Quil Lawrence
Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.
Lawrence started his career in radio by interviewing con men in Tangier, Morocco. He then moved to Bogota, Colombia, and covered Latin America for NPR, the BBC, and The LA Times.
In the Spring of 2000, a Pew Fellowship sponsored his first trips to Iraq — that reporting experience eventually built the foundation for his first book, Invisible Nation: How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East (Bloomsbury, 2009).
Lawrence has reported from throughout the Arab world and from Sudan, Cuba, Pakistan, Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan for twelve years, serving as NPR's Bureau Chief in Baghdad and Kabul. He covered the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the second battle of Fallujah in 2004, as well as politics, culture, and war in both countries.
In 2012, Lawrence returned to the U.S. to cover the millions of men and women who have served at war, both recently and in past generations. NPR is possibly unique among major news organizations in dedicating a full-time correspondent to veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A native of Maine, Lawrence studied history at Brandeis University, with concentrations in the Middle East and Latin America. He is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Arabic.
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The White House now says it failed to evacuate most of America's Afghan allies in the airlift from Kabul. Even those evacuated may be stuck in immigration limbo for years unless Congress takes action.
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On the 10th anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," the White House announced a policy change to help get VA benefits to veterans who were kicked out of the military for their sexuality.
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The massive U.S. airlift out of Kabul was a feat of logistics and stamina. But it was also marred by chaos and violence. Somehow, an unlikely coalition formed to try and help get Afghans out. -
The evacuation of Kabul, over 120,000 people in two weeks, is one of the biggest airlifts in history. It was also a chaotic stampede of tens of thousands of Afghans fleeing the Taliban.
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U.S. troops have left Afghanistan, ending America's longest war. Biden has detailed outreach efforts to Americans in Afghanistan.
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Latest developments in the evacuation effort in Afghanistan.
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Dozens are dead, including several U.S. service members, after a terrorist attack at the Kabul airport. President Biden says the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies will continue.
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Pentagon officials have been briefing reporters on Thursday's deadly attacks in Afghanistan. U.S. Marines were among those killed in two explosions outside the Kabul airport.
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President Biden has specifically said he expects all American citizens can be evacuated by next week. He was less emphatic about getting out all the other people that America has pledged to help
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As the Biden administration looks for ways to speed up the evacuation of American citizens and others from Afghanistan, the Defense Department has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
