Helping Afghan Families Escape the Taliban
In this feature for CBS Sunday Morning, Elliot Ackerman reflects on the collapse of Afghanistan following the American withdrawal and the desperate efforts undertaken by veterans, service members, and volunteers to help Afghan allies escape Taliban control.
Drawing on his experiences serving in Afghanistan with both the Marine Corps and later in intelligence operations, Ackerman discusses the moral, emotional, and strategic consequences of abandoning Afghan partners who supported the United States during two decades of war.
The Fifth Act and America’s Withdrawal
The segment explores themes from Ackerman’s book The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan, which chronicles the final weeks of the war and the efforts to evacuate vulnerable Afghans during the Taliban takeover.
Ackerman recounts participating in informal digital rescue networks that coordinated evacuations, shared information, and attempted to move Afghan interpreters and families through the chaos surrounding Kabul airport during the withdrawal.
The story follows one Afghan family attempting to escape the country while navigating Taliban checkpoints, uncertainty, and the collapse of the Afghan government.
War, Loyalty, and Moral Responsibility
Beyond the immediate crisis, the interview examines broader questions surrounding loyalty, alliance-building, American credibility, and the lasting human consequences of war.
Ackerman reflects on how wars continue long after military withdrawal for the civilians, interpreters, veterans, and families whose lives remain permanently shaped by conflict.
Watch the CBS Sunday Morning Segment
This segment originally appeared on CBS Sunday Morning.