Addis Ababa, September 1, 2021(Walta) – In a televised address to the nation, U.S. President Joe Biden defended the administration’s withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, calling the mission an “extraordinary success.”
“We completed one of the biggest airlifts in history, with more than 120,000 people evacuated to safety. That number is more than double what most experts thought was possible,” Biden said.
With the war and the evacuation officially over, Biden said more than 5,500 Americans were evacuated. About 100 to 200 Americans remain, most of whom are dual citizens. But the U.S. will make arrangements for them to leave if they choose to do so.
Those evacuated by the U.S. also included locally employed staff and their families, as well as Afghan translators, interpreters, and others.
While many criticize Biden for the withdrawal, chaotic evacuation, and the rapid rise of the Taliban takeover, Biden stood firmly behind his decision, saying he “was not going to extend the forever war” and “I was not going to extend the forever exit.”
Biden argued, no matter the circumstances, ending the decades-long war was going to be difficult. And he thanked the U.S. military, diplomats, and others who helped evacuate thousands.
Biden also assured that although troops are no longer on the ground, the U.S. will continue to support the Afghan people, work toward diplomacy and help humanitarian aid reach the region.