Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby isn’t talking about it because he said the information was obtained illegally but did not deny a Politico report that the U.S. could have averted the Kabul bombing that killed 13 troops.
When asked about the truth behind the accusation, Kirby refused to answer.
“I am absolutely not going to speak to a press story that was informed by the unlawful disclosure of classified information and sensitive deliberations here at the Pentagon, just not going to do it,” Kirby said.
Kirby appeared more upset about the Pentagon leak than he was about the prospect that 13 American lives and dozens of Afghan lives could have been saved.
The news was initially reported by Politico. The Pentagon had 24 hours to prepare for an imminent mass casualty incident at the Kabul Airport.
Politico obtained notes taken by an official in the subsequent high-level meetings.
“On a separate call at 4 that afternoon, or 12:30 a.m. on Thursday in Kabul, the commanders detailed a plan to close Abbey Gate by Thursday afternoon Kabul time. But the Americans decided to keep the gate open longer than they wanted in order to allow their British allies, who had accelerated their withdrawal timeline, to continue evacuating their personnel, based at the nearby Baron Hotel,” Politico said.
“A senior military intelligence official not identified by name in the call notes reiterated that they were continuing to see indications of ISIS-K planning a major attack, and noted his team was in the midst of “developing targets,” he said, referring to ISIS-K. It would be “helpful” to close Abbey Gate, he said,” Politico reported.