best airline of 2021, but it's more than an award for being the only global airline to continue through the pandemic. and for the hours of hard work, we dedicated to making your experience exception and flying the youngest greenest fleet in the sky. more than an award, it's a responsibility to continue to provide the very best each and every one of our customers. cut our ways you can rely on us. ah, cut pushes diplomacy to bring stability to afghan, to stand on the taliban role as pressure grows for an inclusive new government. ah, this is al jazeera alive from the hall. so coming up, facing a financial squeeze, the increasing desperation of afghans at the time of economic come certainty. with

launch the business, as usual in the can city of the boss, we get a raglin of life that on the, on the bond is prisons full of drug convex. highland take steps to relax, decades of hard line policy, me for you and is wanting afghans. sam could run out of food within a month. it's one of many challenges facing the tardy bond, which is yet to form a new government as it tries to restore stability. after decades of war, western powers, looking at council for diplomatic help, play the role in the recent evacuation efforts using its influence to allow the safe passage of people out of the country. that's also asked for is influencing context to really help all parties of done is to reach an inclusive political agreement that ensures stability and future prosperity of all people. and i've got

to stand and of course we've discussed situation of the vulnerable position of religious and ethnic minorities and women and girls. and we would like to contribute to this process. and i've also off his excellency, very kindly to, to agree to the relocation of the nicholas embassy from couple to doha. how arthur is urging afghanistan's new leaders to uphold the rights of women and girls, calling for afghan women to play an active role in rebuilding the country. woman on an extensive part of the negotiation that took place and daughter between the taliban and other factions, was centered on woman and the role and society. we reiterated the woman to play a vital role. and this was emphasized, especially considering the majority of the negotiation team was made up of woman. we also reiterated to the taliban that they should care for the review of their policies and rhetoric and narratives towards women. and they should reconsider and

readdress the issues of woman's rights and allow them to take an effective and active role. so they could for the enjoy and exercise the rights and tell a bunch should not back down on what they have promised. on the ground, the todd yvonne has taken charge in the middle of an economic crisis, and the un secretary general antonio terrace is wanting of a humanitarian catastrophe. with about a 3rd of afghans facing hunger crisis, jamal michelle is in da. he says, western governments realize the need for some level of connection with the tommy bon. a message that's come is that there needs to be engagement with the new world are on the ground in afghanistan. that engagement is needed for a multitude of reasons. now to washington d. c, where the pentagon is holding a press conference that's listening to aren't officials are saying good afternoon and thanks for being here. it's been a busy time for all of us in this department. a proud one. and

a solemn one to we have concluded our historic evacuation operation can ended the last mission of the us war in afghanistan. america, as long as war has come to a close. now both secretary and as a veteran of our afghan war my thoughts have been with the brave americans who stood up to serve after al qaeda attacked us on september 11, 2001 and my heart is with their families and loved ones. and with our friends and allies and with our fellow citizens whose lives were lost or changed forever. over 20 years of war. we remember $2461.00 american service members and personnel who pay the ultimate

price in this war. and more than 20000 wounded americans, some still carrying the scars that you can see on the outside. we also remember the thousands of american contractors who lost their lives. and hundreds of our allies and partners from nato and beyond. in tens of thousands of afghan soldiers and police officers and tens of thousands more afghan civilians. now we have just concluded the largest aerivac equation of civilians in american history. it was her oh it it was historic. and i hope that all americans will unite to thank our service members for their courage and their compassion. they were operating in an

immensely dangerous and dynamic environment. but our troops were tireless, fearless, and selfish. our commanders never flinched. and our allies and partners were extraordinary. united states evacuated some $6000.00 american citizens and a total of more than 124000 civilians. and we did it all in the midst of a pandemic. and in the face of grave and growing threats. i am incredibly proud of those who made it happen and they made it happen with grid and skill and humanity are outstanding. men and women showed steady judgment under crushing pressure including some very young service members who summoned up exceptional courage at

close quarters. they ran an international airport. they sped up the visas, they fed the hungry, they comforted the desperate and they got plain, after plain, after plain into the sky. our forces rest their own lives to say the lives of others and 13 of our very best paid the ultimate price. and many of them were too young to personally remember, the 911 attacks united states military will always honor their heroism. we mourn with their families and we all them support through the days and years ahead.

it is no or the that on the day of the attack at the airport, our troops and their partners pushed hard and carry on putting $89.00 rescue flights anywhere in the span of 24 hours. and lifting $12500.00 souls to freedom. it has been an enormous achievement, not just by the us military, but also by the militaries of our allies and partners, and of course, by our teammates at the state department. now the war is over and we're entering a new chapter one and where our diplomats and our inner agency partners take the lead were part of an urgent team effort to move f dan evacuees out of temporary housing in intermediate staging bases in the gulf. and in europe and on

to begin new lives. and i'll be traveling to the gulf next week to think our partners there who have done so much to help save and shelter afghan civilians. now some of those brave afghans will be coming to make new lives with their families in america. after careful screening and security vetting run by our inner agency partners, were temporarily sheltering, sheltering some of these evacuees at military facilities here at home. and i'm proud of the way that our military communities have. welcome them. some of these courageous afghans fought alongside us and they and their families have more than earned their places in the land of the free and the home of the brave

and welcoming these afghans isn't just about what they've done. it's about who we are now, is one mission in others must go on and even during our afghan retro grade, miss department was racing to help victims of natural disasters at home and abroad . and we still are, we've been driving to in the pandemic and we've continued to tackle security challenges from china. and russia are on and north korea. it's our duty to defend this nation. and we're not going to take our eye off the ball. and that means relentless counterterrorism efforts against any threat to the american people from any place. it means working with our partners to shore of

stability in the region around afghanistan. and it means a new focus to our leadership in this young century to meet the security challenges from china to see new opportunities and in the pacific and elsewhere. and to deepen our ties with all allies and new partners. and to defend our democracy against all enemies. but for today, i want to end with the word to the force and their families. i know that these have been difficult days for many of us. and as we look back as a nation on the war and afghan of stan, i hope that we will all do so with thoughtfulness and respect. i will always. busy be proud of the part that we played in this war,

but we shouldn't expect afghan war veterans to agree any more than any other group of americans. i've heard strong views from many sides in recent days. and that's vital. that's democracy. that's america. as we always do, this department will look back clearly and professionally and learn every lesson that we can that's our way. but right now, it's time to think all those who served in his war because you are the greatest asset that we have. you the extraordinary men and women who volunteer to keep us all safe and your families. so my prayers are with you. and what the goals are families who lost loved ones and dana, stan,

and with the warriors who mourn their fallen brothers and sisters. with those who bear the wounds of war to body and to soul. we will never forget what you did and what you gave our country. oh you, thanks. that won't fade and support that won't falter the war has ended. but our gratitude never will. and finally, just a word about the navy helicopter mishap. overnight off the coast of california. i know the navy is working diligently at search and rescue operations. and on behalf of the whole department, i want to pass on our thoughts and prayers for the best possible outcome. is yet another reminder, the dangers are men and women face every day and overseas,

at sea, and here at home. let me turn it over to the chairman. thanks, secretary, and good afternoon everyone. 3 weeks ago, united states military received the mission to conduct a non combatant evacuation operation from afghanistan in support of the department of state in order to evacuate american citizens. the department state designated afghans with a directed completion date of 31 artist, the key military tasks where to secure and offend the slayer port. couple evacuate all embassy personnel evacuate all american citizens. they wanted to get out and evacuate other afghans as designated by the department of state and retrograde all of the u. s. military. in short, the united states military was task to conduct to highly complex missions

simultaneously. a retrograde wall in contact with the enemy. and the neo in a non permissive environment. we executed that mission and a highly dynamic, dangerous operating environment, from a war torn country. and was conducted across 9 countries. and 26 in immediate staging bases and temporary safe havens. we deployed between $5.60 military personnel on the ground, some of whom were for deployed based on our contingency planning, these elements came from the 2nd airborne division, special forces, the marine corps, along with navy and air force personnel. flying and support combat aircraft from the air force in the navy as well as incredible support from the transport aircraft . the pilots and crews are the united states transportation command and afloat. we

had an ark new and a carrier strike group. we flew 387, u. s. military c. 17 and c. $130.00 sorties and we enabled $391.00 non us military stories. a total of $778.00 stories evacuated, a total of $100.00. $24334.00 people which included almost $6000.00 american citizens. 3rd country, nationals and afghans designated by the department of state. and we will continue to evacuate american citizens under the leadership of the department state. as this mission is now transitioned from military mission to a diplomatic mission. evacuated slowed through the immediate staging base safe havens and central command and european command for onward movement to the united

states. a 3rd country or the home of origin for repatriation, evacuated, complete medical and security screening, vetting in accordance with the lead federal agencies guidance to the department of homeland security currently is approximately 20000 evacuees in 7 staging bases in 5 countries. in central command. another 23007, staging bases and 4 countries in europe. and as of this morning, there are approximately 20000 afghans who arrived at a different military bases in the continental united states. this mission, cost 11 marines, one soldier and one navy corman their lives and 22 others were wounded inaction. in addition to over 100,

afghans killed and wounded in her epic terrorist attack and 26 august at abbey gate and the se perimeter of the airport. no soldiers, sailors, and marines gave their lives so that others may live free. they literally gave their tomorrow's for tomorrows of people. they never knew those 124000. they never knew the 13 who died and he will never know the 2200 and the thousands of dead and thousands of wounded who came before them. but they will now live in freedom because american bloodshed on their behalf nearly 2 decades have passed since that horrible dark september day in our nation's history. when 2977 and supplies were murdered.

since then, the men and women of the united states military and our enter agency partners have fought tirelessly to defeat terrorists in afghanistan around the world. both at home and abroad. their talent. their efforts have carried this fight, day and night. you can stand our mission or military mission has now come to an end. and we learned from this experience as a military, how we got to this moment in afghanistan will be analyzed and studied for years to come. and we in the military well approached as with humility, transparency and candor, there are many tactical, operational and strategic lessons to be learned. 800000 of us in uniform, served and canister in our last 20 years. our nation spent over $2000000.00. and most importantly, 2461 soldiers, sailors, airmen,

and marines gave last full measure of devotion. while 20691 were wounded and untold thousands of others suffer with the invisible wounds of war. as we close this chapter in our nation's history, and all of those cavities are long side or allies and partners. and we should never forget that 60000 afghan national security forces gave their lives and the conduct of this war park on a terrorism efforts in afghanistan, the region over 20 years has protected the american people from terrorist attack. and the men and women and children who are just evacuated will ultimately be the legacy to prove the value of our sacrifice. for the past 20 years,

there's not been a major attack on homeland. and it is now our mission to ensure that we continue our intelligence effort. continue our counterterrorism efforts. continue our military efforts to protect the american people for the next 20 years. and we in the american military, are committed to do just that. for those of us in uniform who served in afghanistan for our families who have suffered and sacrificed along our side. those who have supported us. these have been incredibly emotional and praying days, and indeed years. we are all conflicted with feelings of pain and anger, sorrow and sadness combined with pride and resilience. there are no words that i or the secretary of the president or anyone else will ever do to

bring the dead back. we can always honor them. in one thing i am certain of for any soldier, sailor m marine in their family, your service mattered. and it was not in vain. thank you. ok. i think we have enough time for a few questions and we'll start with you about. thank you mr. secretary, looking ahead and ask a question for both of you, please. given the experience of the past couple of weeks at the trouble airport, where us commanders were coordinating, or at least communicating daily with television commanders to an effect that general mackenzie himself said was at times very helpful. and also in general, milly and your case you last year had face to face meetings with teladvantage or at least a couple of mckaden. i'm wondering what you can you think these experiences say

about the prospect for the united states relationship of the taliban to include the possibility of any kind of coordination in counter terrorism operations against isis k in afghanistan. about 1st of all, let me apply the initiative of our commanders on the ground who would stop at nothing to accomplish the mission that they were. they were provided of evacuating as many american citizens, 3rd country, nationals. and as i v, applicants as possible. so we were focused on, we were working with taliban on a very narrow set of issues. and it was just that to get as many people out as we possibly could. and so i would not lead to, i would not make any leaps of logic to, you know, a broader, broader issues. i would just say that, again, i'm immensely proud of what,

what our troops have done to this point. it's hard to predict where this will go in the future with respect to tell them what to say. bob sector and i both served in afghanistan. and many of us did you all did to we don't know what the future of the taliban is. but i can tell you from personal experience at this as a ruthless group from the past and whether or not they change remains to be seen. and as far as our dealings with them at that airfield or in the past year or so in war, you do it, you must in order to reduce risk to mission and force not what you necessarily want to do. any possibility of coordination against i ok. it's possible going going forward, bob, i again, i would not want to make any predictions. i would tell you that we're going to do

everything that we can to make sure we remain focused on isis k. understand that network. and at the time of our choosing in the future, hold them accountable for what they've done since go to healthy and cooper. thank you for doing this. i have a question for you and then another one for general milly. mr. secretary, perhaps it's possible that there is no exit from janice and that was not has been chaotic given what we now know and for all the reasons that the administration has mentioned. but i would like to know now in hindsight, is there one thing that you wish that you or the pentagon had done could have done differently. thank selling. i would just tell you that there hasn't been a single operation that i've ever been involved in. where we didn't discover that

there's something that we could have done better or more efficiently or more effectively. and i'd also say that no operation is ever perfect. i will tell you that we will do what we always do and that is to, to look at ourselves and do after action reviews and, and we want to make sure that we learn every lesson i can be learn from his experience. but i want to take the time to, to do it the right way. and, and so we'll do that in the days. in the days ahead. i was just gonna say, i would just say again, that i'm enormously proud of her. are men and women who, who worked hard to accomplish what they just accomplish, which i think, as i said earlier, is historic in her. oh, it go ahead, maybe throwing out a book on the whole s i v. i mean the previous administration did leave. i

understand the by the i did put a lot of hurdles in the way of the, as i, the program that ministration had to then deal with upon arrival. do you think at all that? because the pentagon works so hard with these people for 20 years, these translators and interpreters that we should have drawn that whole book out. what i would say is that the s i b program is obviously not, not designed to accommodate what we just did in a graduating, you know, over a 100000 people. and so perhaps this, this program should be looked at going forward. it is a, it is a design to be a slow process. secretary blanket and in the state department worked hard early on to to shorten the timeline that it takes to, to work your way through that process. but again, for the type of operation that we just conducted, i think i think we need

a different type of capability for general ability. i wanted to ask you about sunday and drone strike. can you take us back to that morning? you have intel eyes, this k is plotting another attack. the military box of vehicle that you believe is full of carrying explode explosives and we take the car out with a job strike, and reports. now say that we may have that 10 civilians, as many attempts of millions may have been, may have been killed because of the urgent threat environment. at the time. to preliminary assessments indicate that we may have rushed relapse or waved altogether. some of the normal checks and balances that we do before a strike like that. a couple of things. one is as we always do on all of these things, we initiate an investigation, we're reviewing all the the video and all that. but having said that, what do we know what we don't know what we think sort of thing at the,

at the time. and i think this is still valid. we had very good intelligence that isis gay was preparing a specific type vehicle at a specific type location. we monitor that through various means and all of the engagement criteria will being met. we went through the same level of rigor that we've done for years. and we took a strike so that we did. secondly, is we know that there were secondary explosions because it was secondary explosions . there's a reasonable conclusion to be made that there was explosives in that vehicle. the 3rd thing is, we know from a variety of other means that at least one of those people that were killed was a isis facilitator. so were there others killed? yes, there are others killed who they are. we don't know. we'll try to sort through all that, but we believe that the procedures at this point i don't want to influence you, i'll come for an investigation. but at this point we think that the procedures were

correctly followed. and if the righteous strike, so we've got time for one more question and we'll go to barbara last question. thank you. sure. well, your messages today from both of you, your messages of compassion and gratitude are certainly understood in the last several days to view at multiple times has issued these kinds of messages and statements. and what i'm curious about is, what do you see in the country with troops with veterans that make you feel you did a rare thing that makes you feel these messages and you put out so many in the last few days, really, i was very struck. you use the word pain and anger and you understood that was out there. so as a combat for yourself.