The normally reserved International Committee of the Red Cross recently made a surprisingly direct statement about the unfolding economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. They said, “Can the international community” — meaning the U.S. — “hold 39 million people hostage to the fact that they do not want to recognise the authorities that are now in place in Kabul and in Afghanistan?” Masood Shnizai is a journalist based in Kabul, Afghanistan. He joins Ryan Grim to discuss the devastating effects of the ongoing U.S. sanctions, and why the calls for help seem to be falling on deaf ears in the Biden administration. https://join.theintercept.com/donate/now See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.