Major Joshua Mast

And so what that looked like at the operational headquarters level was, okay, to get a person to a country, you have to have a visa. After we talked about the US policy change, the administration said, act in a child's best interest. That's a no-brainer. Try to get her back to the States. The US forces of Afghanistan moved forward smartly and did that.

And so what that looked like at the operational headquarters level was, okay, to get a person to a country, you have to have a visa. After we talked about the US policy change, the administration said, act in a child's best interest. That's a no-brainer. Try to get her back to the States. The US forces of Afghanistan moved forward smartly and did that.

And so what that looked like at the operational headquarters level was, okay, to get a person to a country, you have to have a visa. After we talked about the US policy change, the administration said, act in a child's best interest. That's a no-brainer. Try to get her back to the States. The US forces of Afghanistan moved forward smartly and did that.

I talked to you about the embassy initially trying to ambush us and destroy that effort early on, make it a fait accompli. Did you ever find out why? So my deputy SJA, as a Navy commander, and he was a reservist on a year deployment to Afghanistan, and he had a intelligence background, worked for the House Intelligence Committee as an attorney in his civilian job.

I talked to you about the embassy initially trying to ambush us and destroy that effort early on, make it a fait accompli. Did you ever find out why? So my deputy SJA, as a Navy commander, and he was a reservist on a year deployment to Afghanistan, and he had a intelligence background, worked for the House Intelligence Committee as an attorney in his civilian job.

I talked to you about the embassy initially trying to ambush us and destroy that effort early on, make it a fait accompli. Did you ever find out why? So my deputy SJA, as a Navy commander, and he was a reservist on a year deployment to Afghanistan, and he had a intelligence background, worked for the House Intelligence Committee as an attorney in his civilian job.

And so he was actually involved in the negotiations with the Taliban in the room, like describing how this is going with the Taliban, what they want and how they're acting. And he's like briefing us at night. So we have like a front row seat of what's happening in Doha, like on a regular basis. He happened to be back, you know, because there was multiple rounds of these negotiations.

And so he was actually involved in the negotiations with the Taliban in the room, like describing how this is going with the Taliban, what they want and how they're acting. And he's like briefing us at night. So we have like a front row seat of what's happening in Doha, like on a regular basis. He happened to be back, you know, because there was multiple rounds of these negotiations.

And so he was actually involved in the negotiations with the Taliban in the room, like describing how this is going with the Taliban, what they want and how they're acting. And he's like briefing us at night. So we have like a front row seat of what's happening in Doha, like on a regular basis. He happened to be back, you know, because there was multiple rounds of these negotiations.

So he tried to go and like make peace with the embassy, like what is the deal? Because it was very difficult for us to understand like why they're on a different wavelength than we were. And so he's like, ma'am, like, so he met with her again. He's like, ma'am, like, I sent some hostility in the last meeting. Like, what's going on? And he personally told me this.

So he tried to go and like make peace with the embassy, like what is the deal? Because it was very difficult for us to understand like why they're on a different wavelength than we were. And so he's like, ma'am, like, so he met with her again. He's like, ma'am, like, I sent some hostility in the last meeting. Like, what's going on? And he personally told me this.

So he tried to go and like make peace with the embassy, like what is the deal? Because it was very difficult for us to understand like why they're on a different wavelength than we were. And so he's like, ma'am, like, so he met with her again. He's like, ma'am, like, I sent some hostility in the last meeting. Like, what's going on? And he personally told me this.

He's like, she said, we really didn't appreciate you going over our heads to the administration. And so we're like, sorry, we were trying to take care of the child's, like, you know, safety, you know, that type of thing. And so they basically left it as, we're not going to help you. The embassy's perspective was, we're not going to help you, but we won't get in your way.

He's like, she said, we really didn't appreciate you going over our heads to the administration. And so we're like, sorry, we were trying to take care of the child's, like, you know, safety, you know, that type of thing. And so they basically left it as, we're not going to help you. The embassy's perspective was, we're not going to help you, but we won't get in your way.

He's like, she said, we really didn't appreciate you going over our heads to the administration. And so we're like, sorry, we were trying to take care of the child's, like, you know, safety, you know, that type of thing. And so they basically left it as, we're not going to help you. The embassy's perspective was, we're not going to help you, but we won't get in your way.

And so DOD was lead for months after that. And we were working to get a visa. So now, before we were advocating for her, when it became, here's the task from the administration to, you know, make a long-term safe outcome for this child, we did that. And the first thing was a visa. And so... What do you do if you need a visa? You talk to U.S.

And so DOD was lead for months after that. And we were working to get a visa. So now, before we were advocating for her, when it became, here's the task from the administration to, you know, make a long-term safe outcome for this child, we did that. And the first thing was a visa. And so... What do you do if you need a visa? You talk to U.S.

And so DOD was lead for months after that. And we were working to get a visa. So now, before we were advocating for her, when it became, here's the task from the administration to, you know, make a long-term safe outcome for this child, we did that. And the first thing was a visa. And so... What do you do if you need a visa? You talk to U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services, and they can issue an advanced parole visa. And so it's—ironically, it's what she entered the country on with 120,000 other Afghans or however many actually came to the States. They were all paroled into the United States under humanitarian parole. Well, there's an advanced humanitarian parole. And that's what we were seeking to get.

Citizenship and Immigration Services, and they can issue an advanced parole visa. And so it's—ironically, it's what she entered the country on with 120,000 other Afghans or however many actually came to the States. They were all paroled into the United States under humanitarian parole. Well, there's an advanced humanitarian parole. And that's what we were seeking to get.