Ariane Luthi

DESCRIPTION

The lead source in Ariane Luthi’s powerful story about the United States’ failure to protect allies stranded in Afghanistan after the U.S. military withdrawal is an Afghan pilot who was on a mission to Uzbekistan when American soldiers pulled out of Kabul. He made it to the United States but his family, whom he last saw in 2021, remains stuck in Afghanistan despite American assurances that Afghan allies would receive expedited consideration for refugee visas. Luthi, a recent Columbia University alumnus, was aware that the pilot’s family could face retaliation from the Taliban if she told his story. The U.S. State Department also advised her not to use her sources’ real names. Luthi offered anonymity to the pilot, outlining the risk of speaking publicly, but he insisted on using his real name and identifiable details. Luthi decided the ethical course was to defer to her source’s fully informed choice.