could have misjudged or mishandled the end game, badly. the other is the justification, both domestically and geostrategically for ending our 20-year commitment there and what happens now. president, so far, has done little to explain the first but a lot on the second. the question of pulling the plug. >> there are some very brave and capable afghan special forces units and -- and soldiers. but if afghanistan is unable to mount any real resistance at the taliban now, there is no chance that one year, one more year, five more years, or 20 more years, of the u.s. military boots on the ground would have made any difference. >> in a moment, a senior adviser to one of three presidents who decide to stay in afghanistan. first, cnn's kaitlan collins, at the white house. so what is the sense at the white house of where things stand tonight? clearly, they were concerned enough that president biden came back to make this speech today. do they think it went well? >> well, i think they realize that there was no option,