As the chaos in Afghanistan continues, President Biden tried to assure the nation that any American needing rescue from the Taliban would be brought out but cautioned that the evacuation effort for Americans and vulnerable Afghans is “one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history.”
“Let me be clear: Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home,” Mr. Biden said, before adding, “I cannot promise what the final outcome will be, or that it will be without the risk of loss.”
Mr. Biden went on to say that some ‘18,000 people had been airlifted from the country since July.’ Afghans, including women leaders, and American journalists — including staff members of The Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal — have been safely removed from the country.
But reports of people unable to get to the airport because of Taliban checkpoints have complicated the effort and thousands more Afghans who helped American troops are still stranded.