Good morning, bill. Alec baldwin just arrived for what is day three of this trial. He once again said absolutely nothing, as he left yesterday, i asked him why as somebody who doesnt run away from the media he isnt talking to us this time around. Listen here. Mr. Baldwin, have your lawyers ordered you not to talk to reporters . You are usually so chatty. But again nothing from him. Now in Court Yesterday we had opening statements. Prosecutors said baldwin was simply reckless when on the set of the movie rust. He pointed a weapon directly H Hell Halyna hutchins. He pointed the gun at another human being, cocked the hammer and pulled that trigger. A Reckless Disregard for miss hutchins safety. Baldwins lawyers said he had absolutely no way of knowing there was a live round in that weapon and he had no formal responsibility for checking it. Listen again. This was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. He was an actor acting. We also saw yesterday some Body Cam Video f
Afghanistan. Were told that 250 u. S. Citizens still are on the ground. They are hoping to leave, along with thousands of afghan friends of the United States as the taliban tightens their grip on the country thats under threat by isisk terrorists at the same time. Lets start our coverage as we await the Secretary Of State. Our senior white House Correspondent Phil Mattingly is joining us right now. Phil, just moments ago, President Biden put out a Written Statement on the end of this war. Reporter thats exactly right, wolf, thanking the u. S. Military commanders and Service Members on the ground for completing what he called the largest Air Lift in u. S. History, helping evacuate in coordination with coalition partners more than 120,000 individuals over a 16day period. An extraordinary number. There is still significant questions the president and his team just address. Some you hear addressed by the Secretary Of State in short order. The president in that statement goes on to say Tomo
Drone strike was [inaudible] was that the only option you guys used . Was there any other option to stop that bomb in the vehicle in i will let The General ill ask The General to provide context. Only thing i would say is that weve used the Word Dynamic a lot. It sounds like pentagon speak. But thats really how the best way to describe the threats were facing dynamic, moving, fluid, quick. Because thats how isisk operates. And we have to try to be as quick and nimble as they are. And when you have what we believe to be an imminent threat and we believe this to be an imminent threat we took the action we believed was the most necessary at the best opportunity to thwart that attack. Commanders will always minimize collateral damage. That is one of the key tenets of how we operate. In this case like mr. Kirby said, that this strike prevented a highprofile attack against both coalition u. S. Forces and other afghan civilians. And so as we look at the information that we had during the time
Officials claim dozens of americans want to stay in the country. Dana chaotic situation in the Ground Guaranteeing some americans will be left behind in addition to thousands of our afghan allies. Bill the President S messaging on this has evolved over the past 10 days. Take a look at this sample starting with abc nine days ago. President biden No One is being killed right now. God forgive me if im wrong about that. No one is being killed right now. We made clear to the taliban that any attack, any attack on our forces or disruptions of our operations at The Airport will be met with swift and forceful response. President biden the taliban has not taken action against u. S. Forces. So far they have by and large followed through what they said. Well see whether or not what they say turns out to be true. Every day were on the ground is another day we know that Isis K is seeking to target the Airport And Attack u. S. And allied forces and innocent civilians. Well not forgive, well not forg
Preventing anybody from coming inside. So even if were trying to get americans outside that perimeter the taliban has set up we cant get them in. The pentagon just told us The Airport is secure so they have that. But nothing beyond it. The taliban has everything. The rest of the country. All u. S. Citizens remaining in afghanistan have been told to shelter in place until notified. The latest. Moments ago from the pentagon. A number of evacuations occurred overnight. As we speak were continuing Air Operations and Air Operations continued throughout the night. Yesterday the u. S. Military footprint in afghanistan started at about roughly 2500 and by The End of today there will be more than approximately 4,000 troops on the ground in kabul. We have had no hostile interactions. No attack and no threat by the taliban. Harris thats remarkable. Makes you wonder if some sort of a deal has been struck and could you trust it if you were. Trey yengst is in jerusalem. Is it possible at this point