Biden defends departure from 'forever war,' praises airlift

Sep 01, 20210

Yuri Gripas, Abaca Press/TNS count

U.S. President Joe Biden delivered remarks on ending the war in Afghanistan in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

WASHINGTON - A defensive President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the U.S. airlift to extract more than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and other allies from Afghanistan to end a 20-year war an "extraordinary success," though more than 100 Americans and thousands of others were left behind.

Twenty-four hours after the last American C-17 cargo plane roared off from Kabul, Biden spoke to the nation and vigorously defended his decision to end America's longest war and withdraw all U.S. troops ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline.

"I was not going to extend this forever war," Biden declared from the White House. "And I was not going to extend a forever exit."

https://www.startribune.com/biden-defends-departure-from-forever-war-praises-airlift/600092421/