threatening afghans major cities. but the taliban continued a relentless march on remote outposts, villages, relentless march on remote outposts, villages, districts as well as major roads villages, districts as well as major roads connecting them. byjanuary 2021 b roads connecting them. byjanuary 2021 b taliban was at the strongest military 2021 b taliban was at the strongest military position it d been in since 911. military position it d been in since 9ii~ and military position it d been in since 9ii~ and we military position it d been in since 911. and we had the smallest number of troops 911. and we had the smallest number of troops on 911. and we had the smallest number of troops on the ground since 2001. as a result, of troops on the ground since 2001. as a result, upon taking office, resident as a result, upon taking office, resident biden immediately face the choice resident biden immediately face the choice between ending the war or escalating choice bet
guidance management team to offer specific guidance and instruction. some declined guidance and instruction. some declined to be on the first flights on thursday and friday for reasons including on thursday and friday for reasons including needing more time to make arrangements, wanted to remain with extended arrangements, wanted to remain with extended family financial or medical issues extended family financial or medical issues that precluded travelling last week. we will continue to help them last week. we will continue to help them and last week. we will continue to help them and we will continue to help any american who still wants to leave any american who still wants to leave at any american who still wants to leave at afghans whom we have a special leave at afghans whom we have a special commitment just as we ve done special commitment just as we ve done in special commitment just as we ve done in other countries where we ve evacuated done in other cou
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
vigilant and moderate threats, contain vigilant and moderate threats, contain robust counterterrorism and neutraliser contain robust counterterrorism and neutraliser threats as necessary. and we neutraliser threats as necessary. and we will do that in places around the world and we will do that in places around the world where we do not have military the world where we do not have military forces on the ground. fourth military forces on the ground. fourth, we continue our intense diplomacy fourth, we continue our intense diplomacy with allies and partners. we initiated a statementjoined by more we initiated a statementjoined by more than we initiated a statementjoined by more than half of the world countries, over100 more than half of the world countries, over 100 countries as countries, over100 countries as well countries, over100 countries as well as countries, over 100 countries as well as the countries, over 100 countries as well as the united nations security co
faster or sooner. evacuation and why didn t it happen faster orsooner. in evacuation and why didn t it happen faster or sooner. in the opening statements of the two parties that lead the committee, the democrat and a republican, you can see how partisan this is going to be. because the democratic chair said basically, we are looking at 20 years of mistakes. we have to face hard truths of what america got wrong and we are going to be looking at witnesses from all the administrations who were involved. the republicans that were going to be looking at how this administration got it so terribly wrong, how it surrendered to the taliban, how at betrayed this administration got it so terribly wrong, how it surrendered to the taliban, arbitrator afghan allies behind the lines on the left and began the lines in how it has reduced confidence in us from our allies. that s the kind of approach that each side is going to take. as i said, there are people on both sides of the aisle who do want to as