Around the world and our Allies. As had the general, i keep calling him a general, but my secretary of defence. The fact of the matter is, i have not seen that. The exact opposite. Ive got the exact opposite. Ive got the exact opposite. Acting with dispatch, committing to what i said i would do. Lets put this thing in perspective your. What interest do we have in afghanistan at this point with alqaeda gone . We went to afghanistan for the express purpose of getting rid of Alqaeda And Afghanistan as well as getting osama Bin Laden. And we did. Imagine, just imagine if the attack, if Bin Laden had decided with alqaeda to launch an attack from yemen, would we of every gone to afghanistan . With the be any reason we begin Afghanistan Prismatic Control from the taliban, what is the national interest of the united states in that circumstance . We went and did the mission. Youve known my position for a long, long time. It is time to end this war. The estimates of the cost of this war of the past 20 years is a minimum 1 Trillion to a Think Tank and by the university saying, 2 trillion. That is somewhere between 150 Million a day and 300 Million a day. There is a greater danger from Isis And Alqaeda and all of these affiliates and other countries by far than there is from afghanistan. And we are going to retain an over the rising capability if they are able to come back and be able to take them out, surgically move. This is where we should be. This is about America Reading the world and all of our Allies and agreed with that. And by the way, before i made this decision, i was at the g7, as well as met with our nato partners and i told them all, everyone of them knew and agreed with the decision i made to end, jointly and our involvement in afghanistan. The first part of your question was, i cannot remember now. Will you make the same commitment to bringing will you make the same commitment to bringing out will you make the same commitment to bringing Out Afghans who assisted in the war bringing Out Afghans who assisted in the War Effort . The War Effort . Yes, well make this an commitment. The War Effort . Yes, well make this an commitment. Nothing the War Effort . Yes, well make this an commitment. Nothing more an commitment. Nothing more important than bringing american citizens out, i acknowledge that. But it is equally important that all of those who in fact helped us. Translators, went into battle with this, they are part of the operation. We are also trying to get as many nongovernmental organisations, womens organisations, womens organisations, etc, were doing all we can in the meantime, secretary and i are going to be working with our Allies to see to it that we can bring international pressure on the taliban. They are looking to gain some legitimacy, theyre going to have to figure out how to maintain that country and is going to be harsh conditions. Strong conditions that we are going to apply and it would depend on whether or not they could help based on how well they treat women and girls, how they treat women and girls, how they treat their citizens. So, this is beginning on that. fin treat their citizens. So, this is beginning on that. Treat their citizens. So, this is beginning on that. On the 31st to brina all beginning on that. On the 31st to bring all the beginning on that. On the 31st to bring all the americans beginning on that. On the 31st to bring all the Americans Out beginning on that. On the 31st to bring all the Americans Out and l bring all the Americans Out and bring bring all the Americans Out and bring them all out. Will bring all the Americans Out and bring them all out. Bring all the Americans Out and bring them all out. Will get it done bring them all out. Will get it done b them bring them all out. Will get it done by them but bring them all out. Will get it done by them but will bring them all out. Will get it done by them but will make bring them all out. Will get it done by them but will make that bring them all out. Will get it done i by them but will make that judgment by them but will make thatjudgment as we go. You by them but will make that udgment as we to. , by them but will make that Udgment Aswe to. , by them but will make that Udgment Asweuo. , ,. ,~ , as we go. You ust said they do keep as we go. You ust said they do keep a Laser Focus as we go. You just said they do keep a Laser Focus on as we go. You just said they do keep a Laser Focus on counterterrorism a Laser Focus on Counterterrorism Efforts a Laser Focus on Counterterrorism Efforts you a Laser Focus on Counterterrorism Efforts you dont see as Great A Threat Efforts you dont see as great a threat Of Efforts you dont see as great a threat of terrorism from afghanistan as of the threat of terrorism from afghanistan as of the parts of the world. But if your administration assess how quickly your administration assess how quickly the taliban swept through afghanistan and we no longer have an Embassy Afghanistan and we no longer have an embassy there from which to when intelligence operations from, how can be intelligence operations from, how can be confident of your assessment of the can be confident of your assessment of the risk can be confident of your assessment of the risk of terrorism and the ability of the risk of terrorism and the ability of of the risk of terrorism and the ability of the us to conduct over the horizon missions to keep it in check . The horizon missions to keep it in check . 0 the horizon missions to keep it in check . 0 Tell Americans that they are safe check . 0 Tell Americans that they are safe and will remain safe from terrorist are safe and will remain safe from Terrorist Attacks in afghanistan . | Terrorist Attacks in afghanistan . I think Terrorist Attacks in afghanistan . Think you Terrorist Attacks in afghanistan . I think you are comparing apples and origins. One question was whether or not the afghan forces retrained up would stay and fight. In their own Civil War that they had going on. No one, i shouldst not say no one. It was highly unlikely that an 11 days, they would collapse and fall and the leader of afghanistan would flee the country. That is a very different question of whether or not there is the ability to observe whether or not there are large groups of terrorists beginning to accumulate in a particular area of afghanistan and plotting of the united states of america. That is why we maintain the ability to do something about it if that occurs. But in the meantime, we know it is happened around the world. We know in terms of what is going on and other countries where there are significant rises of Terrorist Organisations in the middle East And East africa and other places. The Bottom Line is, we have to do and we are dealing with those Terrorist Threats from other parts of the world and failed states without Permanent Military Presence there. We have to do the same in afghanistan. There. We have to do the same in afghanistan afghanistan. Sir, on that initial assessment. Afghanistan. Sir, on that initial assessment, we afghanistan. Sir, on that initial assessment, we learned afghanistan. Sir, on that initial assessment, we learned over i afghanistan. Sir, on that initial. Assessment, we learned over the afghanistan. Sir, on that initial assessment, we learned over the last 24 hours assessment, we learned over the last 24 hours that there is a Dissent Cable 24 hours that there is a Dissent Cable from 24 hours that there is a Dissent Cable from the department. Saying that the cable from the department. Saying that the taliban would come faster through that the taliban would come faster through afghanistan, after that cable through afghanistan, after that cable was issued, the us did not do more . Cable was issued, the us did not do more . We cable was issued, the us did not do more . ~. ~ , cable was issued, the us did not do more . ~. ,. , cable was issued, the us did not do more . ,. , more . We have all kinds of cables, all kinds of more . We have all kinds of cables, all kinds of advice more . We have all kinds of cables, all kinds of advice in more . We have all kinds of cables, all kinds of advice in youve all kinds of advice in youve noticed that they range from this group saying, they did not say it would fall when it did, but saying that it would fall to other saying it would not happen for a long time and be able to sustain itself to The End of the year. I made the decision. The buck stops with me. I took the Consensus Opinion in the Consensus Opinion was that in fact, it would not occur if it occurred into later in the year. It was my decision. And now ive got, stephanie, abc. Decision. And now ive got, stephanie, abc. Thank you, Mr President stephanie, abc. Thank you, Mr President. Two stephanie, abc. Thank you, Mr President. Two questions stephanie, abc. Thank you, Mr President. Two questions for i stephanie, abc. Thank you, mr i president. Two questions for you. Stephanie, abc. Thank you, Mr President. Two questions for you. As you mentioned, will you sign off on sending you mentioned, will you sign off on sending us you mentioned, will you sign off on sending us troops into kabul to evacuate sending us troops into kabul to evacuate americans who have not been able to evacuate americans who have not been able to get evacuate americans who have not been able to get to the airport safely . We have able to get to the airport safely . We have no indication that we havent been able to get in Kabul And Weve made an agreement with the taliban thus far and theyve allowed us to go through and its the interest will go through. So we know of no circumstance were american citizens are carrying an american passport and trying to get through to the airport. But we will do whatever needs to be done to see to it get to the airport. Thea;r it get to the airport. They interviewed it get to the airport. They interviewed an it get to the airport. They| interviewed an interpreter it get to the airport. They interviewed an interpreter with the us forces interviewed an interpreter with the us forces in afghanistan and overnight, we received a photo of taliban overnight, we received a photo of taliban militants coming to the door of his taliban militants coming to the door of his home, literally hunting him down of his home, literally hunting him down. Thankfully, he was able to escape down. Thankfully, he was able to escape but down. Thankfully, he was able to escape but he is obviously still in mortal escape but he is obviously still in mortal danger. What will be a message mortal danger. What will be a message to him, his wife and his three message to him, his wife and his three young daughters. We message to him, his wife and his three young daughters. Message to him, his wife and his three young daughters. We want you to be able to three young daughters. We want you to be able to get three young daughters. We want you to be able to get to three young daughters. We want you to be able to get to the airport three young daughters. We want you to be able to get to the Airport And L to be able to get to the airport and we will see whatever we can do to get you there. You have to get you out. We are committed to deal with you, your wife and your child and get all three of you out of afghanistan. That is the commitment. You mentioned just now using every resource you mentioned just now using every resource available for evacuations, why havent resource available for evacuations, why havent you ordered the military to expend why havent you ordered the military to expend the perimeter around the Airport To Expend the perimeter around the airport was to expend the perimeter around the airport was mike do you have any Plans Airport was mike do you have any plans to airport was mike do you have any plans to Do Airport was mike do you have any plans to do so knowing that will require plans to do so knowing that will require more troops and reconsidering operations for them stuck reconsidering operations for them stuck Behind Taliban escorts . We used stuck Behind Taliban escorts . Used every stuck Behind Taliban escorts . Used every means we can get to get folks through to the airport. That is number one. And the reason why we have not gone out and set up a perimeter outside of the airport in kabul is it is likely to draw an awful lot of Unintended Consequences in terms of people who are not part of the taliban. He had been in constant contact with the taliban leadership on the Ground And Couple and taliban membership and we are coordinating what we are doing. That is why we were able to get all of our Embassy Personnel out and how we got everyone out of the embassy safely. That is how we helped get the french out and out of their embassy. The question remains that there will bejudgements embassy. The question remains that there will be judgements made on the ground by the military commanders at the moment and i cannot second guess each of thosejudgements the moment and i cannot second guess each of those judgements to be made but, the idea, again. Let me get back to the fundamental point i made on the outset. When the decision was made, by me, and it was made sometime ago and i ran for president saying that i wanted to get us of afghanistan. One of the things that is reality is that people now say to me and others, many of you say it on air, that why did we have to move because no americans are being attacked . By debris withdrawal, why to be a Breach Withdrawal of those troops . No americans are being attacked. As a said before, the reason they were not being attacked as part of an agreement that Donald Trump is made. A year earlier. We will leave by may one as long as theres no attack on americans in that period. Number one. Numbertwo, the taliban were sticking large swathes of the countryside, north and south. None of the major areas, none of the major points of the capitals of each of these provinces, but they were all over the country. And the idea that if i had said on May The 2nd or third, we are not leaving, we are staying, does anybody truly believe that i would not have had to put insignificant more American Forces . Send your sons, your daughters, like Mao My Sun was sent to iraq to maybe die . And for what . For what . The only rational thing to do in my view was to set up an pre position American Forces for the purpose of evacuation in the aircraft to preposition those ahead of time so that we could be able to begin the process of evacuation of american citizens, and others who helped us. The last point i will make is this. Look, if we had decided 15 years ago to leave afghanistan, it wouldve been really difficult. If we decided five years ago, if we continue the war for another decade and try to leave, there is no way in which we would be able to leave afghanistan without there being some of which are seeing now. But what we have done so far is we have been able to get a large number of Americans Out, personnel and the embassy out and so on, thank god so far, knock on wood, we are in a different position. Scott. A different position. Scott. Thank ou, mr a different position. Scott. Thank you, Mr President. A different position. Scott. Thank you, Mr President. I a different position. Scott. Thank you, Mr President. I want a different position. Scott. Thank you, Mr President. I want to a different position. Scott. Thank l you, Mr President. I want to follow up you, Mr President. I want to follow up with you, Mr President. I want to follow up with something you said earlier. No circumstance were american citizens no circumstance were american citizens cannot get to the airport. That does citizens cannot get to the airport. That does not with a square with the images that does not with a square with the images were sitting around the Airport Images were sitting around the airport with reporting on the ground of their airport with reporting on the ground of their colleagues were describing chaos of their colleagues were describing chaos and of their colleagues were describing chaos and violence. Pricing unequivocally that any american that wants unequivocally that any american that wants to unequivocally that any american that wants to get to the airport is getting wants to get to the airport is getting in there and getting past the Security Barricade . How getting in there and getting past the Security Barricade . Getting in there and getting past the Security Barricade . How can they aet throu. H the Security Barricade . How can they get through to the Security Barricade . How can they get through to the the Security Barricade . How can they get through to the airport the Security Barricade . How can they get through to the Airport Outside. Get through to the Airport Outside of the airport was your question. And to the best of our knowledge, the taliban checkpoints are leading through people showing american passports. That is a different question when they get into the rush and a cloud of all the folks just outside the wall near the airport. That is why we had to do, i believe it was yesterday or the day before barbara went over the wall and brought in how many . 169 americans. It is a process to try and figure out how we deal with the mad rush of non americans, those who did not help, those who are not on the priority list, any afghan to be able to get out of the country. And so, my guess is that no matter what, under any circumstance, theres not a whole lot of afghan people who just assume come to America Whether or not theres any involvement with the united states, rather than state under taliban rule or any rule. When i was saying is that we have an agreement that they will let pass through the checkpoints that they the taliban Control. The taliban Control. Given the negotiations the taliban Control. Given the negotiations for the taliban Control. Given the negotiations for the the taliban Control. Given the negotiations for the taliban, l the taliban Control. Given the i negotiations for the taliban, can you fully negotiations for the taliban, can you fully explain why the plan was not to you fully explain why the plan was not to go you fully explain why the plan was not to go away with these evacuations before the drawdowns began. Evacuations before the drawdowns began, before it was close several months began, before it was close several months. Whether it was now for several months. Whether it was now for several months from now, this seems to be several months from now, this seems to be a several months from now, this seems to be a broad several months from now, this seems to be a broad consensus that the taliban to be a broad consensus that the taliban would make these gains and it would taliban would make these gains and it would be taliban would make these gains and it would be needed at some point. At some it would be needed at some point. Some point. It would be needed at some point. Git some point. But the point was that although we were in contact with the taliban for this whole period of time, at some point, it was not expected to be the total demise of the Afghan National Forest which was 300 persons. Lets assume the Afghan National Forests have continued to fight and they were surrounded in kabul. It will be a very different story. A very different story. But with can have the overwhelming consensus that this wasnt, they were not going to collapse. The afghan forces were not going to leave. They were notjust going to abandon and put down their arms and take off. But that is what happened. Thank you very much, Thank You. Truth . Thank you very much, Thank You. Why do ou. Thank you very much, Thank You. Why do you ending Thank You very much, Thank You. Why do you. Ending his Thank You very much, Thank You. Why do you. Ending his second do you. Ending his second televised do you. Ending his second televised address do you. Ending his second televised address to do you. Ending his second televised address to them l do you. Ending his second | televised address to them at do you. Ending his second televised address to them at the beginning of the week but events have changed and you are watching bbc world news. Welcome, if youre watching weather in the uk or anywhere else. It is approaching. 17 minutes past two in the afternoon. Listening to his remarks. This is presumably not an address that the president was expecting to give a couple of days ago. Was not expected to give. He couple of days ago. Was not expected to give. Couple of days ago. Was not exected to cive. , expected to give. He addressed some of these issues expected to give. He addressed some of these issues and expected to give. He addressed some of these issues and he expected to give. He addressed some of these issues and he said expected to give. He addressed some of these issues and he said that expected to give. He addressed some of these issues and he said that the i of these issues and he said that the airlift would be happening and it was happening since then. Conditions have deteriorated and theres no question about that. He had been planning to go to Camp David and is officially on holiday there and yesterday he stayed to give this address now and he says these going to be Staying In Dc over the weekend and that is an acknowledgement that things are worse than he expected them to be at the beginning of the week. Just some News Points and he confirmed that the flights had been paused out of kabul because he said there had been a problem with processing people in the Transit Points in the backlog that seems to have been dealt with and they have resumed. He also was asked about his pledge to make sure that every american would be out by The End of his self imposed deadline at The End of august. He had been equivocal in the early week about whether or not that applied to the afghan Allies, those people who had been working with the us and he seemed to indicate that it would and he said he would get it done by The End of August Board keep evaluating it as they go and he basically stuck by his position on the chaos that has ensued. He has argued strongly that it happened at any time, whenever the government he argued that there was no consensus they would have this quickly and so he has blamed the Army And Government for afghan Army And Government for what is ensuing now despite clear evidence that there have been warnings that even if it was not going to happen in 11 days, it was clearly becoming a very difficult situation in that memo, that the diplomat in kabul said Sp Speed up the evacuation because things are looking pretty dire. And there is no mistake here but also what is been asking about the details he tends to pivot towards the overall decision to leave rather than the messiness of the exit. And finally, one other point, two other points to mention, yes completely denied that there was any connection of american question of american credibility. He seen the reports, facing the questions and Allies of taken aback. The nato Allies went along with this decision but a number of them have said we are presented with something and we were not happy with the timetable that the Defence Secretary has said and hes basically saying that no, our credibility is not affected and the last point i would make in terms of what i observed. The military, how they were working gravely, how they were in contact with them constantly and so, the speech of his seem to have been the message to them as well and we know that theres a great deal of unhappiness in the military initially with the decision to leave but especially with the way the departure has been happening in those soldiers on the ground, this is not their normaljob and they have been very traumatised by the sense that they are abandoning their Allies. He was sending a message to them there but that doesnt mean that there was an issue without the feel about what he is done. {line that there was an issue without the feel about what he is done. Feel about what he is done. One of the thins feel about what he is done. One of the things that feel about what he is done. One of the things that also feel about what he is done. One of the things that also struck feel about what he is done. One of the things that also struck me feel about what he is done. One of the things that also struck me was| the things that also struck me was that there was a sense to push back against this idea that america was scuttling out of afghanistan. We have his remarks and that we have secured the airport but for a lot of outsiders, it looks like yes, conditionally because the taliban or just acquiesce and get, not because you have the power to, if the taliban were to turn nasty as were. The only people capable of protecting this power so far from home is the united states and begin trying to make it look like this is a confident Superpower Choosing to go and choosing the circumstances with which it goes. How much is he needing to say that because of the reaction hes headed home towards this . Because the departure from afghanistan and itself is not the controversial to many americans. The De Arture controversial to many americans. Tie departure is controversial to many americans. Tte departure is not controversial to many americans. Tt9 departure is not controversial for many americans, theres been a strong backlash in washington, including a democratic lawmaker and the democratic chairman of four different committees have said theyre going to investigate this. Youve got the back lash which just is been reported now today over the diplomats pushing against the plan and how they have been warning about the evacuation to take place faster and obviously, the images are not playing well. Babies being carried over the walls, they had managed to put many americans of the walls due to the chaos around the airport although he distinguished that americans getting through taliban checkpoints. Having to respond to what were seeing on the television and what is happening there, does he feel he needs to defend himself in front of the american people . He probably wouldnt of made that decision if he had to talk to these people. But whether or not americans in general who feel strongly about this. And those who have had a stake in afghanistan, the military, the people have been working there and humanitarians he wants to work against the impression that america is cutting tail and running. He does not want to keep that sort of vision in peoples minds, but he has always wanted to leave afghanistan and he has stuck by that narrative throughout this that it is time for us to leave, this Chaos Wouldve happened anyway and yes, he made that rather remarkable statement that rather remarkable statement that the airlift was significant because no other Country Couldve created something like this are carried out something like this out in the us was the only power that could do it and the us has to do it because their enemy has taken over the capital before they were able to evacuate all of their people and their Allies. Evacuate all of their people and their Allies. , , their Allies. Thank you very much. That is the their Allies. Thank you very much. That is the latest their Allies. Thank you very much. That is the latest from their Allies. Thank you very much. That is the latest from that their Allies. Thank you very much. That is the latest from that news | that is the latest from that News Conference from president joe biden. In the next several minutes, on dateline, i will be joined from the british newspaper The Daily Telegraph by michael who podcasts the first rough draughts of History Podcast and is a former broadcaster in the united states who writes regularly from London On International Issues and the China Editor at the Guardian Newspaper in the uk and is a former Bbc World Service broadcaster who knows the region intimately and can talk to us about the act that theyve heard. Before dateline, lets leave you with a reminder of the key comments from President Biden and his address at seven this evening in the uk time. ~ , , , time. Were going to do everything, Eve Hint time. Were going to do everything, everything that time. Were going to do everything, everything that we time. Were going to do everything, everything that we can time. Were going to do everything, everything that we can to time. Were going to do everything, everything that we can to provide i everything that we can to provide safe evacuation for afghan Allies, partners, and afghans who might be targeted because of their association with the united states. But let me be clear, any american who wants to come home, we will get you home. Make no mistake. This Evacuation Mission is dangerous. It involves risks to our armed forces and can be conducted under difficult circumstances. I cannot promise but the final outcome will be. And what it will be, whether will be without risk or loss. His commander in chief, i can assure you that i will mobilise every resource necessary and as an american, i offer my gratitude to the brave men and women of the Us Armed Forces were carrying out this mission. They are incredible and as we continue to work the logistics of the evacuation, we are are in constant contact with the title been trained to ensure that civilians have passage to the airport. Talking to the american passage to the airport. Talking to the american People Passage to the airport. Talking to the american people at passage to the airport. Talking to the american people at this passage to the airport. Talking to | the american people at this hour, passage to the airport. Talking to i the american people at this hour, i will be back at half past the hour with dateline london. Please stay with dateline london. Please stay with us on bbc london. But before that, letsjoin chris with us on bbc london. But before that, lets join chris for the weather. Hello again. For most of us, its been another cloudy day, and that cloudy theme is one thing that weve noticed a lot actually this month. Its been a particularly dull month so far. But like yesterday, there were a few gaps opening out in the cloud. Inverness sitting in one of these, so a bit of sunshine here, but the gaps have been fairly few and far between. The main driver of todays weather, low pressure to our west. Weve had this Weather Front moving into western areas bringing outbreaks of rain, particularly for Northern Ireland, but weve also seen some rain at times in Southwest England and wales as well bringing these rather dull looking skies into pembrokeshire. The rains been quite heavy here for a time as well. Now, overnight tonight, that rain is going to quite erratically push its way northwards and eastwards. Its coming along in pulses. There will be some heavy rain, then it will turn a little bit lighter and drizzly. Some Mist And Fog patches around the hills and the coast as well. Its quite murky for some, and a mild night, temperatures no lower than 16 in both liverpool and for hull as well. Now, the weekend is going to start off wet with these Weather Fronts slowly progressing eastwards. Sunday, the better of the two days of the weekend, in that, the rain will ease to a mixture of sunshine and showers. Saturdays forecast then, weve got the rain with us. And the rain is probably going to be heaviest, really, across wales, northern england, perhaps the midlands as well. Many of us will see some pulses of rain through the day, perhaps northern scotland one of the drier areas, and later in the afternoon, wales and parts of Northern Ireland and Southwest England brighten up with some sunshine. But there will be some heavy showers following in here. Temperatures generally high teens, might reach about 22 celsius across eastern most areas of england, but for most, temperatures a bit below par. Now, for sunday, as i say, this is going to be the better of the two days of the weekend. Cloud will tend to thin and break up with some sunny spells coming out. There will be some heavy showers around, though, maybe a few thunderstorms. These are likely to affect parts of central and eastern scotland, central and eastern england, drier Southwest England, wales, Northern Ireland, western scotland, for the most part with some sunny spells. But, there is a big change in the weather on the way for next week, as this High Pressure builds in. Winds coming down from scandinavia, so no Heat Wave on the way, the hottest air stays in Southern Europe and around about the mediterranean, but that said, next week is still looking fine. And in the August Sunshine that well have quite a bit of next week, its going to be a pleasantly warm with temperature generally for most areas reaching the low 20s, perhaps something a Bit Cloudier towards The End of the week. Thats your latest weather. Bye bye. Hello, and welcome to the programme that brings together leading commentators in the uk with the correspondents who write, Broadcast And Blog for audiences back home from the dateline london. Just one topic for us this week how 20 years of commitment to afghanistan dissolved in a matter of days and what the consequences may be for the people of afghanistan, its neighbours and the rest of the world. Joining us are janet daley, columnist with the sunday telegraph; michael goldfarb, host of the podcast, the first Rough Draft of history, and with me in the studio, the guardians China Editor, vincent knee