to conduct another large-scale operation.
The Rise of Private Rescue Efforts
At its center, the piece warns that when official evacuation efforts fail, private citizens and veterans are forced into improvised rescue networks that cannot replace state responsibility.