this is bbc news, the headlines... president biden has strongly defended his decision to withdraw us troops from afghanistan. mr biden said the clear goals of the us mission in afghanistan were focussed on counter—terrorism, not nation—building. thousands of afghans have been trying to flee the country as the taliban take control. there was mayhem and panic at kabul airport, with people clinging to moving planes, trying to escape. the mayor of kabul says the taliban have asked him to stay on in his post to ensure stability. he said the militants were surprised they'd been able to take over so rapidly, and most of their leaders were not in kabul. the united nations secretary general has urged the taliban to exercise the maximum restraint to protect lives. speaking to the security council, antonio guterres called on the international community to make sure that afghanistan was never again used as a safe haven for terrorist organisations.

hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. to what the papers will be with me arejenny kleeman, a presenter at times radio, and michael booker, editor of the sunday express. hello to you both, it's good to see you. it's been a while. it hello to you both, it's good to see you. it's been a while.— hello to you both, it's good to see you. it's been a while.- it i you. it's been a while. it has. it has, it you. it's been a while. it has. it has. it has- _ you. it's been a while. it has. it has, it has. anyway, _ you. it's been a while. it has. it has, it has. anyway, i'm - you. it's been a while. it has. it has, it has. anyway, i'm back. you. it's been a while. it has. it. has, it has. anyway, i'm back now, so stay on your toes. the metro calls it the "flight from hell", as people at kabul airport tried desperately to escape the taliban in afghanistan today. the guardian adds that seven people died in the chaos — some clung to the outside of the plane as it took off, and others were crushed in the crowd. the financial times leads with a similar image of the runway today, adding that many afghans dread the return of a hardline islamist regime. the i writes "no way out" above a dramatic picture of people

trying to climb over a border wall to escape afghanistan on the first day of taliban rule. the telegraph leads with the speech joe biden delivered from the white house tonight — he told the world he stands "squarely" by his decision to withdraw american troops from afghanistan. the sun calls the us president "joke biden", writing that he faces a global backlash over his handling of the crisis in afghanistan. 0k, we will have a quick look at some of these stories now. i want to start with you, jenny, because this image, this air force plane is on pretty much all the papers, and it dominates the telegraph there. will this be a defining image for the biden presidency, do you think? i think it is already, it's certainly the defining image of our withdrawal

from afghanistan until there is a black taliban flag on top of the us embassy. it's almost a cliche now to make comparisons with saigon — but the imagery of this is very much the same, and the detail also of the number of people who died trying to get him not —— on that c16 and the dozens of people cleaned to the outside and falling from the sky shows how desperate people are. and those people who are in the air force in kabul have nowhere to go. it is surrounded by the taliban, they cannot get home if they wanted to, and no planes are leaving now. so they are just stuck there in purgatory. so they are “ust stuck there in purgatory.— so they are “ust stuck there in uraato . ~ . . ., so they are “ust stuck there in uraato . ~ . . . ., purgatory. michael, did it have to be like this? _ purgatory. michael, did it have to be like this? well, _ purgatory. michael, did it have to be like this? well, according - purgatory. michael, did it have to be like this? well, according to l be like this? well, according to what they're — be like this? well, according to what they're saying _ be like this? well, according to what they're saying in - be like this? well, according to what they're saying in the - what they're saying in the telegraph, british security officials had been urging the americans not to go before the anniversary of september 11, and

they needed to stay there for a lot longer— they needed to stay there for a lot longer for— they needed to stay there for a lot longer for there to be a hand over. by longer for there to be a hand over. by then_ longer for there to be a hand over. by then you — longer for there to be a hand over. by then you go back to the words of president biden tonight — if not now, _ president biden tonight — if not now, when? they've had 20 years to come _ now, when? they've had 20 years to come up _ now, when? they've had 20 years to come up with — now, when? they've had 20 years to come up with a strategy, that clearly— come up with a strategy, that clearly not come up with a good one. it clearly not come up with a good one. it was _ clearly not come up with a good one. it was interesting with that speech which _ it was interesting with that speech which is _ it was interesting with that speech which is on — it was interesting with that speech which is on the front of the telegraph, look, if you're in afghanistan and still allowed to watch _ afghanistan and still allowed to watch television or listen to a radio, — watch television or listen to a radio, it'll— watch television or listen to a radio, it'll be chilling because he had washed his hands of them, and it was almost _ had washed his hands of them, and it was almost a casual cruelty to his words. _ was almost a casual cruelty to his words, then he hopped back on a helicopter— words, then he hopped back on a helicopter back to camp david. i think_ helicopter back to camp david. i think that'll define him, as well, the words — think that'll define him, as well, the words that he spoke. this is a man who, — the words that he spoke. this is a man who, when on his inauguration, he said _ man who, when on his inauguration, he said he _ man who, when on his inauguration, he said he would try to heal the world — he said he would try to heal the world. well, afghanistan will be bloodshed from now on, we think. he bloodshed from now on, we think. hg. was bloodshed from now on, we think. was also bloodshed from now on, we think. he: was also speaking to the afghan people, wasn't he? he was being to the american people. he people, wasn't he? he was being to the american people.— people, wasn't he? he was being to the american people. he was speaking to the american _ the american people. he was speaking to the american people _ the american people. he was speaking to the american people and _ to the american people and consistently showing that the

american people want america's involvement in afghanistan to end. when it comes to people in washington, he did something that nobody has done in american politics in a long time, which was to unify both sides — in condemnation of both of him. but when it comes to ordinary americans, he was appealing to them. even though i do believe there are many benefits for america staying in afghanistan just as they stayed in korea and many other countries for many, many decades. there always has been this disconnect in america between what the country does a broad in its foreign policy, and the prosperity at home. in that connection between the two has never ever, and i've been reporting from the us for far too many years, but that connection between the two, the prosperity americans have enjoyed since the end of the second world war and the way their country carries on a broad,

away from its borders — that connection is just not there for most americans. and as a result, they cannot see what afghanistan was all about it, or at least is difficult for them to. i all about it, or at least is difficult for them to. i agree with ou, difficult for them to. i agree with you. there's _ difficult for them to. i agree with you. there's a — difficult for them to. i agree with you, there's a significant - difficult for them to. i agree with j you, there's a significant number difficult for them to. i agree with i you, there's a significant number of americans who don't have a passport and don't really look at foreign affairs, they look at the affairs in their own domestic state and may be nationally, but they don't look at international politics or think about the implications for them of the fact that the taliban have shown that it doesn't matter what the international community thinks of them any more, they'll do as they please. and that means the country will be a magnet for international terrorists who know they'll be able to get away with anything there, because if the taliban can march in and take over kabul so quickly, then the international community will not be able to stop the country from becoming a hotbed of international terrorism. but becoming a hotbed of international terrorism. �* m . becoming a hotbed of international terrorism. �* a ., .,

terrorism. but michael, at the end ofthe terrorism. but michael, at the end of the day. — terrorism. but michael, at the end of the day. you're _ terrorism. but michael, at the end of the day, you're an _ terrorism. but michael, at the end of the day, you're an american, i terrorism. but michael, at the end l of the day, you're an american, your 8000 miles away from this place, americans have lost their lives, $1 trillion has been spent, you've been there for 20 years — it does make sense to pull out, doesn't it? i think as you say to those people who are actually— think as you say to those people who are actually watching the speech, many— are actually watching the speech, many millions of americans will not have been_ many millions of americans will not have been following it or be interested. that's the stark reality of it. _ interested. that's the stark reality of it. but — interested. that's the stark reality of it, but those who did, many will agree _ of it, but those who did, many will agree. many will have had a family members — agree. many will have had a family members who may have died in the last 20 _ members who may have died in the last 20 years, as well as of the war in iraq. _ last 20 years, as well as of the war in iraq. as — last 20 years, as well as of the war in iraq, as well. we saw the same thing _ in iraq, as well. we saw the same thing in _ in iraq, as well. we saw the same thing in vietnam where we were sending — thing in vietnam where we were sending children off to a strange land for— sending children off to a strange land for an ultimately futile attempt at bringing peace there, stopping — attempt at bringing peace there, stopping communism spreading across the world _ stopping communism spreading across the world. they say the same in afghanistan, as well. for selfish reasons. — afghanistan, as well. for selfish reasons, they stopped al-qaeda from

coming _ reasons, they stopped al-qaeda from coming to— reasons, they stopped al-qaeda from coming to america, they've stopped that now— coming to america, they've stopped that now and let's get on with it. president — that now and let's get on with it. president biden says if there is problems with terrorism, we will then— problems with terrorism, we will then go— problems with terrorism, we will then go back into afghanistan on a case—by—case basis like we do across the world _ case—by—case basis like we do across the world with other threats, with isis the world with other threats, with isis and _ the world with other threats, with isis and what's happening in africa, as welt _ isis and what's happening in africa, as welt so — isis and what's happening in africa, as well. so it's notjust afghanistan. many people are maybe nodding _ afghanistan. many people are maybe nodding along to what he says in america — nodding along to what he says in america. �* . nodding along to what he says in america. �* , :, nodding along to what he says in america. 3 :, :, nodding along to what he says in america. �* , :, :, :, nodding along to what he says in america. �*, :, :, :, america. let's go to the front page of the sun. — america. let's go to the front page of the sun, "joke _ america. let's go to the front page of the sun, "joke biden." - america. let's go to the front page of the sun, "joke biden." i'm i america. let's go to the front page of the sun, "joke biden." i'm not l of the sun, "joke biden." i'm not sure that's the best headline on this occasion, to be honest. there is the suggestion that the uk will take in quite a few afghan refugees fleeing the country — over and beyond those who have worked with the british military. i beyond those who have worked with the british military.— the british military. i think we were going — the british military. i think we were going to _ the british military. i think we were going to have _ the british military. i think we were going to have to. - the british military. i think we were going to have to. it's i the british military. i think we| were going to have to. it's our responsibility to look after these people who have been let down and we made lots of promises to them. they

risk of their lives on those promises, there are women who have got an education who wanted to be doctors and lawyers, who will now be subject to laws from the seventh century. we now have no option but to take those people in. i reported on afghan migrants trying to enter the eu illegally in 2001, and the incredible dangers they are ready to face in order to have safety and security in europe. if we don't take them in illegally, there'll be an enormous number of them trying to arrive illegally which will have implications for politics, for far right governments all over europe getting support that we couldn't have imagined before then because there'll be a huge influx illegal migrants. there'll be a huge influx illegal mi . rants. there'll be a huge influx illegal miarants. , , ., there'll be a huge influx illegal miarants. ,, ., “ , migrants. the subhead, "present sur - rised migrants. the subhead, "present surprised by _ migrants. the subhead, "present surprised by rows," _ migrants. the subhead, "present surprised by rows," the - migrants. the subhead, "present surprised by rows," the point i

migrants. the subhead, "present l surprised by rows," the point being that either there's no way they should of been surprised because they would've had intelligence on they would've had intelligence on the ground, and how could that mistake of been made? or they should've known that things were going to go in a pretty appalling way and ignored what was going to happen potentially. he way and ignored what was going to happen potentially.— way and ignored what was going to happen potentially. he did say plan for every contingency _ happen potentially. he did say plan for every contingency to _ happen potentially. he did say plan for every contingency to start i happen potentially. he did say plan for every contingency to start with. | for every contingency to start with. but if _ for every contingency to start with. but if yotr're — for every contingency to start with. but if you're going to plan for every— but if you're going to plan for every contingency, then the shouldn't of been a surprise. he did say it— shouldn't of been a surprise. he did say it has— shouldn't of been a surprise. he did say it has been quicker than they expected. — say it has been quicker than they expected, but near the end of the day, expected, but near the end of the day. they— expected, but near the end of the day, they were just going to get out and that's— day, they were just going to get out and that's it. and i think people will be — and that's it. and i think people will be surprised, who watched that speech _ will be surprised, who watched that speech tonight, he was supposed to be this— speech tonight, he was supposed to be this great liberal president, the opposite _ be this great liberal president, the opposite of donald trump — and as i say, opposite of donald trump — and as i say. there _ opposite of donald trump — and as i say, there was almost a cruel mess about— say, there was almost a cruel mess about it. _ say, there was almost a cruel mess about it. he — say, there was almost a cruel mess about it, he said the buck stops with— about it, he said the buck stops with me — about it, he said the buck stops with me then blamed trump and the afghan— with me then blamed trump and the

afghan people, the afghan soldiers, and the _ afghan people, the afghan soldiers, and the afghan government. so it didn't— and the afghan government. so it didn't really stop with him, he blamed — didn't really stop with him, he blamed everyone else.- didn't really stop with him, he blamed everyone else. that's true certainly on _ blamed everyone else. that's true certainly on the _ blamed everyone else. that's true certainly on the manner— blamed everyone else. that's true certainly on the manner of- certainly on the manner of that withdrawal, but it must be said he has not been a liberal when it comes to foreign forces abroad. he has wanted to pull these troops out over a substantial period of time. he an a substantial period of time. he on record many _ a substantial period of time. he on record many times _ a substantial period of time. he on record many times during - a substantial period of time. he on record many times during the i a substantial period of time. he on record many times during the time j record many times during the time when _ record many times during the time when he _ record many times during the time when he was vice president to obama, as well. _ when he was vice president to obama, as well, talking about this, that he didn't— as well, talking about this, that he didn't want— as well, talking about this, that he didn't want to be the one to hand this over— didn't want to be the one to hand this over to— didn't want to be the one to hand this over to another president after him. this over to another president after him so— this over to another president after him so he's— this over to another president after him. so he's the one, he's done this. _ him. so he's the one, he's done this. he's— him. so he's the one, he's done this, he's followed through. he seems — this, he's followed through. he seems to— this, he's followed through. he seems to be going along with it. and it's the _ seems to be going along with it. and it's the idea — seems to be going along with it. and it's the idea that america isn't the world's_ it's the idea that america isn't the world's police any more, that might worry— world's police any more, that might worry some —

world's police any more, that might worry some people across the world. going _ worry some people across the world. going back— worry some people across the world. going back to the people in afghanistan who, if they did get a chance _ afghanistan who, if they did get a chance to — afghanistan who, if they did get a chance to see that, they are on their— chance to see that, they are on their own — chance to see that, they are on their own now and not much they can do for— their own now and not much they can do for them — their own now and not much they can do for them-— do for them. jenny you made the oint do for them. jenny you made the point earlier— do for them. jenny you made the point earlier about _ do for them. jenny you made the point earlier about promises i do for them. jenny you made the l point earlier about promises being made — and that's the fundamental problem here, pointing to michael's references to a seeming callousness on the part ofjoe biden. george w. bush could've targeted osama bin laden and taking out the taliban, and left. and indeed, that kind of deal was on the table once the taliban had been routed from kabul into december since 2001. he didn't do that, he made it clear he would rebuild the nation and the military. that is not a 20 year plan, that is a multi—generational plan, that is 20 - 40 a multi—generational plan, that is 20 — a0 years. that's why people are depressed and disappointed, and feel that a promise has been broken. i

would completely agree with that, it was a plan which people thought was an action, which is why started building their lives according to it. ifound it quite building their lives according to it. i found it quite chilling when building their lives according to it. ifound it quite chilling when i heard biden state on saturday that heard biden state on saturday that he said america cannot forever be involved in the civil war some of other countries. that's not why america was there, it was there to protect its own interests after 9/11, it decided it would get involved in nation building. this is the first big test of biden's leadership and judgment. and wherever you come from on the political spectrum, wherever you come from on the politicalspectrum, he wherever you come from on the political spectrum, he has failed very badly on both. he is setting up strawmen for himself to fight, and he's also saying that he didn't expect afghanistan to fall so quickly to the taliban. he has badly misjudged her this and done so much damage to afghanistan and to his own presidency. damage to afghanistan and to his own residen . :, :, ~ :, presidency. front page of the metro, same shot of— presidency. front page of the metro,

same shot of that _ presidency. front page of the metro, same shot of that us _ presidency. front page of the metro, same shot of that us air _ presidency. front page of the metro, same shot of that us air force i presidency. front page of the metro, same shot of that us air force plane | same shot of that us air force plane there. that close—up, the bottom right—hand picture of someone seemingly falling off the side of that plane as it's already up in the air. it's really distressing to look at, but president is plenty of dodgy folk around the world are rubbing their hands, aren't they? it world are rubbing their hands, aren't they?— aren't they? it seems across the world of the _ aren't they? it seems across the world of the bad _ aren't they? it seems across the world of the bad guys _ aren't they? it seems across the world of the bad guys are i aren't they? it seems across the i world of the bad guys are currently winning _ world of the bad guys are currently winning. the bad guys seem to have these _ winning. the bad guys seem to have these very— winning. the bad guys seem to have these very strong leaders who, for better— these very strong leaders who, for better or— these very strong leaders who, for better or worse, these very strong leaders who, for better orworse, have these very strong leaders who, for better or worse, have a point and push _ better or worse, have a point and push for— better or worse, have a point and push for it. — better or worse, have a point and push for it, and they seem to want more _ push for it, and they seem to want more and — push for it, and they seem to want more and more dominance. we in the westiust _ more and more dominance. we in the westjust seems to more and more dominance. we in the west just seems to have politicians enter— west just seems to have politicians enter charged, they're just doing everything they can to protect themselves rather than the rest of themselves rather than the rest of the world — themselves rather than the rest of the world. that seems to be the worry— the world. that seems to be the worry at— the world. that seems to be the worry at the moment. the other worry is we've _ worry at the moment. the other worry is we've got— worry at the moment. the other worry is we've got these chilling pictures on the _ is we've got these chilling pictures on the front pages at the moment,

but the _ on the front pages at the moment, but the thing that the taliban, the best thing — but the thing that the taliban, the best thing they can do is not widespread slaughter, they want to put out _ widespread slaughter, they want to put out there — they are clever these — put out there — they are clever these days, they're better at media relations— these days, they're better at media relations these days, and it may be quieter— relations these days, and it may be quieter over— relations these days, and it may be quieter over the next few weeks and we might— quieter over the next few weeks and we might not see people slaughtered in the _ we might not see people slaughtered in the streets. the problem is when we aren't— in the streets. the problem is when we aren't looking at any more, it's 'ust we aren't looking at any more, it's iust there — we aren't looking at any more, it's just there every day casual cruelty that takes— just there every day casual cruelty that takes over, then the world isn't _ that takes over, then the world isn't interested in that any more and biden— isn't interested in that any more and biden can get away with doing this. “ :, :, “ :, this. the i, "no way out" front page there, this. the i, "no way out" front page there. people _ this. the i, "no way out" front page there, people climbing _ this. the i, "no way out" front page there, people climbing over - this. the i, "no way out" front page there, people climbing over the i there, people climbing over the walls at the airport trying to get to the runway. the big fear is for women and children, and part of the british plan to take in afghan citizens is to help women who feel vulnerable. but citizens is to help women who feel vulnerable-—

vulnerable. but how we get them there? we _ vulnerable. but how we get them there? we had _ vulnerable. but how we get them there? we had the _ vulnerable. but how we get them there? we had the defence i vulnerable. but how we get them i there? we had the defence secretary