US President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he cannot guarantee the "final outcome" of the evacuation process in Kabul, deeming it one of the "most difficult in history" after twenty years of US military intervention in Afghanistan. The US president stated during a press conference at the White House, "This evacuation process is dangerous. It involves risks for our armed forces and is being carried out under challenging conditions." Surrounded by Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, he added, "I cannot promise what the final outcome will be."
Biden remarked, "But as commander (of the armed forces), I can assure you that I will employ every possible means." He emphasized that the United States alone is "capable" of conducting such an operation "with this level of precision," noting it is "one of the most difficult in history," taking place "on the other side of the world." He pointed out that the United States has evacuated 13,000 people from Afghanistan since August 14 and 18,000 since July, alongside thousands more in special flights "conducted by the US government." The president also reaffirmed his country's commitment to evacuate all Afghans who assisted the US in its operations during the war.
Biden is facing criticism over the chaotic evacuation scenes witnessed at Kabul airport and the assertion by Afghans who believe they have the right to leave that the Taliban have blocked them from reaching the airport. He stated, "We are in constant communication with the Taliban, and we are working to ensure a safe passage for civilians to the airport." He further confirmed that this chaotic withdrawal has not impacted the credibility of the United States on the international stage. He mentioned, "Our allies around the world do not question our credibility," adding, "I spoke to our allies in NATO; the reality is the opposite."
