Biden Says that U.S. Troops Will Stay Until All Americans Are Out of Afghanistan, Even If Past Aug. 31
Those American forces won't have the ability to "collect up large numbers of people," defense secretary warns
As Afghanistan descends in oppression and brutality brought on by the resurgent Taliban who have occupied the Afghan capital city of Kabul, the US government continues to work to evacuate Americans and vulnerable Afghan nationals out of the country.
President Biden has committed to evacuate Americans and “everyone who should come out,” even if that means that the US troops which Biden sent to Afghanistan to help facilitate that have to remain beyond an August 31 deadline.
However, Biden's secretary of defense told those in Afghanistan looking to be evacuated not to rely on help from US forces — they will have to make it to the airport in Kabul on their own.
The president made his commitment in an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News.
“The commitment holds to get everyone out that, in fact, we can get out and everyone who should come out. And that’s the objective. That’s what we’re doing now. That’s the path we’re on, and I think we’ll get there,” Biden said.
Asked if that meant troops would stay in Afghanistan beyond August 31, Biden replied, “No, Americans should understand that we’re going to try to get it done before August 31.”
Stephanopoulos, however, pressed Biden, asking, “But if we don’t, the troops will stay?”
“If we don’t, we'll determine at the time who’s left,” the president replied.
Stephanopoulos continued to press, at which point, Biden said, “If there’s American citizens left, we’re going to stay until we get them all out.”
The US government is in the midst of aiding the escape of perhaps 15,000 Americans still caught in Afghanistan since the Taliban have began reasserting their brutal and oppressive authority over the country. Its also helping evacuate potentially tens of thousands of Afghan nationals who — during the nearly 20 years in which US forces occupied Afghanistan — aided the Americans as translators and with other assistance. That assistance that they've provided the Americans now jeopardizes their lives under Taliban rule.
Those folks will have to find their own way to the airport, however.
Top officials at the Pentagon delivered a warning, that while US forces in Afghanistan may have limited abilities to extract individuals — those in country should not expect that they can help round up large numbers of people.
“And I would draw a distinction, Barb, between extracting someone in an extremist condition or circumstance, versus going out and collecting up large numbers of American citizens,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a reporter.
Asked to clarify, Austin replied, “We don’t have the capability to go out and collect up large numbers of people, Barb.”
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