The evacuation of American citizens from Afghanistan continues months after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, according to a State Department release Monday. At the end of 20 years of war in Afghanistan that cost more than 172,000 lives, the U.S. troop withdrawal leading up to Aug. 31 was followed shortly by the collapse of the Afghan government and the takeover of the country by the Taliban. Months later, the U.S. Government continues efforts to relocate and resettle U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and Afghan allies. “There is no deadline for this work,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Aug. 25. Since Aug. 31, the United States has assisted 479 American citizens and 450 permanent residents and their families to depart Afghanistan and relocate to the United States. The State Department says it is in touch with “fewer than a dozen” Americans who are still in Afghanistan, want to leave, are prepared to …