some put up some served as transit hubs, some welcoming evacuees for longer periods some welcoming evacuees for longer periods of some welcoming evacuees for longer periods of time. and i want to recognise periods of time. and i want to recognise the extraordinary efforts by congress as well. to name just a few examples, congressman fitzpatrick worked with the state department to reunite an afghan family department to reunite an afghan family in department to reunite an afghan family in newjersey. commerce do not congressman keating work with our folks not congressman keating work with our folks on the ground to help a reporter our folks on the ground to help a reporter and his family get to the airport reporter and his family get to the airport. congresswomanjacobson and airport. congresswoman jacobson and congressman airport. congresswomanjacobson and congressman agnes at work across party congressman agnes at work across party lines congressman agnes at work across
remained kabul would collapse while us forces remained. as the chair of the joint chief remained. as the chair of the joint chief of remained. as the chair of the joint chief of staff has said, nothing i or anyone chief of staff has said, nothing i or anyone else saw indicated a collapse or anyone else saw indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days. nonetheless, we planned government in 11 days. nonetheless, we planned and exercise a wide range of contingencies. because of the plan we of contingencies. because of the plan we were able to draw down our embassy plan we were able to draw down our embassy and move our remaining personnel embassy and move our remaining personnel to the airport within 48 hours personnel to the airport within 48 hours in personnel to the airport within 48 hours. in the military placed on standby hours. in the military placed on standby by president biden was able to secure standby by president biden was able to secur
many affairs are hard at work kabul. many key affairs are hard at work kabul. many key partners have joined us there many key partners have joined us there was many key partners have joined us there was up second, we are continuing our relentless efforts to help any continuing our relentless efforts to help any remaining americans as well as afghans help any remaining americans as well as afghans and citizens of allied partner as afghans and citizens of allied partner countries leave afghanistan if they partner countries leave afghanistan if they so partner countries leave afghanistan if they so choose. this past thursday if they so choose. this past thursday qatar chief charter flight with us thursday qatar chief charter flight with us citizens to depart kabul and waited with us citizens to depart kabul and waited into her. on friday a second us flight waited into her. on friday a second us flight carrying citizens and others us flight carrying citizens and o
had free transit locations that our diplomats had free did not arrange a negotiated in multiple countries. a counsellor negotiated in multiple countries. a counsellor team 24/7 negotiated in multiple countries. a counsellor team 24 /7 to reach out to americans that could still be in the country to americans that could still be in the country making in those couple of weeks the country making in those couple of weeks 55,000 uncle sending 33,000 e-mails of weeks 55,000 uncle sending 33,000 e-mails and of weeks 55,000 uncle sending 33,000 e mails and they are still at it. in the midst e mails and they are still at it. in the midst of e mails and they are still at it. in the midst of this heroic effort and isis the midst of this heroic effort and lsis k the midst of this heroic effort and isis k attack killed 13 servicemembers working the gates at the airport servicemembers working the gates at the airport. wounding 20 others and killing the airport. wounding 20 others and