worn enemies of the tale bon, were lurking in the midst of those crowds and still, the women and men of the united states military or diplomatic corps, and intelligence professionals did their job and did it well. risking their lives. not for professional gains, but to serve others. not in a mission of war, but in the mission of mercy. 20 service members were wounded in the service of this mission. 13 heroes gave their lives. i was just a dover air force base. for the dignified transfer. we owe them in their families, a debt of gratitude. we can never repay, but we should never, ever, ever forget. in april, i made a decision to end this war. as part of that decision, we set the date of august 31st for american troops to withdraw. this sumption was

that more than 300000 african national security forces that we had trained over the past 2 decades and equipped would be a strong adversary in their civil wars with a tale bond. that assumption that the afghan government would be able to hold on for a period of time beyond military draw down, turned out not to be accurate. but i still instructed our nasa security team to prepare for every eventuality, even that one. and that's what we did. so we were ready when the ap can security forces after 2 decades of fighting for their country and losing thousands of their own did not hold on as long as anyone expected. we are ready when they the people of afghanistan, watch their own government collapse, and the president flea made the corruption of malfeasance, handing over the country to their enemy,

the tale bon and significantly increase the risk to us personnel and our allies as a result to safely extract american citizens before august 31st, as well as embassy personnel, allies in partners, and those afghans read work with us and fought alongside of us for 20 years. i had authorized 6000 troops, american troops to couple jobs secure the airport. as gentle mackenzie said, this is the way the mission was designed. it was designed, operated, or severe stress, an attack. and that's what it did. since march. we reached out 19 times to americans in afghanistan with multiple warnings and offers to help them leave afghanistan all way back. as far as march. after we

started the evacuation 17 days ago, we did initial outreach in analysis and identified around 5000 americans who decided earlier to stay in afghanistan. but now wanted to leave our operation allied rescue and of getting more than 5500 americans out. we got out thousands of citizens and diplomats from those countries that went now to end up garrison with us to get a lot. and we got out locally employed staff in the united states embassy and their families totally roughly 2500 people. we got thousands of afghan translators, in interpreters and others who supported the united states out as well. now we believe that about 100 or 200 americans remain nap can stand with some intention to

leave. most of those remain our doors citizens, long time residence where early decided to stay because of their family routes and i can't stand the bottom line. 90 percent of americans in afghanistan wanted to leave were able to leave. and for those remaining americans, there is no deadline. we remain committed to get them out if they want to come out sex, age se blinking is leading the continued diplomatic efforts to ensure a safe passage for any american afghan partner or foreign national wants to lead afghans. in fact, this yesterday, the united nations security council passed the resolution that sent a clear message while the international community expects the tale bond to deliver on moving forward, notably, freedom of travel,

freedom to leave. together we are joined by over $100.00 countries that are determined to make sure the tale bon appalls, those commitments. it will include ongoing efforts and i can stand the reopen the airport as well as over land roots allowing for continued departure for those who want to leave and deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of afghan . stan, itala bon, has made public commitments, broadcast on television and radio across app can stand on safe passage for anyone want to leave, including those who worked alongside americans. we don't take them by their word alone, but by their actions. we have leverage to make sure those commitments are met. let me be clear. lay me august. the 31st is not due to an arbitrary deadline.

it was designed to save american lives. my predecessor, the former president, signed an agreement with the tale bon to remove us troops. fine may the 1st, just months after i was inaugurated it included no requirements intolerable work out a cooperative governor arrangement with the afghan government. but it did authorize the release of $5000.00 prisoners last year, including some of the tale bonds, top bore commanders among those who just took control of afghanistan. by the time i came to office, the tale bar was in his strongest military position since 2001 controlling or contested nearly half the country. the previous administration agreement said that if we stuck to the may 1st deadline that they had signed on

leave, by the tale bond wouldn't attack any american forces. but if we stayed, all bets were off. so we're left with a simple decision either follow through the commit may by the last administration and leave afghanistan or say we weren't levy and commit another tens of thousands more troops going back to war. that was the choice, the real choice between levy or escalating i was not going to extend this forever war and i was not extending a forever exit the decision to and the military left operations that couple airport was based on you, nana my recommendation. my civilian and military advisors, a secretary state, the secretary defense, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and all the service chiefs and the

commanders in the field. their recommendation was that the safest way to secure the passage of very many americans and others out of the country was not to continue as 6000 troops on the ground in harm's way in couple rather to get them out through non military means. in the 17 days we operated in cub all after the tale, bon seize power, we engage in and around the clock effort to provide every american the opportunity to leave our state tomorrow was working 247, contacting and talking and in some cases, walking americans into the airport again or the 5500 americans were lifted out. and for those remain,

we will make arrangements to get them out if they so choose. as for the afghans we are our partners ever lifted 100000 of them. no country and history has done more to airlift out the residence of another country, and we have done it will continue to work to help more people leave the country. we're at risk we're far from done for now. i urge all americans to join me and grateful prayer for our troops and diplomats and intelligence officers who carried out this mission of mercy in kabul, and a tremendous risk was such on parallel results and aramis and their lives that evacuated tens of thousands to a network of volunteers in veterans who up the den, a fire,

those needed evacuation, guide them to the airport and provided them for their support along the way. we're going to continue to need their help. we need your help and i'm looking forward to meeting with you. and everyone who is now offering are who offer to welcome afghan allies to their homes around the world, including in america. we thank you. i take responsibility for the decision. now some say we should have started master evacuation sooner. and couldn't this be done and been done in a more orderly manner. i respectfully disagree. imagine if we've begun evacuation in june or july, bringing in 1000 american troops and evacuated more than a 120000 people in the middle of a civil war. there still would have been

a rush to the airport, a breakdown and confidence in control the government. and it still would have been very difficult and dangerous mission. the bottom line is, there is no evacuation evacuation from the end of a war. and you can run without the kinds of complexities, challenges, threats. we faced none. those who would say we should have stayed indefinitely for years on it. they ask, why don't we just keep doing what we were doing? why do we have to change anything? the fact is, everything had changed. my predecessor had made a deal with the tele when i came in office, we faced the deadline, may 1, the taller bon on slot was coming. we faced, one of 2 choices,

followed the agreement of the previous administration and extended to have or extend, have more time for people to get out or send in thousands or more troops and escalate the war to those. asking for a 3rd decade of war and afghan is dan. i ask, what is the vital national interest? in my view, we only have one to make sure afghan is stand, can never be used again to launch an attack on our homeland. remember while we went to afghanistan in the 1st place, because we were attacked by osama bin laden and al qaeda was september 11th, 2001. and they were based in afghanistan. we delivered justice to bon loudon and may 2nd 2011. over a decade ago,

kylie was decimated from respectfully suggest you ask yourself this question. we been attacked on september 11th, 2001 from yemen instead of afghanistan. would we have ever gone to war in afghanistan? even though the tale bon controlled afghans stand in the year, 2001 i believe the honest answer is no. as because we had no vital interests that can stand other than to prevent an attack on america's homeland and our friend, our friends. that's true today we succeeded, what we set out to do, and i can't stand over a decade ago. then we stayed for another decade. it was timed and this war this is a new world. the terror threat has metastasize across the world. well beyond

afghans. we face threats from l sure. bob in somalia, al qaeda affiliates in syria and iraq peninsula and isis, attempting to create a kayla fight in syria and iraq and establishing affiliates across the african asia . the fundamental obligation of a president, in my opinion, is the defend and protect america. not against threats of 2001, but against the threats of 2021 and tomorrow. that is the guiding principle behind my decisions. but i guess i simply do not believe that the safety and security are america is enhanced by continuing deploy thousands of american troops and spending billions of dollars a year. and i've gans but i also know that from tears and continues

in this pernicious and evil nature. but it's changes expanded to other countries. our strategy has to change to we all maintain the fight against there's enough ghana span and other countries. we just don't need to fight a ground war to do it wherever it's called over the rise and capabilities. which means we can strike terrorist and targets without american boots on the ground. are very few as needed. we've shown that capacity just the last week. we struck isis k remotely days after they murdered 13 of our service members, dozens and innocent africans and ices k. we are not done with you yet. as commander in chief, i firmly believe the best past,

the guard our safety and our security lies the tough, unforgiving, targeted, precise strategy. because after the chair we're, it is a day not we're, it was 2 decades ago. that's what's in our national interest. and here's a critical thing to understand. the world is changing. we're engage the serious competition with china. we're dealing with the challenges and multiple fronts with russia. were confronted with cyber attacks and nuclear proliferation. went ashore for merge, competitive to meet these new challenges in the competition for the 21st century. we could do both fighters and, and take on new threats that are here now. and will continue to be here in the future. and there is nothing china or russia would rather have,

would want more in this competition in the united states to be bogged down another decade in afghanistan. as we turn the page. and the foreign policy is guided our nation or nation last 2 decades. got to learn from our mistakes. to me or to that are perma. first, we must said mission with clear achievable goals. not one's will never reach. and 2nd mistake clearly focused on the fundamental national security interest of the united states america. this decision about afghans thing is not just by cancer and spout ending in an era of major military operations to re make other countries we saw mission

of counterterrorism. afghanistan, getting the terraces stop in attacks morphed into a counter insurgency nation building, trying to create a democratic cohesive in united games. that's something that has never been done over many centuries afghans, history. we know from that mindset and those kind of large scale truth deployments will make us stronger and more effective and safer at home for anyone gets there. i dear, let me say clearly to those who wish america harm to those engage in terrorism against us. our allies know this. united states will never rest. we will not forgive, will not forget, will hunt you down to the edge of the earth and we will,

you will pay the ultimate price. let me be clear. we'll continue to support the afghan people through diplomacy. international influence and mandatory aid will continue to push for regional diplomacy, engagement, read violence, and stability. will continue to speak out for the basic rights of the afghan people, especially women and girls. as we speak out for women and girls all around the go and i've been clear that human rights will be the center of our foreign policy. but the way to do that is not through endless military deployments. but through diplomacy, economic tours, and real rally in the rest of the world for support. my fellow americans, the war in afghanistan is now over i'm the 4th president was face the issue of whether and when to end this war. when i was running for

president, i made a commitment to the american people that i would end this war. today. i'm honored that commitment. it was time to be honest with the american people. again. we no longer had a clear purpose in an open ended mission in afghan stand. after 20 years of war and up ganesh, stan, i refused to send another generation, america's sons and daughters to fight a war should have ended long ago. after more than 2 trillion dollars spent that ghana, stan crossed the research as a brown university, estimated would be over $300000000.00 a day for 20 years nap ganawe's dance for 2 decades. yes, the american people to hear this $300000000.00 a day for 2 decades. you take the number of one trillion as many say that's still

a $150000000.00 a day for 2 decades. what have we lost as a consequence in terms of opportunities, i refused to continue the war. that was no longer in the service of the vital national interest of our people. and most of all, after $800000.00 americans serving our ganeth, i've travelled that whole country, brave and honorable service. after $20744.00 american service men and women injured. and the loss of 2461 american personnel, including 13 lives, was just this week. i refused to open another decade of warfare against him. we've been a nation too long at war. for 20 years all to day. you've never known

in america at peace when i hear and we couldn't, should've continued the so called low grade effort afghan. stan at low risk to our service members at low cost. i don't think enough people understand how much we've asked the one percent of this country who put that uniform, aren't willing to put their lives in the line in defense of our nation. maybe because my deceased son bow served in iraq for a full year before that well, maybe it's because of what i've seen over the years. as senator vice president and president travel in these countries, a lot of our veterans and their families are gone through hell. deployment after deployment months in years away from their families. miss birthdays,

anniversaries, empty, chairs have holidays. financial struggles, divorces, loss of land, traumatic brain injury. post traumatic stress. we see it in the struggles. many have when they come home. we see it in the strain on their families and caregivers. we see the strain of their families when they're not there. we see it in the grief born by their survivors. a cost of war they will carry with them their whole lives. most tragically. we see in the shockey the studies statistic, it should give pause to anyone who thinks war can ever be low grade, low risk or low cost. a teen veterans on average, who die by suicide every single day in america?

not in a foreign place. but right here in america there's not a low grade, low risk or low cost about any war is timed in the war in afghanistan. because we close 20 years of war and strife and pain sacrifice, it's time to look the future at the past to future that safer to future this more secure to future. the honors those who served and all those who gave president lincoln called their last full measure of devotion. i gave my word with all my heart. i believe this is the right decision. a wise decision and the best decision for milk. thank you.

thank you and may god bless you all, may god protect our troops from the inn. if you're just joining us here alive on al jazeera, we have been listening to president biden talk about his reasoning for the withdrawal form afghanistan. we, he concluded by basically saying, we've been a nation too long at war and he wants everybody to forget the should, would or could. he continued to say, i take responsibility for the decision. and he said, i disagree with those people who say that i could have been done better. he said, it would still have been dangerous and difficult for the us to withdraw at any time . let's go to our fisher who's live at the white house for us. allen 8 sounded when president biden started talking like it was kind of his school report and he was giving himself an a or a gold star in every call. but just take him through all the different things that

he said and, and what you make of his report card the problem he's got is that there are still americans and afghan, it's done that aside. joe biden did what he had to do here he laid out what in his view was the foreign policy. he took a while to get to vote. he said, my fellow american, the war in afghanistan is over. he made reference to donald trump twice without actually mentioning him, talking about the previous administration. and the deal that was done with the taliban and how to a degree with are actually using the words that he felt books that they had set a date of may 31st for the withdrawal of all american troops. and he was faced with the prospect that people wouldn't get out in time, which is why he extended it. remember, initially extended it till the 11th of september, that was seen as inappropriate. he moved it forward to august the 31st. what is

interesting is that his view was the either had to extend that deadline or escalate the war. that was important that you would have to put thousands and thousands more troops into afghanistan to make sure that the operation could be carried out. he said, the reason that he wanted to pillow, excuse me, was because they did what they went to have got to stand to do a decade ago when they killed or some been latin by can elite april early may 2011. and he said it was important that people recognize that. and then he turned his attention, of course, to the fact that there are still american. he pointed to the fact that since march the 19 different contacts with people, 1900 times, they reached out to americans who are in afghanistan and told them of the plans to evacuate. the many of them decided to stay. he said that 5500 americans and their families had been brought out of the country. there was perhaps one to 200 who were

still still in afghanistan. in his view. you know that there's facilities to get them out. they will what card to facilitate that, obviously alongside the taliban. but he did say that many of these people may well be jewel citizens, people who have decided that they are staying in afghanistan because of family root . he talked about the last that the united states has suffered, not just in terms of the number of people who had been killed, but also financially thing. 3 trillion dollars or $300000000.00 every day for the last 20 years. and how that simply couldn't go on and how they will change the way that the monitor up get this done this over the horizon view, that they will keep an eye on potential threats coming to the american homeland from afghanistan, from a safe distance. as on those specific what i saw k, the group that was behind the attack at the airport in afghanistan just less than

a week ago, and you made it clear to them. he said, isis k, we are not done with you yet. so that was a very clear warning to i saw this one satisfy republicans have been highly critical of joe biden. but being an american president who abandoned and that's the what they will use, abandoned americans and afghan is done. but you're biting. speaks to the nation knowing that there was a pull out just a couple of hours ago. they said 54 percent of americans support the decision to feel like about janice done. not many, not that number. i think the job biting did a good job, but it's something that will be forgotten and his job by mid reference to a couple of times, he said that he would pull american trip. so to get this done, that was one of his privileges. when he was running for president, he will be able to say that he has delivered on the promise, even though republicans will still use the fact that there are americans and afghan,

it's done as the political stick to beat joe biden. it was perhaps good job. i could have done in the circumstances, and certainly you saw that you wanted to make sure that there was never another generation committed to a war in afghanistan that he said simply had new defined mission. and that is why the united states needed to lead off dennis holland. do you think for those people who believe that this withdrawal was a mess, that it was badly planned that it was clumsy? will they be convinced by the reasoning that by just delivered know if you, if you don't think that the job, i did a good job on this, you're not going to be convinced. you're not going to sit and listen in a measured way. and i think that the president delivered a recent argument i simply because politics in america is no very.