chris donahue is the commander of the u.s. army 82nd airborne division as he boards the c-130 in afghanistan. they used the same photo this morning in the associated press reporting, ending america's longest war, the united states completing its withdrawal from f anna stanley on day, ending america's longest war and closing a chapter in military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises, and a frantic final exit that costs the lives of 180 afghans and 13 u.s.'s -- 13 u.s. service members, some barely older than the war. that's from the associated press. we are joined on the line by a defense reporter from politico. good morning. >> good morning -- guest: good morning, thank you for having me. host: we showed that photo of chris donahue exiting. not the typical kind of final departure ceremony when the u.s. wraps up an engagement. was there any other kind of ceremony to market? -- mark that? guest: not really, they were the last americans on the ground yesterday, two of the last, one of the las

major general chris donahue of the| major general chris donahue of the army— major general chris donahuey work with leading elements of our- with leading elements of our reinforcement _ with leading elements of our reinforcement package - with leading elements of our reinforcement package to i with leading elements of our. reinforcement package to safely closing — reinforcement package to safely closing embassy _ reinforcement package to safely closing embassy in _ reinforcement package to safely closing embassy in one - reinforcement package to safely closing embassy in one peer- reinforcement package to safely closing embassy in one peer toi closing embassy in one peer to darkness— closing embassy in one peer to darkness or— closing embassy in one peer to darkness or one _ closing embassy in one peer to darkness or one evening - closing embassy in one peer to darkness or one evening to - closing embassy in one peer to- darkness or one evening to establish a deacon _ darkness or one evening to establish a deacon flexion _ darkness or one evening to establish a deacon flexion mechanism -

we will soon release a photo of the last c 17 to parting afghanistan with major general chris donahue and the u. s. and bastard, jeff can stand ross wilson board while the military evacuation is complete, the diplomatic mission to ensure additional us citizens and eligible afghans who want to leave continues. and i know that you have heard, i know that you're going to hear more about that from the state department shortly . tonight's withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation, but also the end of the nearly 20 year mission that began and africana stay on. shortly after september 11th, 2001. it's a mission that brought a summer been logged to adjust in, along with many was allocated co conspirators. and it was not, it was not a cheap mission. the cost was $2461.00 us service members and civilians kill and more than $20000.00 who were injured. sadly, that includes 13 us service members who were killed last week by an ice case suicide bar. we honor their sacrifice today. as we remember their heroic accomplishments, no word from me could possibly capture

these already iconic images of a commanding officer of the evacuation mission, major general chris donahue in night vision — the last soldier out of afghanistan. my fellow americans, the war in afghanistan is now over. i'm the fourth president who has faced 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've honoured 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 afghanistan. after 20 years of war in afghanistan, i refused to send another generation of america's sons and daughters to fight a war that should have ended long ago. he hailed the evacuation of more than 123,000 people. but once again blamed the afghan government for abdicating their responsibilities and the trump administration for entering into a deal with the taliban. but it was this president that oversaw such a frenzied, chaotic withdrawal. in a country renowned for honouring its servicemen and women and in a city that at its ver

we will soon release a photo of the last c-17 departing afghanistan with major general chris donahue and the u.s. ambassador to afghanistan. while the military evacuation is complete, the diplomatic mission to ensure additional u.s. citizens and eligible afghans who want to be continues. i know you have heard and will going -- hear more shortly. tonight withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component, but also the end of the nearly 20 year mission that began in afghanistan shortly after september 11, 2001. it's a that brought osama bin laden to a just and, along with many co-conspirators. it was not a cheap mission. the cost was 2461 u.s. service members and civilians killed, and over 20,000 injured. that includes 13 u.s. service members killed best week by isis-k suicide bomber. we honor their sacrifice, we remember their heroic accomplishments. no words for me could possibly capture the full measure of sacrifices and accomplishments of those who serve, nor the emotion they are feeling at this moment, but i will say i'm proud that both my son and i have been a part of it

major general chris donahue, last u.s. boots on the ground in afghanistan as he was boarding the last c-17 out of kabul. the 20 years of war there costing trillions of dollars but most importantly claiming more than 2400 american lives, including 13 service members killed in the terror attack at kabul airport last week. over the last few weeks, the u.s. and its allies pulled off a major feat, evacuating 123,000 people but it was not entirely complete. between 100 and 200 americans are believed to still be in afghanistan and they want out along with thousands of afghan allies that america promised to protect. the taliban is celebrating america's departure. [ sound of gunfire ] >> fireworks and celebratory gunfire could be heard across kabul overnight. a los angeles times journalist captured this video of taliban fighters roaming ago helicopter hangar. let's begin with jeremy diamond at the white house. jeremy, what are you expecting to hear from the president this afternoon? >> reporter: well, listen, kate, when president b

these already iconic images of a commanding officer of the evacuation mission, major general chris donahueght vision, the last soldier out of afghanistan. more disconcerting for americans are the imagesjust hours more disconcerting for americans are the images just hours later of taliban forces in us military fatigues inspecting the same airfield. and it wasn'tjust equipment the us military left behind, but american citizens and vulnerable afghans, but the us insists the work to get them out continues. fix, insists the work to get them out continuu— continues. a new chapter of america's — continues. a new chapter of america's engagement - continues. a new chapter of america's engagement in i continues. a new chapter of - america's engagement in afghanistan has begun. it's one in which we will lead with diplomacy. the military mission is over, a new diplomatic mission is over, a new diplomatic mission has begun. it mission is over, a new diplomatic mission has begun.— mission has begun. it was an incredible — mission has begun. it was an incredible logistical - mission has begun. it was an i

diplomat and general chris donahue. he is pictured here boarding an american jet. >> when all was said and done, 122,000 people were evacuated in just the last few weeks. really an incredible number. the state department has suspended diplomatic operations in kabul and will now operate out of qatar. and that is where we find nick paton walsh at an air base used in evacuations. nick, good morning. overnight the taliban celebrating the u.s. withdrawal. tell us what is actually happening in afghanistan now and can the taliban hold this control? >> reporter: yeah, that will be the ultimate question for them in the weeks ahead frankly. they are already seeing a security threat from isis-k. the question is how that sustains once the american presence has gone, which it now has finished. and it is extraordinary after 20 years to think of the american presence in afghanistan in the past tense. so many of the final aircraft which were involved in yesterday's departure landed in the distance behind me over there at the air base h

>> let me begin with the backend of your question, and the last airplane out was general chris donahue, commander of the 82nd airborne division,, accompanied by the ambassador. they came out together, the state and defense team came out on the last aircraft and were the last people to step on the airplane. what has happened over the last 12-18 hours, first of all, we were intent on intending the ability to bring out americans and other afghans as long as we could. we kept that capability until just a few hours ago and we were able to bring out some people earlier in the day, although we had to cut it off sometime before this operation began. but we were intent on maintaining that capability. we were also intent on maintaining our force protections because the threats from isis were very real, very concerning, and we did a number of things, overwhelming u.s. airpower overhead, should have been any challenge to our departure. there was absolutely no russian, we were not going to be challenged by the taliban. if we were going to be challenged, it would be by isis. i think some of the thin

. >> here's a bit of background on the major general, chris donahue, the commanding general of the 82ndborne division here in this ghostly photo, the last american soldier to leave afghanistan. general donahue was working in the pentagon on 9-11. his fourth deployment to afghanistan. he led a delta force squadron a decade ago and head of special operations forces. secretary of state anthony blinken explaineded who some of these american citizens are that are left behind. >> they're long-time residents of afghanistan that have american passports and who were trying to determine whether or not they whether or not they wanted to leave. many are duel-citizen americans with deep roots and extended families in afghanistan that resided there for many years. for many, it's a painful choice. >> we've learned many of the americans left behind are in fact babies with u.s. passports born to afghans with green cards that gave birth in the u.s. those babies were dependent on parents to get them to the airport. many of these green card holders wanted to bring a dozen or more non-american family member

general chris donahue, my ground force commander with russell wilson. they were the last people to stand on the ground, step on the airplane. who has happened the last 12, 18 hours? first of all, we were intent on maintaining the ability to bring out americans and other afghans as long as we could. so we kept that capability until just a few hours ago. we were able to bring out some people earlier in the day. we had to cut it off sometime before this operation began. we were intent on maintaining that capability. we were also intent on maintaining our security. the threats from isis were very real, very concerning. so we did a number of things. we had overwhelming u.s. air power overhead should there have been any challenge to our departure. again, there was absolutely no question we were not going to be challenged by the taliban. if we were going to be challenged, it was going to be by isis. some of the things we did yesterday, particularly the strike and other things have disrupted their ability to conduct that attack planning. they remain a very leth

army major general chris donahue. of the 82nd airborne boarding a c-17 to depart kabul. lifted off at 11:59 p.m. local. just before the clock struck midnight. so, that means it's august 31st in afghanistan right now. right? remember that date. arbitrary. set by the biden administration. it's about 5:30 in the morning there now. the taliban knows the united states is gone, and is celebrating with gunfire. now, their government

we will soon release a photo of the last c-17 departing afghanistan with major general chris donahue to afghanistan aboard. while the military evacuation is complete, the diplomatic mission to ensure additional u.s. citizens and eligible afghans who want to leave continues. and i know that you have heard -- i know that you're going to hear more about that from the state department shortly. tonight's withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in afghanistan shortly after september 11th, 2001. it's a mission that brought osama bin laden to a just end, along with many of his al qaeda co-conspirators. and it was not a cheap mission. the cost was 2,461 u.s. service members and civilians killed and more than 20,000 who were injured. sadly, that includes 13 u.s. service members who were killed last week by an isis-k suicide bomber. we honor their sacrifice today as we remember their heroic accomplishments. no words from me could possibly capture the full measure of sacrifices and accomplishments of

>> on the last airplane out was general chris donahue, and my ground force commander there. he was accompanied by -- the defense team came out on the last aircraft out. what has happened over the last 12-18 hours, first of all, we were intent on maintaining the ability to bring out americans and other afghans as long as we could. we kept that capability until just a few hours ago and we were able to bring out some people earlier in the day. we had to cut it off sometime before the operation, but we were intent on that capability. we were also intent on maintaining our force protection. the threats from isis are very real and very concerning. so we did a number of things. we had overwhelming u.s. airpower overhead, should there have been any challenge to our departure. there was absolutely no question we would not be challenged by the taliban. if we were challenged, it was going to be by isis. some of the things we've done yesterday, particularly the strike, have disrupted their ability to have an attack plan. but they remain a very lethal force. probably there are 2000 hard-

we will soon release a photo of the last c-17 departing afghanistan with major general chris donahuehe u.s. ambassador to afghanistan, ross wilson aboard. while the military evacuation is complete, the diplomatic mission to enemy sure citizens and afghans who wants to leave continues. >> thousandses of afghans hoping to leave the country now under taliban control are being left behind, including many who worked as u.s. -- rob is joining us from kabul. it's been a historic moment but also a roll emmoment. rob: absolutely. there was some incredible scenes here in kabul. what is a historic night, finally the ending of 20 years of military involvement by the united states in the country. word started to spread quickly just after midnight local time so we were already into the 31st of august, a date which is very important which will be noted in history books in years to come. this. the date, the deadline set as the departure of the u.s. and the u.s. was good to its words, it left on the 31st when you just after midnight into this day tuesday and word started to spread on social media tha

major general chris donahue commanding general of the 82nd airborne division. nbc's richard engel has more on the american citizens left behind >> reporter: united states ended its 20-year war in afghanistan with the conclusion of the largest noncombatant airlift in american history >> i'm here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from afghanistan in the end of the military mission >> reporter: 123,000 people flown out of the now taliban-controlled country the taliban firing barrages of celebratory gunfire after the last aircraft departed, but not all americans were able to get out. >> the citizens that were not brought outnumber in the very low hundreds i believe that we're going to be able to get those people out >> reporter: it's been two decades of military deployments. 2,461 americans killed 1,144 nato allies killed more than 48,000 afghans killed. 300,000 afghan soldiers trained only to collapse when confronted about a trillion dollars spent, and more to come to care for the wounded. afghanistan handed back to the very same islamic fundamentalists

night, and the skies exploded with taliban soldier, after the last american soldier, major general chris donahue streets of kabul, the city seems much the same, until we get to the banks. to the queues stretching all the way down the street. most banks are shut, most don't have any money. some people have stood here for days wondering if they can withstand this for long. i should build a future, i should study. so definitely if the situations are like that, you should stay for one weekjust to take 10,000 afghani...$100 from the bank, so it's not possible to live here. a country turned upside down and inside out. an old order suddenly ripped away, a new one suddenly started, in chaos and uncertainty. lyse doucet, bbc news, kabul. joining me live from geneva is dr florian weigand, who is co—director of the centre for the study of armed groups at the international development think—tank the overseas development institute. he has also lived in afghanistan. karishma's questions: just watching that report from our chief international correspondent lyse doucette there — and the taliban look like what t

last american exploded with taliban celebration, after the last american soldier, major general chris donahueve through the streets of kabul, the city seems much the same, until we get to the banks. to the queues stretching all the way down the street. most banks are shut, most don't have any money. some people have stood here for days wondering if they can withstand this for long. i should build a future, i should study. so definitely if the situations are like that, you should stay for one weekjust to take 10,000 afghani...$100 from the bank, so it's not possible to live here. a country turned upside down and inside out. an old order suddenly ripped away, a new one suddenly started, in chaos and uncertainty. lyse doucet, bbc news, kabul. earlier i spoke to dr florian weigand, co—director of the centre for the study of armed groups at the 0verseas development institute. i asked if he thought the taliban had a plan on how to run the country: de taliban clearly have a little experience with regard to governance. so they're not just an armed group, notjust an insurgency, over the past two years

he major general chris donahue who was boarding a plane leaving kabul. very striking image.t night the last servicemen to leave afghanistan. and coming back to a huge, very difficult questions forjoe biden. just a very haunting solitary figure, really. we've seen some of the reports saying in tomorrow's paper is about people still arriving at the airport, they are still hoping to get out. obviously there are no flights leaving. and that man there when we've heard about how crowded it was you can see he's just on we've heard about how crowded it was you can see he'sjust on his we've heard about how crowded it was you can see he's just on his own as he steps onto the plane. which is just a sign of really what happened. before i move on tojoe m, the article itself is a reflection by a female afghan who has only known the new afghanistan. it really does talk about the fears of what lays ahead. yes. this particular woman talks about a job she did manage to get it. she's burned herjeans because she's worried that any sign of not wearing traditional dress she will be singled out by

these already iconic images of a commanding officer of the evacuation mission, major general chris donahueg the same airfield. and it wasn'tjust equipment the us military left behind, but american citizens and vulnerable afghans, but the us insists the work to get them out continues. a new chapter of america's engagement with afghanistan has begun. it's one in which we will lead with our diplomacy. the military mission is over, a new diplomatic mission has begun. it was an incredible logistical effort to evacuate more than 123,000 civilians over the past month. but of course it came at a cost. scores of civilian deaths and 13 more us military lives lost, adding to the more than 2300 americans already killed in afghanistan and heaping more pressure on president biden. for a country renowned for honouring its servicemen and women, what looks to many inescapably like a defeat has been a huge blow, and military veterans have been especially vocal about their dismay. i think it was a waste of... a waste of time over there, because it wasn't run properly, i don't think. $2 trillion spent over th

chris donahue is the commander of the u.s.y 82nd airborne division as he boards the c-130 in afghanistan. they used the same photo this morning in the associated press reporting, ending america's longest war, the united states completing its withdrawal from f anna stanley on day, ending america's longest war and closing a chapter in military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises, and a frantic final exit that costs the lives of 180 afghans and 13 u.s.'s -- 13 u.s. service members, some barely older than the war. that's from the associated press. we are joined on the line by a defense reporter from politico. good morning. >> good morning -- guest: good morning, thank you for having me. host: we showed that photo of chris donahue exiting. not the typical kind of final departure ceremony when the u.s. wraps up an engagement. was there any other kind of ceremony to market? -- mark that? guest: not really, they were the last americans on the ground yesterday, two of the last, one of the last fl

we will soon release a photo of the last c 17 departing afghanistan with major general chris donahue and the u. s. in bastrop. jeff gast and ross wilson board, while the military evacuation is complete, the diplomatic mission to ensure additional us citizens and eligible afghans who want to leave continues. well, more than a 100000 people have left on us flights in just the past 2 weeks, but thousands of afghans hoping to leave the country now under taliban control of being left behind, including many who worked with us allies. robert bryant is joining us now. live from call bull rob. it's been a historic moment, but also a solar moment. absolutely, i mean this was some incredible scenes here in cobble. what is very historic nights of the, the finally the ending of 20 years of military involvement by the united states in the country. words started to spread here very quickly just after midnight local time. so we were already into the 31st of august dates, which is very important, which will be noted in history books, you need to come, this was the date, the deadline set as the depart

major general chris donahue. shortly after that last flight, the taliban moving in to take full control of the airport, entering a hangar full of u.s. military hardware. abandoned u.s. vehicles and aircraft. the pentagon saying they'd all been demilitarized. vehicles that will never be driven again. tonight here, the case made by the president today. the tough questions now moving forward. what about the americans still there? and what about any potential terror threat, what does afghanistan look like from here? abc's chief global affairs correspondent martha raddatz leading us off. >> reporter: tonight, president biden defiant, doubling down on his decision to pull all u.s. troops out of afghanistan. >> my fellow americans, the war in afghanistan is now over. i'm the fourth president that must 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've honored that commitment. it was time to be honest with

major general chris donahue, in the green lights on night vision scope. precisely at 1159 p. m. couple time military c. 17 to come from the airport plains last taliban, celebrated on the grains with signs of gun, far echoing across cobble will in a moment, sold zones. kimberly hall curt, she's long for us in washington. d. c. katrina, you is in beijing. first, let's have to cobble. you can speak with charles stratford, you have all the very latest developments flores, charles america's gone. the taliban are in charge. what have they been saying this morning? well, some incredible pictures. we've seen filled at the airport where we understand with taliban special forces they're wearing pretty much state of the art american kitch holding new american rifles are what looked to be american rifles and they were there with ton of on officials. yes, the morning after this historical event, the withdrawal of us nato forces the title about p all machine at least very much still in full swing, trying to convince both kinds on the rest of the world that this movement, this organization has

we will soon release a photo blast the 17 departing afghanistan with major general chris donahue and the u. s. and bastard, jeff gast and ross wilson board. while the military evacuation is complete, the diplomatic mission to ensure additional us citizens and eligible afghans we want to leave continues. or more than a 100000 people have left on us flying in the past 2 weeks. but thousands of afghans hoping to leave the country now on the taliban control being left behind, including many who worked as u. s. allies were world bright, is live from cobble, rob, when we spoke to earlier, you said you thought it would happen that the wheels were up on the final c. 17 and now it has bringing historic close, at least for now to us his involvement. and i've got a son that's why we've had to finally the confirmation that the american military involvement in afghanistan has ended after 20 years. and the celebration in cobble are underway for the past hour or so. the whole skyline around the city here is being completely lit up with burst of gunfire. it has died off in the last few minutes or so

soldier boarded the final us flights of couple pence again released this image of major general chris donahue. as he boards, it's that plane. as 11 59 pm campbell time g. c 17th took off from the airport and as the plains left taliban celebrated on the grains signs of gunfire echoing across kabul. well, the us military dispelled dozens of air costs and destroys other equipments at the airport before leaving couple the pence and says it's left behind. 70 on the school vehicles which cost up to $1000000.00 each. the missile defense system, which was used defend offer 5 walk at attacks from iso k on monday, has also been left behind. well, in a moment for thought came the whole kit seize lifers in washington dc. come on, hi there. is that the talk on border crossing in pakistan 1st? so let's have states, charles stratford, who will bring us all the latest developments over kabul. and charles america has gone with taliban. i know in charge. what if they've been famous morning? yes. incredible scenes. cobble international airport this morning, we've seen pictures of what it's all about described w

this is a picture of major chris donahue, boarding a midnight flight out of kabul, last service memberin on the comes as the administration admits 100-200 americans who wanted out have been left behind. the president promised less than two weeks ago that u.s. troops would stay until every american was out, that did not happen, now the future of those left behind is in the hands of the taliban. >> john: we have this historic day covered for you, bret baier and martha maccallum for a full analysis allying with ari fleischer, michael mccaul, general jack keane and general tell-all. coverage right now, jacqui heinrich at the white house. >> sandra: but we begin with jennifer griffin live from the pentagon. hi, jennifer. to speak of last plane carrying u.s. troops took off at 3:29 yesterday, one minute before midnight local time. president biden's august 31st deadline, the top general overseeing the operation admitted some americans and afghans were left behind. >> there is a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure, we did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out, but i thin

last night the last us soldier to leave, major general chris donahue, ordered a cargo plane out of afghanistanmerica's longest war, but many who also wanted to leave have been left behind. crowds at the airport prevented several families eligible for resettlement in the uk to board their planes. this week i've been talking to one man who couldn't get his flight. he says he is now being hunted by the taliban, we have changed his voice. i am we have changed his voice. i am currently in _ we have changed his voice. i am currently in hell _ we have changed his voice. i am currently in hell right _ we have changed his voice. i am currently in hell right now. - we have changed his voice. i:n currently in hell right now. the last two weeks i have moved to 15 safe houses with my family because the taliban by trying to find me. if i can't get out in the next few days, i am fearful i will die. today he once again _ days, i am fearful i will die. today he once again begged _ days, i am fearful i will die. today he once again begged the - days, i am fearful i will die. today he once again begged the uk -

reporter: after two decades us troops left afghanistan, the last soldier to leave, major general chris donahue commander of the 80 second airborne division seen boarding the last c-17 out of couple, the withdrawal finished 20 hours after the deadline that military leaders are already admitting some have been left behind. >> there's a lot of heartbreak associated with this approach, we did not that get everybody out we wanted but had we stayed another 10 years we wouldn't have gotten everybody out. there still would have been people who were disappointed with that. >> reporter: anthony blinken insisting the us won't abandon those still in afghanistan. >> the welfare of americans is most vital and enduring mission. they want us safer knowing to week or month or a year they reach out and say i changed my mind, we will help them leave. our commitment to them has no deadline. >> reporter: as us troops moved out heavily on taliban moved in to inspect what was left, the white house dodging a question on whether the administration turned down an offer to secure couple. >> the taliban offered to stay o

these already iconic images of a commanding officer of the evacuation mission, major general chris donahuenight vision — the last soldier out of afghanistan. more disconcerting for americans are the images just hours later of taliban forces in us military fatigues inspecting the same airfield. and it wasn'tjust equipment the us military left behind, but american citizens and vulnerable afghans. but the us insists the work to get them out continues. a new chapter of america's engagement with afghanistan has begun. it's one in which we will lead with our diplomacy. the military mission is over. a new diplomatic mission has begun. it was an incredible logistical effort to evacuate more than 123,000 civilians over the past month, but of course it came at a cost. scores of civilian deaths and 13 more us military lives lost, adding to the more than 2300 americans already killed in afghanistan and heaping more pressure on president biden. for a country renowned for honouring its servicemen and women, what looks to many inescapably like a defeat has been a huge blow, and military veterans have bee

that is the major general chris donahue, the commander of the u.s. 82nd airborne division, the last one out of afghanistan, picture taken yesterday. stan in colorado on the republican line, go ahead. caller: our military is very good at fighting wars. our state department is not good at building nations. i was reading the agreement between the u.s. and the taliban . it basically said we are going to be out by early this year and biden extended it a little bit here and by and large during that time, there were no u.s. casualties. the taliban pretty much agreed to not kill us and we agreed not to kill them and that happened. but we had february 20 to plan all this over two administrations and nobody did anything particularly well. host: where do you think things went wrong? caller: once you agreed with the taliban in february 2020 that we were going to get out, we should have started planning then. we have a nation of 40 million. the last election, not everyone voted. the taliban are 78,000 fighters, i think i read somewhere. by early february -- early january of 2021, the u.s. mostly und

evacuation of afghanistan hours ahead of the self imposed august 31st deadline the major general chris donahuerding the plane in kabul yesterday. the final service member to leave afghani soil we have eamon javers with the latest on what this means and the president's pspeech today >> reporter: seema, we will hear from the president today i'll get to that the war ended at 3:29 p.m. yesterday with the departure of the remaining limit forces and general which was the last american boot on the ground. commander of the 82nd airborne division this sets up the situation in which americans left behind are going to need to be rescued because the military presence from afghanistan has now departed we got word from the secretary of state antony blinken yesterday about how many americans we're talking about. 200 americans remain and want to leave afghanistan. u.s. suspends the diplomatic operations in afghanistan. they moved the operations to qatar. blinken said for civilian traffic, that is important because there will be americans and afghans who want to leave. the commitment to get allies out has no d

this nightvision image showing the last soldier to leave, major general chris donahue seen boarding the last c-17 out of kabul. the withdrawal finished 24 hours ahead of the delay but military leaders already admitting some have been left behind. >> a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure. we did not get everybody out we wanted to get out but had we stayed another 10 days we wouldn't have gotten everybody a we wanted to get out and there still would have been people who were disappointed with that. >> reporter: anthony blinken insisting the us won't abandon those still in afghanistan. >> protection and welfare of a man's -- americans is vital. if they want to stay for now into a week or a month or a year they reach out and say i've changed my mind we will help them leave. our commitment to them has no deadline. jillian: as us troops moved out heavily armed taliban moved in to inspect what was left. meanwhile, the white house dodging a question on whether the administration turned down an offer to secure kabul. >> the washington post reports that taliban and offered to stay ou

maybe genital chris donahue who is going as direct negotiator to the taliban military talks through these. things it could possibly be that the majority of americans will be out by the 31st of august. it sounds highly unlikely that 18,000 interpreters and 20,000 commandoes, and 20 or 30,000 people who worked for the u.s., and ngos, could all get out with their families prior to the end of the month. so this is something really -- that air field, it is now strongly defendant. nobody, but nobody is taking on 's -- marines and paratroopers. but they can close down the interjection any hour they wish and they are going to control who comes in to their perimeter. and we are not going to expand the. footprint so we need to speak privately to the taliban, we have to get out of there without fighting and get out of there with all of the americans and as many afghans as we can feasibly transport. >> lisa lair, this biden administration is getting dragged and roasted in ways and severity that they are not used to. visually, people point to the big mistake over this past weekend and that was showing

in this image released overnight major general chris donahue who was leading the evacuation mission atul airport seen boarding the last military flight out of kabul nearly 20 years after he first deployed to afghanistan in 2001. those final flights departing kabul transporting all u.s. military forces and all u.s. diplomats marking the end of america's longest war. the last massive c-17 like this one packed with american service members left afghan airspace at 3:29 p.m. eastern time, just one minute prior to the august 31st deadline. below, celebratory gunfire filled the air. secretary of state antony blinken stopping short of labeling the taliban as the legitimate afghan government but acknowledging the country is now in the hands of the taliban but blinken saying he would be willing to work with an afghan government. >> if we can work with the new afghan government in a way that helps secure those interests, we will do it. >> reporter: more than 120,000 people evacuated in 17 days, but u.s. officials estimate between 100 and 200 u.s. citizens who want to leave remain in afghanistan.

and this photo released by the military of the last soldier to leave, major general chris donahue ofhe storied 82nd airborne division. >> i'm here so announce the completion of our withdrawal from afghanistan. >> reporter: just hours later, the taliban rolled into kabul airport, taking over the final piece of afghanistan to be held by foreign troops. they fired in celebration and looked over the spoils the americans left behind. the pentagon says it made weapons and military equipment inoperable before american troops left. but they didn't destroy the airport, so the taliban-run government can use it. the u.s. needs the airport, too. it will be one of the only ways out for americans and vulnerable afghans left behind by the evacuation. but it's unclear when the airport will be up and running again. the state department says fewer than 200 americans remain. >> if an american in afghanistan tells us they want to stay for a now, and then in a week, a month, or a year, they reach out and say, "i've changed my mind," we will help them leave. >> reporter: the taliban said today marks a new

iconic image of the last american soldier with boots on the ground in afghanistan, major general chris donahue boarding that final c-17 out of the country. in that clip we just played you heard then-president bush announce the name of that operation enduring freedom. if that word rings a bell, it's because we heard it a lot yesterday from biden administration officials. >> the security council's enduring commitment to those who remain. >> enduring. what our message directly would be is that our commitment is enduring. i'd also note our commitment is enduring. that's enduring. that will continue. >> enduring. but what exactly does that mean for the perhaps up to 200 americans in afghanistan still? what does it mean to our thousands of allies in the country not to mention the millions of women and girls who now face the threat of daily violence and so many afghans 20 and under who have never known what it's like to live under taliban rule. what will our enduring commitment look like in terms of helping these folks? this video shows the taliban swarming the airport inspecting u.s. military equipm

through these night vision goggles or this look is just so poignant because this is major general chris donahue. he deployed 17 times in afghanistan and iraq and syria and elsewhere and he spent much of his deployment trying to train the afghan army and the security forces after 9/11. just hearing all of that, just even makes it, his body language and the look on his face all the more profound. what do you see in this photo and -- i know you can't speak for all veterans but how are you feeling on this day and what do you think they are looking to hear from president biden today? >> to answer your very first question, chris is an amazingly talented soldier. what you see in that image is a soldier doing his job. i don't mean to understate it but that's what you would expect. first man in, last man out or person. doesn't matter the gender. he really has got the obligation to ensure that no man is left behind. he owned that airfield until the day and the moment he didn't. it was perfect. it should be the way it was portrayed that he would be the last person on that aircraft. he could not make a big

chris donahue who is now going in as a direct negotiator to the taliban military get through these things. it could possibly be that the majority of americans will be out by 31 august. it sounds highly unlikely that 18,000 interim rhetters and 20,000 commandos and 30,000 people who work for the u.s. directly, and ngo's, would all get out with their families and prior to the end of the month. this is something, that air field is now strongly defended. nobody but nobody is taking on, training marines and paratroopers, but they can close down the interdisk. we won't expand the foot print. we need to talk privately to the taliban. we're going to get out of there without fighting and get out of there with all the americans and as many afghans as we can feasibly transport. >> lisa, this biden administration is getting dragged and roasted in ways and with severity that they are not used to. visually, people point to the big mistake over this past weekend. and that was showing the president all alone at the conference table at camp david, while the world seemingly melted around him. he was on vid

this is a picture of major chris donahue, boarding a midnight

and general chris donahue, commander of the 82nd airborne division. the last soldier to leave afghanistan. officially ending the 20-year war. president biden set to address the american people tomorrow afternoon putting out a statement saying, and i quote, it was a unanimous recommendation of the joint chiefs and of all of our commanders on the ground to end our air lift mission as planned. their view was that ending our military mission was the best way to protect the lives of our troops and secure the prospects of civilian departures for those who want to leave afghanistan in the weeks and months ahead. the secretary of state antony blinken vowing the united states will continue its commitment to americans who still want to leave. >> we believe there are still a small number of americans, under 200, and likely closer to 100, who remain in afghanistan and want to leave. we're trying to determine exactly how many. our commitment to them and to all americans in afghanistan and everywhere in the world continues. >> and the pentagon acknowledging none of

this is major general chris donahue. he was the last person to board the final c-17 leaving kabul.. that will be juxtapose with the final image of the american presence in vietnam which of course was the helicopter taking off. and, so, with that -- on this final day, what can be said about what america accomplished and what america learned? >> well, i hope we learn a lot. clearly there was some benefits that were brought to the afghan people in terms of increased literacy, access to the internet, exposure to ideas like democracy and so forth. but when we went in to afghanistan with the objective of eliminating terrorists, there were perhaps several scores of terrorists there. one estimate was 170 al-qaeda members in 2002. by the time they left, there were terror cells throughout the world. the number of terrorists had grown a hundred fold. the terror threat was much greater. the war on terror was the wrong idea, executed in the wrong way, and it failed. while we remain safe here, threats exist throughout the world. but i think we have to ask ourselves: how did we get into a situati

he's major general chris donahue. commanding general of the 82nd airborne. the withdrawal comes after the evacuation of some 123,000 civilians over 17 days. including 6000 americans, it also comes after the deaths of 13 service members, killed in a terror attack, while carrying out that evacuation. the president today praised u.s. troops, in his statement that also said, military leaders unanimously recommended to quote, and our airlift mission as planned. and then ending her military mission was the best way to protect the troops. the president said he will trust the nation tomorrow and afghanistan. this afternoon the pentagon and the state department both acknowledged that there are americans left behind in afghanistan. >> we will continue our relentless efforts. to help americans, foreign nationals and afghans, leave afghanistan if they choose. we believe there are still a small number of americans. under 200. likely closer to 100. who remain in afghanistan. and want to leave. >> there's a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure. we did not get e

this photo capturing army general chris donahue, the last soldier to leave afghanistan. the last flight carrying military personnel, taking off one minute before midnight, kabul time, marking the official end to america's longest war. but this morning, more questions than answers about what exactly comes next. that's where we begin. we begin with the taliban back in power after we drove them out in 2001. we went there to find osama bin laden and take out al qaeda training camps, with former president george w. bush making this pledge to the american people. >> we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes, by meeting a series of challenges with determination and will and purpose. we did not ask for this miss. >> this morning, the taliban telling nbc news they took control of the kabul airport after u.s. forces burnt their arms and ammunitions. they celebrated with gunfire ringing out across the night sky. here's the thing. it is unclear what happens to all of the people we left behind. who are they, why are they there. since july, the united states e

. >> here's a bit of background on the major general chris donahue, commanding general of the 82nd airborne division in this iconic almost ghostly photo, the last american soldier to leave afghanistan after nearly 20 years. general donahue was working in the pentagon on 9-11. his fourth deployment to afghanistan. he led the delta force in office a decade ago and was head of special operations forces last year. last night secretary of state an tony blinken explained who some of these american citizens are that were left behind. >> they're long-time residents of afghanistan that have american passports and who were trying to determine whether or not they wanted to leave. >> many of the americans left behind are babies that gave birth here in the u.s. they were dependent on parents to get them to the airport and many green card holders wanted to bring a dozen or more non-american family members with them and thele that plan blocked them. 20 years ago, the u.s. military defeated the taliban. today the taliban rule afghanistan again. neil? >> neil: jennifer, there's been a battle back and forth.

. >> last soldier to leave marking the end of america's 20-year war major general chris donahue commandingeneral of the 82nd airborne division. it was his fourth tour to afghanistan. his first was just after 9/11. >> counter-terrorism efforts in afghanistan and the region for two decades and saving the lives of 124,000 men, women and children, evacuated in the last 20 days, will ultimately be the legacy. >> among those left behind, a translator who spoke to the "wall street journal" who says he rescued then senator biden and two other u.s. senators seen here on a trip to afghanistan 13 years ago when their helicopter was forced to land in a snow storm. the interpreter is not in this photo. hello, mr. president, save me and my family. don't forget me here. >> our message to him is thank you for the role you played in helping a number of my favorite people out of a snow storm and for all of the work you did. and our commitment is enduring not just to american citizens but to our afghan partners. >> secretary of state tony blinken explained who some of these citizens who remain in afghanistan

chris donahue boarded the final c-17 plane at the kabul airport just before midnight. the u.s. aircraft dropped flares as it rose into the night, gone for good. soon after take-off, celebratory gunfire filled the air as taliban fighters took the airport. in the daylight, taliban convoys rolled across the tarmac. their fighters walked where american troops had stood just hours earlier. taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahid toured the site and spoke to fighters. he declared victory over the u.s. >> ( translated ): the u.s. aggression was a reckless act from the beginning. now they are defeated, and the afghan people won the battlefield and liberated their country. >> alcindor: susannah george is the afghanistan bureau chief f“" the washington post”. she is one of the last foreign journalists left in kabul. >> there weren't as many people out on the street, there weren't as many cars out on the roads. shops were open, taliban fighters were around, they were celebrating, handing out flags, calling today an independence day of sorts. but the city as a whole felt very quiet. >> alcind