Former Green Beret and the founder and director of the 1208 Foundation Thomas Kasza accused The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiary National Geographic of creating a hit list that was used to target American allies in Afghanistan.
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
Kasza testified in front of the United States Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs back on January 31st.
During his testimony he stated, “The improvised explosive device was the insurgents’ weapon of choice in Afghanistan responsible for some 55% of Special Force’s deaths. To combat this threat a unit of specially trained Afghans was formed to safeguard Green Berets like me. They were known as the National Mine Reduction Group or NMRG, DOD contractors which makes them eligible for the special immigrant visa.”
He continued, “They were our most trusted partners because while the war was marred by the infamous green on blue attacks our trust in them was so complete that they lived on our bases with easy access to huge quantities of weaponry and high explosives. The hazards they undertook were immense. From 2015 onwards 22 Green Berets died in Afghanistan compared to 47 NMRG members in the same time frame. We owe them a tremendous debt but they’ve been abandoned. In the quagmire of the SIV approval process many have been killed waiting, dozens are missing, and their applications are being increasingly denied for arbitrary reasons.”
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
“So I understand some might ask what made them volunteer for the most dangerous job in Afghanistan,” Kazsa said. “I’ll tell you that it was faith. Faith that the United States of America was honorable and moral, would protect them in return for protecting us”
He then stated, “And American leaders, civil and military, Democrat and Republican were found faithless when it mattered the most. Now rather than debating the normalization of the Taliban, I will illuminate the fallout of continued apathy and half-measures. Because it is apathy that allows us to violate our principles and ignore promises. It’s apathy which allows us to betray our allies. Apathy does not manifest itself to the failings of government or does not limit itself to the failings of government. It leeches into our societal fabric and manifests in the indifferences of our leaders and our institutions.”
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
Next, Kasza made his accusation against The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic, “Now, given this current audience I imagine that many here are likely familiar with the National Geographic’s documentary Retrograde, which chronicles the final collapse of Afghanistan. And what makes it so impactful and so unconsciously damnable is that no faces are blurred, no identity is concealed whether American or Afghan a creative decision approved by Disney and Nat Geo executives.”
He continued, “Think of the absolute arrogance required to believe that the Taliban somehow would not find an online video which chronicled their ultimate triumph. And if not arrogance the absolute soulless indifference towards exposing and exploiting those who protected American soldiers.”
“So as Retrograde became a hit in Hollywood it became a hit list in Afghanistan,” he asserted. “A hit list which the Taliban used to identify, abduct, torture, and kill one who my organization pledged to protect, a 21-year-old father named Omar.”
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
Kasza then declared, “Now Disney has since refused to aid those who were exposed, the others, many dozens who were exposed. But they are far from alone in their own apathy because though Green Berets aspire to the motto of “De Oppresso Liber“ or “To Free The Oppressed,” senior leaders desecrated this ethos by permitting an outsider to put accolades and golden statues ahead of our own partner force.”
“However I’m not here for Disney or Nat Geo because they were enabled by policy,” he said. “I’m here instead to give a voice to someone who had his taken because while Omar was on his deathbed an Afghan member of my foundation spoke with him and recorded his account.
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
Kasza then shared Omar’s testimony. He said, “While on my way to the bazaar Taliban members stopped my taxi and asked for my identification. They showed their commanders, but otherwise didn’t do anything. However, two days later they came to my home and arrested me. I was held for 16 days. They tortured me, drowned me, broke my ribs, and I lost consciousness multiple times.”
“I don’t remember being released, but one morning my family woke up to dogs barking and found me lying in the street. The beatings left me barely able to breathe and a doctor said that my lung wasn’t working. Then my family got me to Peshawar, Pakistan where I then underwent four surgeries.”
Omar’s testimony specifically calls out National Geographic’s Retrograde film, “While the Taliban had me they showed me the Retrograde movie and accused me of working with the foreign forces in it. They asked me what my job was and I told them I cleared IEDs. They found me through Retrograde and are still asking villagers and family members about me.”
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
Kasza then shared, “Unfortunately, soon after giving this statement Omar would succumb to his wounds.”
Next, Kasza reiterated how National Geographic gave the Taliban a hit list, “So we are here to talk about Taliban reprisals. That’s your case study. Nat Geo gave the Taliban a target package. The Taliban used it.
A scene from Retrograde (2022), National Geographic
What do you make of Kasza’s accusations against The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic? What do you make of National Geographic and The Walt Disney Company not protecting the identity of individuals featured in the documentary?
Absolutely deplorable. I hope the hits don’t stop coming for Disney