"But our message to those women and men is clear: There is a home for you in the United States if you so choose, and we will stand with you just as you stood with us."
"Together, with our NATO Allies and partners, we have trained and equipped over three hu- — nearly 300,000 current serving members of the military — of the Afghan National Security Force, and many beyond that who are no longer serving. Add to that, hundreds of thousands more Afghan National Defense and Security Forces trained over the last two decades."
"And we’re going to engage in a determined diplomacy to pursue peace and a peace agreement that will end this senseless violence. "
"Since I was inaugurated on January 20th, we’ve already approved 2,500 Special Immigrant Visas to come to the United States. Up to now, fewer than half have exercised their right to do that. Half have gotten on aircraft and com — commercial flights and come, and the other half believe they want to stay — at least thus far."
"The operation has identified U.S. facilities outside of the continental United States, as well as in third countries, to host our Afghan allies, if they ch- — if they so choose. And, starting this month, we’re going to begin to re- — re- — reloc- — we’re going to begin relocation flights for Afghanistan SIV applicants and their families who choose to leave. "
"But our message to those women and men is clear: There is a home for you in the United States if you so choose, and we will stand with you just as you stood with us."
"It’s up to Afghans to make the decision about the future of their country."
"Once that agreement with the Taliban had been made, staying with a bare minimum force was no longer possible."
"But make no mistake: Our military and intelligence leaders are confident they have the capabilities to protect the homeland and our interests from any resurgent terrorist challenge emerging or emanating from Afghanistan. "
"If they (US Citizens) are not on a plane back to the US by the time our troops withdraw. It's because they want to be there (in Afghanistan)."
Q Mr. President — do you trust the Taliban, Mr. President?
Q Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it is not.
Q Why?
THE PRESIDENT: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable.
www.whitehouse.gov
"Together, with our NATO Allies and partners, we have trained and equipped over three hu- — nearly 300,000 current serving members of the military — of the Afghan National Security Force, and many beyond that who are no longer serving. Add to that, hundreds of thousands more Afghan National Defense and Security Forces trained over the last two decades."
"And we’re going to engage in a determined diplomacy to pursue peace and a peace agreement that will end this senseless violence. "
"Since I was inaugurated on January 20th, we’ve already approved 2,500 Special Immigrant Visas to come to the United States. Up to now, fewer than half have exercised their right to do that. Half have gotten on aircraft and com — commercial flights and come, and the other half believe they want to stay — at least thus far."
"The operation has identified U.S. facilities outside of the continental United States, as well as in third countries, to host our Afghan allies, if they ch- — if they so choose. And, starting this month, we’re going to begin to re- — re- — reloc- — we’re going to begin relocation flights for Afghanistan SIV applicants and their families who choose to leave. "
"But our message to those women and men is clear: There is a home for you in the United States if you so choose, and we will stand with you just as you stood with us."
"It’s up to Afghans to make the decision about the future of their country."
"Once that agreement with the Taliban had been made, staying with a bare minimum force was no longer possible."
"But make no mistake: Our military and intelligence leaders are confident they have the capabilities to protect the homeland and our interests from any resurgent terrorist challenge emerging or emanating from Afghanistan. "
"If they (US Citizens) are not on a plane back to the US by the time our troops withdraw. It's because they want to be there (in Afghanistan)."
Q Mr. President — do you trust the Taliban, Mr. President?
Q Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it is not.
Q Why?
THE PRESIDENT: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable.
Remarks by President Biden on the Drawdown of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan | The White House
East Room 2:09 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Earlier today, I was briefed by our senior military and national security leaders on the status of the drawdown of U.S. forces and allied forces in Afghanistan. When I announced our drawdown in April, I said we would be out by...
