1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,020 Good afternoon everybody , I'm gonna 2 00:00:03,030 --> 00:00:06,560 turn the uh we got get the general 3 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:10,280 turn the podium over to General frank 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,224 McKenzie , Commander of US Central 5 00:00:12,224 --> 00:00:14,113 Command . He'll have some opening 6 00:00:14,113 --> 00:00:16,002 comments and then he'll take some 7 00:00:16,002 --> 00:00:18,113 questions . We do have a hard stop at 8 00:00:18,113 --> 00:00:20,336 five o'clock so I will not waste up any 9 00:00:20,336 --> 00:00:22,558 more time . Uh General can you hear and 10 00:00:22,558 --> 00:00:24,669 see me okay ? Hey john I can hear and 11 00:00:24,669 --> 00:00:26,669 see you just fine . How many over ? 12 00:00:26,669 --> 00:00:28,780 Thank you sir . Thanks for being here 13 00:00:28,780 --> 00:00:28,500 today and I turn it over to you sir . 14 00:00:29,140 --> 00:00:31,650 Thanks john Good afternoon everyone . 15 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,207 I'm here to announce the completion of 16 00:00:34,207 --> 00:00:36,373 our withdrawal from Afghanistan in the 17 00:00:36,373 --> 00:00:38,596 end of the military mission to evacuate 18 00:00:38,596 --> 00:00:40,484 American citizens , third country 19 00:00:40,484 --> 00:00:42,830 nationals and vulnerable afghans . The 20 00:00:42,830 --> 00:00:46,020 last C 17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai 21 00:00:46,020 --> 00:00:48,320 International Airport on august 30th 22 00:00:48,330 --> 00:00:51,340 this afternoon at 3:29 p.m. East Coast 23 00:00:51,340 --> 00:00:53,680 time and the last manned aircraft is 24 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:55,458 now clearing the airspace above 25 00:00:55,458 --> 00:00:57,870 Afghanistan . We will soon release a 26 00:00:57,870 --> 00:00:59,810 photo of the last C 17 departing 27 00:00:59,810 --> 00:01:01,880 Afghanistan with major general chris 28 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:03,991 Donahue and the U . S . Ambassador to 29 00:01:03,991 --> 00:01:07,220 Afghanistan Ross wilson aboard while 30 00:01:07,220 --> 00:01:09,331 the military evacuation is complete . 31 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,330 The diplomatic mission to ensure 32 00:01:11,340 --> 00:01:13,118 additional U . S . Citizens and 33 00:01:13,118 --> 00:01:15,062 eligible afghans who want to leave 34 00:01:15,062 --> 00:01:17,007 continues and I know that you have 35 00:01:17,007 --> 00:01:19,118 heard and I know that you're going to 36 00:01:19,118 --> 00:01:21,118 hear more about that from the State 37 00:01:21,118 --> 00:01:23,340 Department . Shortly Tonight's withdraw 38 00:01:23,340 --> 00:01:25,507 signifies both the end of the military 39 00:01:25,507 --> 00:01:27,562 component of the evacuation but also 40 00:01:27,562 --> 00:01:29,673 the end of the nearly 20 year mission 41 00:01:29,673 --> 00:01:31,896 that began in Afghanistan shortly after 42 00:01:31,896 --> 00:01:34,920 September 11 , 2001 . It's a mission 43 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,087 that brought Osama bin laden to adjust 44 00:01:37,087 --> 00:01:39,253 end along with many of his al Qaeda co 45 00:01:39,253 --> 00:01:41,309 conspirators . And it was not it was 46 00:01:41,309 --> 00:01:43,410 not a cheap mission . The cost was 47 00:01:43,410 --> 00:01:46,440 2,461 US service members and civilians 48 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,496 killed and more than 20,000 who were 49 00:01:48,496 --> 00:01:51,110 injured sadly . That includes 13 U . S . 50 00:01:51,110 --> 00:01:53,166 Service members who were killed last 51 00:01:53,166 --> 00:01:56,050 week by an ISIS K suicide bomber . We 52 00:01:56,050 --> 00:01:58,380 honor their sacrifice today as we 53 00:01:58,380 --> 00:02:00,602 remember their heroic accomplishments . 54 00:02:01,140 --> 00:02:04,260 No words for me could possibly capture 55 00:02:04,270 --> 00:02:06,580 the full measure of sacrifices and 56 00:02:06,580 --> 00:02:09,030 accomplishments of those who served nor 57 00:02:09,030 --> 00:02:11,086 the emotions they're feeling at this 58 00:02:11,086 --> 00:02:13,252 moment . But I will say that I'm proud 59 00:02:13,252 --> 00:02:15,474 that both my son and I have been a part 60 00:02:15,474 --> 00:02:18,300 of it before I open it up for questions , 61 00:02:18,310 --> 00:02:20,310 I do want to provide some important 62 00:02:20,310 --> 00:02:22,500 context to the evacuation mission that 63 00:02:22,500 --> 00:02:24,590 we just completed and what was the 64 00:02:24,590 --> 00:02:26,980 largest non combatant evacuation in the 65 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:29,470 U . S . Military's history Since August 66 00:02:29,470 --> 00:02:32,590 the 14th over an 18 day period , us 67 00:02:32,590 --> 00:02:34,970 military aircraft have evacuated more 68 00:02:34,970 --> 00:02:38,660 than 79,000 civilians from Hamid Karzai 69 00:02:38,660 --> 00:02:40,880 International Airport . That includes 70 00:02:40,890 --> 00:02:43,160 6000 Americans and more than 71 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,070 73,503rd country nationals and 72 00:02:47,070 --> 00:02:49,820 Afghan civilians . This last category 73 00:02:49,820 --> 00:02:52,000 includes special immigrant visas , 74 00:02:52,010 --> 00:02:55,010 consular staff at risk afghans and 75 00:02:55,010 --> 00:02:57,690 their families . In total US and 76 00:02:57,690 --> 00:03:00,210 coalition aircraft combined to evacuate 77 00:03:00,210 --> 00:03:03,650 more than 123,000 civilians which were 78 00:03:03,650 --> 00:03:05,920 all enabled by US military service 79 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:08,142 members who were securing and operating 80 00:03:08,142 --> 00:03:10,600 the airfield On average , we have 81 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,830 evacuated more than 7500 civilians per 82 00:03:13,830 --> 00:03:16,350 day . Over the 18 days of the mission 83 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,700 which includes 16 full days of 84 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:21,920 evacuations And more than 19,000 on a 85 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:24,780 single day . These numbers do not 86 00:03:24,780 --> 00:03:27,110 include the roughly 5000 service 87 00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:29,166 members and their equipment that was 88 00:03:29,166 --> 00:03:31,054 sent to Afghanistan to secure the 89 00:03:31,054 --> 00:03:33,054 airfield and who were withdrawn the 90 00:03:33,054 --> 00:03:35,370 conclusion of our mission . The numbers 91 00:03:35,370 --> 00:03:37,259 I provided represent a monumental 92 00:03:37,259 --> 00:03:39,270 accomplishment , but they do not do 93 00:03:39,270 --> 00:03:42,110 justice to the determination grit , the 94 00:03:42,110 --> 00:03:44,520 flexibility and the professionalism of 95 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,353 the men and women of the U . S . 96 00:03:46,353 --> 00:03:48,576 Military and our coalition partners who 97 00:03:48,576 --> 00:03:50,631 were able to rapidly combine efforts 98 00:03:50,631 --> 00:03:52,440 and evacuate so many under such 99 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,040 difficult conditions as such . I think 100 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,207 it's important that I provide you with 101 00:03:57,207 --> 00:03:59,096 what I hope will be some valuable 102 00:03:59,096 --> 00:04:01,207 context . When the president directed 103 00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:03,262 the complete withdrawal of US forces 104 00:04:03,262 --> 00:04:05,450 from Afghanistan and april , the team 105 00:04:05,450 --> 00:04:07,450 at U . S . Central Command began to 106 00:04:07,450 --> 00:04:09,780 update and refine our existing plan for 107 00:04:09,780 --> 00:04:12,070 a potential noncombatant evacuation 108 00:04:12,070 --> 00:04:15,410 operation or Neo in Afghanistan , we 109 00:04:15,410 --> 00:04:17,632 have a framework of plans that included 110 00:04:17,632 --> 00:04:19,854 numerous branches and Sequels depending 111 00:04:19,854 --> 00:04:21,521 on the nature of the security 112 00:04:21,521 --> 00:04:24,070 environment . Over time , we continue 113 00:04:24,070 --> 00:04:26,450 to refine our plans which included the 114 00:04:26,450 --> 00:04:28,283 inter agency , the international 115 00:04:28,283 --> 00:04:30,561 community and other combatant commands . 116 00:04:30,561 --> 00:04:32,561 Plans such as this are built upon a 117 00:04:32,561 --> 00:04:34,561 number of facts and assumptions and 118 00:04:34,561 --> 00:04:36,839 facts and assumptions change over time . 119 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,651 While observing the security 120 00:04:38,651 --> 00:04:40,762 environment deteriorate , we continue 121 00:04:40,762 --> 00:04:42,873 to update our facts and assumptions . 122 00:04:42,873 --> 00:04:45,080 As the security situation rapidly 123 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,250 devolved in Afghanistan , we took a 124 00:04:47,250 --> 00:04:49,472 number of actions to position ourselves 125 00:04:49,472 --> 00:04:51,194 for a potential Neo based upon 126 00:04:51,194 --> 00:04:53,528 direction from the Secretary of Defense . 127 00:04:53,528 --> 00:04:55,694 We positioned forces in the region and 128 00:04:55,694 --> 00:04:57,861 put them on increased alert . We began 129 00:04:57,861 --> 00:05:00,000 to preposition supplies and we began 130 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,111 some preparatory work on intermediate 131 00:05:02,111 --> 00:05:04,333 facilities in Qatar with the support of 132 00:05:04,333 --> 00:05:06,940 our gracious host nation . When the 133 00:05:06,940 --> 00:05:09,000 evacuation was formerly directed on 134 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,570 August 14 , we began to carry out our 135 00:05:11,570 --> 00:05:14,430 plan based upon the initial assumption 136 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:16,571 that the Afghan security forces would 137 00:05:16,571 --> 00:05:18,738 be a willing and able security partner 138 00:05:18,738 --> 00:05:20,793 in Kabul defending the capital for a 139 00:05:20,793 --> 00:05:22,904 matter of weeks or at least for a few 140 00:05:22,904 --> 00:05:26,050 days . Within 24 hours , of course the 141 00:05:26,050 --> 00:05:28,050 Afghan military collapse completely 142 00:05:28,140 --> 00:05:30,029 opening Kabul up to the Taliban's 143 00:05:30,029 --> 00:05:32,840 advance on august the 15th . In a 144 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:34,507 meeting with Taliban . Senior 145 00:05:34,507 --> 00:05:36,451 leadership in Doha , I delivered a 146 00:05:36,451 --> 00:05:38,673 message on behalf of the president that 147 00:05:38,673 --> 00:05:40,507 our mission in Kabul was now the 148 00:05:40,507 --> 00:05:42,284 evacuation of americans and our 149 00:05:42,284 --> 00:05:44,500 partners that we would not tolerate 150 00:05:44,510 --> 00:05:46,232 interference and that we would 151 00:05:46,232 --> 00:05:48,288 forcefully defend our forces and the 152 00:05:48,288 --> 00:05:51,090 evacuees if necessary . The Taliban's 153 00:05:51,090 --> 00:05:53,146 response in that meeting was in line 154 00:05:53,146 --> 00:05:55,368 with what they've said publicly . While 155 00:05:55,368 --> 00:05:57,479 they stated their intent to enter and 156 00:05:57,479 --> 00:05:59,479 occupy Kabul , they also offered to 157 00:05:59,479 --> 00:06:01,257 work with us on a deconfliction 158 00:06:01,257 --> 00:06:03,540 mechanism to prevent miscalculation 159 00:06:03,550 --> 00:06:05,494 while our forces operated in close 160 00:06:05,494 --> 00:06:07,670 quarters . Finally , they promised not 161 00:06:07,670 --> 00:06:10,030 to interfere with our withdrawal . It's 162 00:06:10,030 --> 00:06:12,197 important to understand that within 48 163 00:06:12,197 --> 00:06:14,470 hours of the neo execution order , the 164 00:06:14,470 --> 00:06:16,248 facts on the ground had changed 165 00:06:16,248 --> 00:06:18,137 significantly . We have gone from 166 00:06:18,137 --> 00:06:20,359 cooperating on security with a longtime 167 00:06:20,359 --> 00:06:22,303 partner and ally , to initiating a 168 00:06:22,303 --> 00:06:24,670 pragmatic relationship of necessity 169 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,170 with a longtime enemy into that 170 00:06:27,170 --> 00:06:29,337 environment . Rear Admiral Pete bailey 171 00:06:29,337 --> 00:06:31,503 and Brigadier General feral , Sullivan 172 00:06:31,503 --> 00:06:33,614 of the marines and subsequently Major 173 00:06:33,614 --> 00:06:35,614 General Chris Donahue of the army's 174 00:06:35,614 --> 00:06:37,614 82nd Airborne Division deployed and 175 00:06:37,614 --> 00:06:39,170 employ their forces And did 176 00:06:39,170 --> 00:06:41,170 extraordinary work with the leading 177 00:06:41,170 --> 00:06:43,281 elements are reinforcement package to 178 00:06:43,281 --> 00:06:45,448 safely close the embassy in one period 179 00:06:45,448 --> 00:06:47,730 of darkness or 11 evening to establish 180 00:06:47,730 --> 00:06:49,674 a deconfliction mechanism with the 181 00:06:49,674 --> 00:06:51,730 taliban to establish security at the 182 00:06:51,730 --> 00:06:53,952 airport and to bring in the rest of our 183 00:06:53,952 --> 00:06:56,119 reinforcements into the airport . They 184 00:06:56,119 --> 00:06:58,119 accomplished this difficult list of 185 00:06:58,119 --> 00:07:00,230 tasks . Within 48 hours of supporting 186 00:07:00,230 --> 00:07:02,174 the transfer of the embassy to the 187 00:07:02,174 --> 00:07:04,890 airport , I visited Kabul on Tuesday 188 00:07:04,900 --> 00:07:07,130 August the 17th to see the work being 189 00:07:07,130 --> 00:07:09,186 done to establish security firsthand 190 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,696 and to observe the transition to the 191 00:07:11,696 --> 00:07:14,520 evacuation . I left on the C 17 that 192 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:16,780 brought more than 130 afghans and 193 00:07:16,780 --> 00:07:19,430 american citizens out from Karzai 194 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,551 international airport to Al Udeid Air 195 00:07:21,551 --> 00:07:23,830 base in Qatar . Our men and women on 196 00:07:23,830 --> 00:07:25,719 the ground at the airport quickly 197 00:07:25,719 --> 00:07:27,830 embraced the dangerous and methodical 198 00:07:27,830 --> 00:07:29,830 work of defending the airport while 199 00:07:29,830 --> 00:07:32,100 conducting the hand the hand screening 200 00:07:32,150 --> 00:07:35,930 of more than 120,000 evacuees from six 201 00:07:35,930 --> 00:07:37,763 different entry points under the 202 00:07:37,763 --> 00:07:40,060 airfield . We also conducted three 203 00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:42,150 separate helicopter extractions of 204 00:07:42,150 --> 00:07:44,206 three distinct groups of civilians , 205 00:07:44,206 --> 00:07:46,280 including at least 185 American 206 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,050 citizens with our German partners . 21 207 00:07:49,050 --> 00:07:51,860 German citizens . Additionally , US 208 00:07:51,860 --> 00:07:54,070 special operations forces reached out 209 00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:56,140 to help break in bring in more than 210 00:07:56,140 --> 00:07:58,970 1060 for american citizens in 211 00:07:58,970 --> 00:08:02,660 2017 S I . V . S for afghans at risk 212 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,210 and 127 3rd country nationals , all via 213 00:08:06,210 --> 00:08:08,550 phone calls , vectors and escorting . 214 00:08:09,340 --> 00:08:11,600 We have evacuated more than 6000 us 215 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,980 civilians which we believe represents 216 00:08:13,980 --> 00:08:16,130 the vast majority of those who wanted 217 00:08:16,130 --> 00:08:18,360 to leave at this time . It would be 218 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,582 difficult to overestimate the number of 219 00:08:20,582 --> 00:08:22,693 unusual challenges and committing the 220 00:08:22,693 --> 00:08:24,749 competing demands that our forces on 221 00:08:24,749 --> 00:08:26,860 the ground have successfully overcome 222 00:08:26,940 --> 00:08:29,162 the threat to our forces , particularly 223 00:08:29,162 --> 00:08:31,370 from ISIS K . was very real and 224 00:08:31,370 --> 00:08:33,720 tragically resulted in the loss of 13 225 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,942 service members and dozens of Afghans . 226 00:08:35,942 --> 00:08:38,340 Today , I've said this before , but I'd 227 00:08:38,340 --> 00:08:40,620 like to say it again . We greatly 228 00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:42,620 appreciate the contributions of the 229 00:08:42,620 --> 00:08:44,842 many coalition partners that stood with 230 00:08:44,842 --> 00:08:46,787 us on the ground at harmony at the 231 00:08:46,787 --> 00:08:49,009 Karzai International Airport . I'm just 232 00:08:49,009 --> 00:08:51,064 going to single out one nation as an 233 00:08:51,064 --> 00:08:53,231 example of the many the Norwegians who 234 00:08:53,231 --> 00:08:55,320 maintained their hospital at the 235 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,210 airport and who were absolutely 236 00:08:57,210 --> 00:08:59,377 critical for the immediate care of our 237 00:08:59,377 --> 00:09:01,488 wounded after the Abbey Gate attack . 238 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,607 Even after the attack , they agreed to 239 00:09:04,607 --> 00:09:06,718 extend the presence of their hospital 240 00:09:06,718 --> 00:09:08,829 to provide more coverage for us . Our 241 00:09:08,829 --> 00:09:10,829 diplomats have also been with us in 242 00:09:10,829 --> 00:09:12,884 Kabul from the beginning and they're 243 00:09:12,884 --> 00:09:15,051 working processing over 120,000 people 244 00:09:15,051 --> 00:09:16,940 stands right beside that of their 245 00:09:16,940 --> 00:09:19,051 military partners . We were a team on 246 00:09:19,051 --> 00:09:22,020 the ground . As I close my remarks , I 247 00:09:22,020 --> 00:09:23,798 would like to offer my personal 248 00:09:23,798 --> 00:09:26,150 appreciation to the more than 800,000 249 00:09:26,150 --> 00:09:28,880 service members and 25,000 civilians 250 00:09:28,890 --> 00:09:31,280 who have served in Afghanistan and 251 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,391 particularly to the families of those 252 00:09:33,391 --> 00:09:35,336 whose loved ones have been lost or 253 00:09:35,336 --> 00:09:37,502 wounded . Your service as well as that 254 00:09:37,502 --> 00:09:39,502 of your comrades and family members 255 00:09:39,502 --> 00:09:41,650 will never be forgotten . My heart is 256 00:09:41,650 --> 00:09:43,660 broken over the losses we sustained 257 00:09:43,660 --> 00:09:45,890 three days ago . As the poem by 258 00:09:45,890 --> 00:09:49,170 Lawrence Binion goes , we will remember 259 00:09:49,170 --> 00:09:51,870 them The last 18 days has been 260 00:09:51,870 --> 00:09:54,640 challenging . Americans can be proud of 261 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,751 men and women of the armed forces who 262 00:09:56,751 --> 00:09:58,918 met these challenges head on . I'm now 263 00:09:58,918 --> 00:10:00,973 ready to take your questions . Thank 264 00:10:00,973 --> 00:10:03,084 you . General . We'll start uh , with 265 00:10:03,084 --> 00:10:05,251 the leader at a P . I would ask you to 266 00:10:05,251 --> 00:10:07,473 because we're limited on time to please 267 00:10:07,473 --> 00:10:09,362 limit your follow up so that more 268 00:10:09,362 --> 00:10:11,362 people can get questions asked . Go 269 00:10:11,362 --> 00:10:13,473 ahead . Leader . General , thanks for 270 00:10:13,473 --> 00:10:15,751 doing this . It's leader with a P . Um , 271 00:10:15,751 --> 00:10:17,862 can you give us a sense of whether or 272 00:10:17,862 --> 00:10:20,084 not there were any american citizens or 273 00:10:20,084 --> 00:10:22,196 other civilians who were taken out on 274 00:10:22,196 --> 00:10:24,020 any of those last couple of C 275 00:10:24,020 --> 00:10:26,076 seventeen's that flew out this after 276 00:10:26,076 --> 00:10:28,242 this afternoon . And can you give us a 277 00:10:28,242 --> 00:10:32,030 picture of what you saw with 278 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,470 equipment and other things getting 279 00:10:34,470 --> 00:10:37,480 either destroyed or removed at the 280 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,480 airport before they left Later . So 281 00:10:41,490 --> 00:10:43,740 we know no American citizens came out 282 00:10:43,740 --> 00:10:45,684 on the last what we call the joint 283 00:10:45,684 --> 00:10:48,150 tactical ex filtration , the last five 284 00:10:48,150 --> 00:10:50,850 jets to leave . Uh we we maintain the 285 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:52,739 ability to bring them in up until 286 00:10:52,739 --> 00:10:54,910 immediately before departure , but we 287 00:10:54,910 --> 00:10:56,966 were not able to bring any Americans 288 00:10:56,966 --> 00:10:58,910 out . That activity ended probably 289 00:10:58,910 --> 00:11:00,743 about 12 hours before our exit . 290 00:11:00,743 --> 00:11:02,854 Although we continue the outreach and 291 00:11:02,854 --> 00:11:04,910 would have been prepared to to bring 292 00:11:04,910 --> 00:11:06,966 them on until the very last minute . 293 00:11:06,966 --> 00:11:09,188 But none of them made it to the airport 294 00:11:09,188 --> 00:11:08,410 and we're able to be and were able to 295 00:11:08,410 --> 00:11:12,300 be accommodated . We 296 00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:14,189 brought some of it out and we did 297 00:11:14,189 --> 00:11:16,356 demilitarized some of it . Let me give 298 00:11:16,356 --> 00:11:18,133 an example of something that we 299 00:11:18,133 --> 00:11:20,300 demilitarized . You're very much aware 300 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:22,300 of course of the rocket attack that 301 00:11:22,300 --> 00:11:24,411 occurred yesterday where five rockets 302 00:11:24,411 --> 00:11:26,467 were fired at the airfield . R . C . 303 00:11:26,467 --> 00:11:28,850 Rams were very effective in uh engaging 304 00:11:28,850 --> 00:11:30,906 the two rockets that did fall on the 305 00:11:30,906 --> 00:11:33,017 airfield and we believe they probably 306 00:11:33,017 --> 00:11:35,128 kept them from doing more significant 307 00:11:35,128 --> 00:11:37,017 damage . We elected to keep those 308 00:11:37,017 --> 00:11:39,183 systems in operation up until the very 309 00:11:39,183 --> 00:11:41,350 last minute . It's a complex procedure 310 00:11:41,350 --> 00:11:43,572 complex and time intensive procedure to 311 00:11:43,572 --> 00:11:45,406 break down those systems . So we 312 00:11:45,406 --> 00:11:47,350 demilitarize those systems so that 313 00:11:47,350 --> 00:11:49,572 they'll never be used again . And there 314 00:11:49,572 --> 00:11:49,050 was just uh we felt it was more 315 00:11:49,050 --> 00:11:51,272 important to protect our forces than to 316 00:11:51,272 --> 00:11:53,494 bring those systems back . We have also 317 00:11:53,494 --> 00:11:55,700 d miller demilitarized uh equipment 318 00:11:55,710 --> 00:11:58,330 that we did not bring out it uh of the 319 00:11:58,330 --> 00:12:00,630 airport that included a number of em 320 00:12:00,630 --> 00:12:04,150 raps up to 70 m wraps that we 321 00:12:04,150 --> 00:12:06,150 demilitarize and will never be used 322 00:12:06,150 --> 00:12:09,490 again by anyone . 27 Humvees , little 323 00:12:09,490 --> 00:12:11,490 tactical vehicle that will never be 324 00:12:11,490 --> 00:12:13,580 driven again . Additionally , on the 325 00:12:13,580 --> 00:12:17,570 ramp at HK area are a total of 326 00:12:17,580 --> 00:12:20,670 73 aircraft . Uh Those aircraft will 327 00:12:20,670 --> 00:12:22,837 never fly again when we left , they'll 328 00:12:22,837 --> 00:12:25,114 never be able to be operated by anyone . 329 00:12:25,114 --> 00:12:27,337 Most of them are non mission capable to 330 00:12:27,337 --> 00:12:29,281 begin with , but certainly they'll 331 00:12:29,281 --> 00:12:31,503 never be able to be flown again . Thank 332 00:12:31,503 --> 00:12:33,726 you . David , General David Martin with 333 00:12:33,726 --> 00:12:37,070 cbs . Was there any attempt to 334 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,940 interfere with the final flights 335 00:12:40,940 --> 00:12:44,640 out either by the taliban or 336 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,660 by ISIS or any other group ? And did 337 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,440 at the end that americans just vacate 338 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,130 the premises or did they turn it over 339 00:12:54,170 --> 00:12:57,790 to the taliban ? Oh , we know that 340 00:12:57,790 --> 00:13:01,230 ISIS K . Has worked very , very hard to 341 00:13:01,230 --> 00:13:03,341 strike us and to continue to strike . 342 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,418 We feel that the strike we took 343 00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:07,850 yesterday in Kabul actually was very 344 00:13:07,850 --> 00:13:10,140 disruptive to their attack plans and 345 00:13:10,140 --> 00:13:12,251 threw him off stride and I think that 346 00:13:12,251 --> 00:13:14,418 was one of the significant reasons why 347 00:13:14,418 --> 00:13:16,140 they were not able to organize 348 00:13:16,140 --> 00:13:18,029 themselves and get after us as we 349 00:13:18,029 --> 00:13:20,251 conducted the final withdrawal . I will 350 00:13:20,251 --> 00:13:20,210 tell you the taliban have been very 351 00:13:20,210 --> 00:13:22,790 pregnant , very pragmatic and very 352 00:13:22,790 --> 00:13:24,790 business like as we have approached 353 00:13:24,790 --> 00:13:27,080 this , uh withdraw , we did not turn it 354 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,030 over to the Taliban . Uh General 355 00:13:29,030 --> 00:13:31,252 Donahue , one of the last things he did 356 00:13:31,252 --> 00:13:33,419 before leaving was talk to the taliban 357 00:13:33,419 --> 00:13:35,641 commander that he had been coordinating 358 00:13:35,641 --> 00:13:37,808 with as soon as about the time we were 359 00:13:37,808 --> 00:13:37,640 going to leave , just to let them know 360 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,862 that we were leaving . But there was no 361 00:13:39,862 --> 00:13:42,029 discussion of turning anything over of 362 00:13:42,029 --> 00:13:45,660 that at all . Gen General 363 00:13:45,660 --> 00:13:47,840 Mackenzie jennifer Griffin from Fox 364 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,200 News . If I could just have you reflect 365 00:13:50,210 --> 00:13:53,540 personally , After 20 years of war 366 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:55,730 you've served there , you've now 367 00:13:55,730 --> 00:13:57,897 watched the last troops leave , you've 368 00:13:57,897 --> 00:14:00,370 lost troops in recent days . How did it 369 00:14:00,370 --> 00:14:03,700 feel Leaving Afghanistan to the very 370 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:06,310 group that you overthrew 20 years ago ? 371 00:14:06,390 --> 00:14:09,470 The Taliban . Well , as I sort of said 372 00:14:09,470 --> 00:14:11,692 in my remarks , as you know , I've been 373 00:14:11,692 --> 00:14:13,914 there a couple of times , my son's been 374 00:14:13,914 --> 00:14:16,810 there a couple of times . Um so and it 375 00:14:16,810 --> 00:14:19,550 was very uh very conflicted actually , 376 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,560 but I would tell you , I was pretty 377 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,782 much focused on the task at hand . I'll 378 00:14:23,782 --> 00:14:26,004 have days ahead to actually think about 379 00:14:26,004 --> 00:14:28,171 that . There was just so much going on 380 00:14:28,171 --> 00:14:27,770 in this headquarters and we were so 381 00:14:27,770 --> 00:14:29,826 completely focused . I'm getting our 382 00:14:29,826 --> 00:14:32,130 troops out and and in the days before 383 00:14:32,140 --> 00:14:34,800 getting uh getting our citizens out and 384 00:14:34,810 --> 00:14:36,921 vulnerable afghans to the best of our 385 00:14:36,921 --> 00:14:38,977 ability that I did not have a lot of 386 00:14:38,977 --> 00:14:41,088 time for reflection . I'm sure I will 387 00:14:41,088 --> 00:14:43,199 do that in the future . But right now 388 00:14:43,199 --> 00:14:45,088 I'm pretty much consumed with the 389 00:14:45,088 --> 00:14:47,088 operational task at hand . That's a 390 00:14:47,088 --> 00:14:47,030 question . And I am going to be 391 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,262 thinking about that in the days of your 392 00:14:49,262 --> 00:14:51,429 message to americans and afghan allies 393 00:14:51,429 --> 00:14:54,400 who were left behind . So the military 394 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,560 phase of this operation has ended the 395 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,100 diplomatic sequel to that . Well now 396 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:02,211 begin and I believe our Department of 397 00:15:02,211 --> 00:15:04,510 State is going to work very hard to 398 00:15:04,510 --> 00:15:06,566 allow any american citizens that are 399 00:15:06,566 --> 00:15:08,566 left and we think the citizens that 400 00:15:08,566 --> 00:15:10,732 were not brought out number in the low 401 00:15:10,732 --> 00:15:13,360 very low hundreds . Uh I believe that 402 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,582 we're going to work . We're going to be 403 00:15:15,582 --> 00:15:17,749 able to get those people out . I think 404 00:15:17,749 --> 00:15:17,520 we're also going to negotiate very hard 405 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,687 and very aggressively to get our other 406 00:15:19,687 --> 00:15:21,909 afghan partners out . Military phase is 407 00:15:21,909 --> 00:15:23,853 over but our desire to bring these 408 00:15:23,853 --> 00:15:26,440 people out remains as intense as it was 409 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,720 before the weapons have just shifted . 410 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,831 If you will , from the military realm 411 00:15:30,831 --> 00:15:32,609 to the diplomatic realm and the 412 00:15:32,609 --> 00:15:34,720 Department of State will not take the 413 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,609 lead nancy ? I think we're just a 414 00:15:36,609 --> 00:15:38,776 couple of points . Can you tell us how 415 00:15:38,776 --> 00:15:40,664 many people are on that final C17 416 00:15:40,664 --> 00:15:42,664 flight ? Can you tell us where that 417 00:15:42,664 --> 00:15:44,720 flight is headed ? And you mentioned 418 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,664 that General Donahue talked to his 419 00:15:46,664 --> 00:15:48,553 taliban essential essentially his 420 00:15:48,553 --> 00:15:50,776 counterpart . Can you give us any sense 421 00:15:50,776 --> 00:15:52,831 on what role the taliban play from a 422 00:15:52,831 --> 00:15:55,053 security perspective to allow the us to 423 00:15:55,053 --> 00:15:57,164 safely depart ? Kabul . Yeah , so I'm 424 00:15:57,164 --> 00:15:59,109 not going to be able to answer the 425 00:15:59,109 --> 00:16:00,998 first two questions because those 426 00:16:00,998 --> 00:16:03,109 operations are still concluding as to 427 00:16:03,109 --> 00:16:02,990 where the those aircraft are going in 428 00:16:02,990 --> 00:16:04,990 the in the exact disposition of our 429 00:16:04,990 --> 00:16:07,212 forces on the aircraft . I can tell you 430 00:16:07,212 --> 00:16:09,379 this though about what the taliban has 431 00:16:09,379 --> 00:16:11,101 done . They established a firm 432 00:16:11,101 --> 00:16:13,157 perimeter outside of the airfield to 433 00:16:13,157 --> 00:16:15,046 prevent people from coming on the 434 00:16:15,046 --> 00:16:17,046 airfield during our departure . And 435 00:16:17,046 --> 00:16:19,212 we've we've worked out with them for a 436 00:16:19,212 --> 00:16:19,010 number of days . They did not have 437 00:16:19,010 --> 00:16:20,788 direct knowledge of our time of 438 00:16:20,788 --> 00:16:23,010 departure . We choose to keep that . We 439 00:16:23,010 --> 00:16:25,010 chose to keep that very information 440 00:16:25,010 --> 00:16:27,480 very restricted but they were actually 441 00:16:27,490 --> 00:16:29,590 very helpful and useful to us as we 442 00:16:29,590 --> 00:16:32,770 close down operations . Don't go to the 443 00:16:32,780 --> 00:16:34,947 phones . I haven't done that yet , dan 444 00:16:34,947 --> 00:16:37,370 them off . Thanks for thanks for 445 00:16:37,370 --> 00:16:39,640 economy . General . Can you , can you 446 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,680 give us a guess a deeper level of 447 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:43,680 detail on what this last day looked 448 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,736 like in terms of number of flights , 449 00:16:45,736 --> 00:16:47,958 number of people you have on the ground 450 00:16:47,958 --> 00:16:50,013 to start with who might have been on 451 00:16:50,013 --> 00:16:52,124 that last plane , particularly senior 452 00:16:52,124 --> 00:16:54,124 leaders and kind of just how it all 453 00:16:54,124 --> 00:16:56,180 played out . Thanks sure . So let me 454 00:16:56,180 --> 00:16:58,180 actually begin with the back end of 455 00:16:58,180 --> 00:17:00,347 your question on the last airplane out 456 00:17:00,347 --> 00:17:02,124 was general chris Donahue , the 457 00:17:02,124 --> 00:17:04,347 commander of the 82nd Airborne Division 458 00:17:04,347 --> 00:17:04,210 and my ground force commander there and 459 00:17:04,210 --> 00:17:06,770 he was accompanied by our charge , a 460 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:08,951 Ambassador Ross Wilson . So they came 461 00:17:08,951 --> 00:17:10,951 out together . So the state defense 462 00:17:10,951 --> 00:17:13,118 team came out on the last aircraft and 463 00:17:13,118 --> 00:17:15,229 were in fact the last people to stand 464 00:17:15,229 --> 00:17:17,451 on the ground step on the airplane . So 465 00:17:17,451 --> 00:17:19,562 what has happened over the last 12 or 466 00:17:19,562 --> 00:17:21,729 18 hours is , well , first of all , we 467 00:17:21,729 --> 00:17:23,896 were intent on maintaining the ability 468 00:17:23,896 --> 00:17:25,729 to bring out Americans and other 469 00:17:25,729 --> 00:17:27,840 another afghans as long as we could . 470 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,062 So we kept that capability until just a 471 00:17:30,062 --> 00:17:32,284 few hours ago and we were able to bring 472 00:17:32,284 --> 00:17:34,340 out some people earlier in the day , 473 00:17:34,340 --> 00:17:36,562 although as I've noted earlier , we had 474 00:17:36,562 --> 00:17:38,507 to cut it off sometime before this 475 00:17:38,507 --> 00:17:40,729 operation began . But we were intent on 476 00:17:40,729 --> 00:17:42,840 maintaining that capability were also 477 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,618 intent on maintaining our force 478 00:17:44,618 --> 00:17:46,784 protection because of the threats from 479 00:17:46,784 --> 00:17:48,700 ISIS were very real , very , very 480 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,867 concerning . And so we did a number of 481 00:17:50,867 --> 00:17:52,680 things . We had overwhelming us 482 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:54,791 airpower overhead . Should there been 483 00:17:54,791 --> 00:17:56,880 any challenge to our departure ? And 484 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,780 again , there was absolutely no 485 00:17:58,780 --> 00:18:00,613 question we were not going to be 486 00:18:00,613 --> 00:18:02,613 challenged by the taliban , were if 487 00:18:02,613 --> 00:18:04,724 we're going to be challenged , it was 488 00:18:04,724 --> 00:18:06,891 going to be by ISIS . And I think some 489 00:18:06,891 --> 00:18:08,947 of the things we've done yesterday , 490 00:18:08,947 --> 00:18:10,836 particularly the strike And other 491 00:18:10,836 --> 00:18:10,830 things we've done have disrupted their 492 00:18:10,830 --> 00:18:13,052 ability to conduct that to conduct that 493 00:18:13,052 --> 00:18:15,163 attack planning . But they may , they 494 00:18:15,163 --> 00:18:17,108 remain a very lethal force . And I 495 00:18:17,108 --> 00:18:19,108 think we would assess that probably 496 00:18:19,108 --> 00:18:21,540 there at least 2000 ISIS fighters in 497 00:18:21,540 --> 00:18:23,670 Afghanistan now and of course many of 498 00:18:23,670 --> 00:18:25,781 those come from the prisons that were 499 00:18:25,781 --> 00:18:28,059 there were opened a few a few days ago . 500 00:18:28,059 --> 00:18:30,281 So that number is up and is probably as 501 00:18:30,281 --> 00:18:32,614 high as it's ever been in quite a while . 502 00:18:32,614 --> 00:18:32,060 That's going to be a challenge for the 503 00:18:32,060 --> 00:18:34,171 taliban , I believe in the days ahead 504 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,010 injuries . Thank you . Uh , quick 505 00:18:37,010 --> 00:18:39,430 questions . There were about 500 Afghan 506 00:18:39,430 --> 00:18:41,690 soldiers who are protecting the 507 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:44,040 Perimeter . Did you evacuate them and 508 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,290 their families ? And secondly , um just 509 00:18:46,290 --> 00:18:48,401 on the airport , uh , now that you've 510 00:18:48,401 --> 00:18:51,670 departed , do you believe it can take 511 00:18:51,670 --> 00:18:53,970 on civilian aircraft pretty soon or 512 00:18:53,970 --> 00:18:56,137 will it require some type of repair or 513 00:18:56,137 --> 00:18:59,250 expertise ? Sure . So the best of my 514 00:18:59,250 --> 00:19:01,306 knowledge , which is actually pretty 515 00:19:01,306 --> 00:19:03,528 good . I believe we brought out all the 516 00:19:03,528 --> 00:19:05,250 Afghan military forces who are 517 00:19:05,250 --> 00:19:07,028 partnered with us to defend the 518 00:19:07,028 --> 00:19:09,139 airfield and their family members . I 519 00:19:09,139 --> 00:19:08,960 believe that that has been accomplished . 520 00:19:09,340 --> 00:19:11,170 Uh , we need the airport to be 521 00:19:11,170 --> 00:19:13,337 operational and we need the airport to 522 00:19:13,337 --> 00:19:15,448 be operational quickly for civilian , 523 00:19:15,448 --> 00:19:17,503 you know , for civilian traffic . So 524 00:19:17,503 --> 00:19:19,850 we're gonna do everything we can to uh 525 00:19:19,860 --> 00:19:21,804 to help with that . Let me give an 526 00:19:21,804 --> 00:19:23,971 example , one of the things we did not 527 00:19:23,971 --> 00:19:26,082 demilitarized as we left , were those 528 00:19:26,082 --> 00:19:28,249 pieces of equipment that are necessary 529 00:19:28,249 --> 00:19:30,360 for airport operations such as a fire 530 00:19:30,360 --> 00:19:32,249 trucks on the front end loaders , 531 00:19:32,249 --> 00:19:34,471 things like that . We left that we left 532 00:19:34,471 --> 00:19:36,582 that equipment , so that is available 533 00:19:36,582 --> 00:19:38,749 uh , to allow that airport to get back 534 00:19:38,749 --> 00:19:38,690 and get operating as soon as possible 535 00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:40,950 and it needs to get operating as soon 536 00:19:40,950 --> 00:19:44,100 as possible . Louis General today is 537 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:46,650 August 30 And the deadline had 538 00:19:46,660 --> 00:19:48,827 repeatedly been said that it was going 539 00:19:48,827 --> 00:19:51,040 to be August 31st . Do you think that 540 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,151 there may be some people who had some 541 00:19:53,151 --> 00:19:55,262 false hope That they had at least one 542 00:19:55,262 --> 00:19:57,484 more day before this happened ? And can 543 00:19:57,484 --> 00:19:59,707 you explain the tactical decision as to 544 00:19:59,707 --> 00:20:01,818 why you completed this mission on the 545 00:20:01,818 --> 00:20:04,130 30th as opposed to the first ? Sure . 546 00:20:04,130 --> 00:20:05,790 So it's actually the 31st in 547 00:20:05,790 --> 00:20:07,860 Afghanistan . As we take a look what 548 00:20:07,860 --> 00:20:10,082 day of the week ? What day of the month 549 00:20:10,082 --> 00:20:12,027 it is ? It's the 30th , Year three 550 00:20:12,027 --> 00:20:14,138 first in Afghanistan . So we actually 551 00:20:14,138 --> 00:20:16,249 went out on the 31st , not the 30th . 552 00:20:16,249 --> 00:20:18,249 If you look at afghan time , look , 553 00:20:18,249 --> 00:20:20,416 there's a lot of heartbreak associated 554 00:20:20,416 --> 00:20:22,471 with this departure . We did not get 555 00:20:22,471 --> 00:20:22,460 everybody out that we wanted to get out . 556 00:20:22,470 --> 00:20:24,470 But I think if we stayed another 10 557 00:20:24,470 --> 00:20:26,526 days louis , we wouldn't have gotten 558 00:20:26,526 --> 00:20:28,748 everybody out that we wanted to get out 559 00:20:28,748 --> 00:20:27,940 and they're still would have been 560 00:20:27,940 --> 00:20:30,162 people who would have been disappointed 561 00:20:30,162 --> 00:20:31,940 with that . It's a it's a tough 562 00:20:31,940 --> 00:20:33,940 situation , but I want to emphasize 563 00:20:33,940 --> 00:20:35,940 again , it's simply because we have 564 00:20:35,940 --> 00:20:37,551 left . That doesn't mean the 565 00:20:37,551 --> 00:20:39,662 opportunities for both americans that 566 00:20:39,662 --> 00:20:41,773 are in Afghanistan that want to leave 567 00:20:41,773 --> 00:20:44,051 and uh , and afghans who want to leave . 568 00:20:44,051 --> 00:20:45,662 They will not be denied that 569 00:20:45,662 --> 00:20:47,884 opportunity . I think our Department of 570 00:20:47,884 --> 00:20:47,360 State is going to work very hard in the 571 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:50,190 days and weeks ahead Kourtney just one 572 00:20:50,190 --> 00:20:52,190 clarification . General Mackenzie , 573 00:20:52,190 --> 00:20:54,190 It's Courtney QB from NBC News . So 574 00:20:54,190 --> 00:20:56,190 were there any evacuees left at the 575 00:20:56,190 --> 00:20:58,190 airport when the last most military 576 00:20:58,190 --> 00:21:00,246 flight left ? There were no evacuees 577 00:21:00,246 --> 00:21:02,301 left at the airport when the U . S . 578 00:21:02,301 --> 00:21:04,412 Last flight left corner . Thank you . 579 00:21:04,412 --> 00:21:06,523 And then just on the taliban , you've 580 00:21:06,523 --> 00:21:08,579 talked about their pragmatic ways of 581 00:21:08,579 --> 00:21:10,634 operating with us military here . Do 582 00:21:10,634 --> 00:21:12,857 you see a role for the U . S . Military 583 00:21:12,857 --> 00:21:14,857 to have open conversations with the 584 00:21:14,857 --> 00:21:16,968 Taliban , Even potential coordination 585 00:21:16,968 --> 00:21:19,160 going forward in particular with this 586 00:21:19,340 --> 00:21:22,560 growing and now accentuated threat from 587 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,430 ISIS . Well , I'll tell you my my 588 00:21:25,430 --> 00:21:27,830 dealing with the taliban and uh my 589 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,062 dealings of my commanders on the ground 590 00:21:30,062 --> 00:21:32,118 with the Taliban revolved around our 591 00:21:32,118 --> 00:21:34,340 determination to execute this operation 592 00:21:34,340 --> 00:21:36,507 and the very flat statement we made to 593 00:21:36,507 --> 00:21:38,284 them . But if you know , if you 594 00:21:38,284 --> 00:21:40,451 challenge us , we're going to hurt you 595 00:21:40,451 --> 00:21:42,673 and I think they recognize that and for 596 00:21:42,673 --> 00:21:41,750 their own purposes , this is something 597 00:21:41,750 --> 00:21:44,560 they wanted to have happen to . I can't 598 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,560 foresee the way future coordination 599 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,730 between us would go . I would leave 600 00:21:48,730 --> 00:21:50,897 that for for some future date . I will 601 00:21:50,897 --> 00:21:53,670 simply say that they wanted us out . We 602 00:21:53,670 --> 00:21:55,890 wanted to get out with our people and 603 00:21:55,900 --> 00:21:58,178 with our with our friends and partners . 604 00:21:58,178 --> 00:22:00,344 And so for that short period of time , 605 00:22:00,344 --> 00:22:02,511 our issues , our view of the world was 606 00:22:02,511 --> 00:22:04,690 Congress . It was the same . Finally I 607 00:22:04,690 --> 00:22:06,912 do believe the taliban is going to have 608 00:22:06,912 --> 00:22:08,968 their hands full with ISIS . K . And 609 00:22:08,968 --> 00:22:11,079 they let a lot of those people out of 610 00:22:11,079 --> 00:22:10,310 prisons and now they're going to be 611 00:22:10,310 --> 00:22:13,960 able to reap what they sow time . 612 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,862 Thank you doing his guitar . A cop with 613 00:22:16,862 --> 00:22:19,530 Defense one . Um Can you assure the 614 00:22:19,530 --> 00:22:21,880 american public that every single U . S . 615 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:23,590 Service member is now out of 616 00:22:23,590 --> 00:22:27,310 Afghanistan ? Every single US 617 00:22:27,310 --> 00:22:28,921 service member is now out of 618 00:22:28,921 --> 00:22:31,088 Afghanistan . I can say that with 100% 619 00:22:31,088 --> 00:22:34,290 certainty carla . Um So Really quickly 620 00:22:34,290 --> 00:22:38,170 just to clarify , you mentioned 123,000 621 00:22:38,540 --> 00:22:40,762 Out of Afghanistan earlier this morning 622 00:22:40,762 --> 00:22:43,410 we heard 122 . So can we assume that 623 00:22:43,410 --> 00:22:45,930 that was 1000 Afghans that came out in 624 00:22:45,930 --> 00:22:48,041 these some of these final flights and 625 00:22:48,041 --> 00:22:50,152 then have a quick follow . We brought 626 00:22:50,152 --> 00:22:53,040 about 1000 Afghans I think Over 1500 627 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,870 out in the last 24 hours or so . The 628 00:22:55,870 --> 00:22:57,981 exact number . I'm sure it's probably 629 00:22:57,981 --> 00:22:59,926 that computation is probably gonna 630 00:22:59,926 --> 00:23:02,148 change a little bit in the days ahead . 631 00:23:02,148 --> 00:23:02,100 I don't think it's gonna change much 632 00:23:02,110 --> 00:23:04,277 but yes we brought a number of Afghans 633 00:23:04,277 --> 00:23:06,610 out here at the very end . And then sir , 634 00:23:06,610 --> 00:23:08,740 how would you characterize this 635 00:23:08,740 --> 00:23:11,420 evacuation mission ? Because on the one 636 00:23:11,420 --> 00:23:15,120 hand 123,000 people got out On the 637 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:17,420 other hand of course you lost 13 638 00:23:17,420 --> 00:23:20,830 marines . Uh more than 100 afghans died 639 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,062 and there are still potentially tens of 640 00:23:23,062 --> 00:23:25,284 thousands S . I . V . E . S . P . One P 641 00:23:25,284 --> 00:23:27,618 two S and others that wanted to get out . 642 00:23:27,618 --> 00:23:29,729 That did not get out as you said . So 643 00:23:29,729 --> 00:23:32,062 how would you characterize this mission ? 644 00:23:32,062 --> 00:23:34,340 Well , first of all the the 11 marines , 645 00:23:34,340 --> 00:23:36,562 the soldier and sailor that we lost , I 646 00:23:36,562 --> 00:23:36,470 will never forget that . That that will 647 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,591 that will be with me and I know every 648 00:23:38,591 --> 00:23:40,702 other commander involved for the rest 649 00:23:40,702 --> 00:23:42,813 of our lives . We've all lost . We've 650 00:23:42,813 --> 00:23:45,036 all lost people before . And it's never 651 00:23:45,036 --> 00:23:47,091 an easy thing . Um You would like to 652 00:23:47,091 --> 00:23:49,313 bring out everybody that wanted to come 653 00:23:49,313 --> 00:23:51,091 out . We're not able to do that 654 00:23:51,091 --> 00:23:53,202 situation wouldn't allow it . I think 655 00:23:53,202 --> 00:23:52,720 we did a very good job of getting 656 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:54,720 everybody that we could get that we 657 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:56,831 could get out given the unique change 658 00:23:56,831 --> 00:23:58,553 the challenges of the tactical 659 00:23:58,553 --> 00:24:00,776 situation on the ground . The fact that 660 00:24:00,776 --> 00:24:02,942 really not not all americans wanted to 661 00:24:02,942 --> 00:24:04,998 leave the americans for a variety of 662 00:24:04,998 --> 00:24:07,164 reasons . Want to stay for a while . I 663 00:24:07,164 --> 00:24:06,510 think we'll go back and they will have 664 00:24:06,510 --> 00:24:08,677 the opportunity to uh they'll have the 665 00:24:08,677 --> 00:24:10,732 opportunity to revisit that and come 666 00:24:10,732 --> 00:24:12,788 out if they want . I think it's just 667 00:24:12,788 --> 00:24:14,788 important to note that we shouldn't 668 00:24:14,788 --> 00:24:16,566 look on this as the end of that 669 00:24:16,566 --> 00:24:18,843 engagement about people in Afghanistan . 670 00:24:18,843 --> 00:24:21,010 I am confident that that engagement is 671 00:24:21,010 --> 00:24:22,899 going to continue to a variety of 672 00:24:22,899 --> 00:24:25,066 venues and it won't just be the United 673 00:24:25,066 --> 00:24:27,288 States is going to be engaged on this . 674 00:24:27,288 --> 00:24:29,454 I think our international partners are 675 00:24:29,454 --> 00:24:31,566 also going to be very engaged on this 676 00:24:31,566 --> 00:24:31,510 as well going forward , we have two 677 00:24:31,510 --> 00:24:33,399 more I'm afraid . We'll go to the 678 00:24:33,399 --> 00:24:34,954 phones again . Jack ditch . 679 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,490 Um thanks , thanks General Mackenzie . 680 00:24:39,490 --> 00:24:41,601 I'm kind of curious just how american 681 00:24:41,601 --> 00:24:43,657 citizens are going to be expected to 682 00:24:43,657 --> 00:24:45,434 get to the airport and what the 683 00:24:45,434 --> 00:24:47,546 continuing terror threat will be just 684 00:24:47,546 --> 00:24:49,546 in the coming days and and what the 685 00:24:49,546 --> 00:24:51,546 evacuation picture is going to look 686 00:24:51,546 --> 00:24:53,550 like for them . So I think that the 687 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,727 terror threat is going to be very high 688 00:24:55,727 --> 00:24:57,949 and I don't want to minimize that , but 689 00:24:57,949 --> 00:25:00,060 I think what we'll do is we will work 690 00:25:00,060 --> 00:25:02,282 with the Taliban and work with the next 691 00:25:02,282 --> 00:25:04,504 government of Afghanistan Afghanistan . 692 00:25:04,504 --> 00:25:06,671 Whatever his characterization is going 693 00:25:06,671 --> 00:25:08,671 to be , in order to ensure that our 694 00:25:08,671 --> 00:25:10,727 citizens are protected and that they 695 00:25:10,727 --> 00:25:12,838 have an opportunity to leave . As you 696 00:25:12,838 --> 00:25:14,727 know , we still have a variety of 697 00:25:14,727 --> 00:25:16,671 significant leverage over whatever 698 00:25:16,671 --> 00:25:18,893 future government exists in Kabul and I 699 00:25:18,893 --> 00:25:20,949 have no doubt that the Department of 700 00:25:20,949 --> 00:25:23,282 State will fully exercise that leverage . 701 00:25:23,282 --> 00:25:25,282 Do you have any confidence in their 702 00:25:25,282 --> 00:25:24,800 ability to secure the city right now , 703 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:26,967 the Taliban , I think they're going to 704 00:25:26,967 --> 00:25:29,189 be challenged to secure the city . I do 705 00:25:29,189 --> 00:25:31,022 know this , just speaking purely 706 00:25:31,022 --> 00:25:33,078 practically as a professional , they 707 00:25:33,078 --> 00:25:35,078 helped us secure the airfield . Not 708 00:25:35,078 --> 00:25:37,078 perfectly , but they gave it a very 709 00:25:37,078 --> 00:25:38,856 good effort and it was actually 710 00:25:38,856 --> 00:25:41,050 significantly significantly helpful to 711 00:25:41,050 --> 00:25:43,106 us , particularly here at the end of 712 00:25:43,106 --> 00:25:45,930 last question for today . Megan U . S . 713 00:25:45,940 --> 00:25:47,884 Sorry , this is Megan Meier's that 714 00:25:47,884 --> 00:25:50,051 Military times . Are there any U . S . 715 00:25:50,051 --> 00:25:52,051 Aircraft still doing overflights of 716 00:25:52,051 --> 00:25:54,340 Afghanistan ? Either Kabul or otherwise 717 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:56,451 looking out for potential , correct ? 718 00:25:56,451 --> 00:25:58,600 Mhm . So as we have said for quite a 719 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:00,267 while , we always reserve the 720 00:26:00,267 --> 00:26:03,090 opportunity to go after in the ct round 721 00:26:03,090 --> 00:26:05,201 the counterterrorism realm , Al Qaeda 722 00:26:05,201 --> 00:26:07,540 and IsIS when those targets present 723 00:26:07,540 --> 00:26:09,651 themselves , so we will always retain 724 00:26:09,651 --> 00:26:11,818 the ability to do that . Okay , that's 725 00:26:11,818 --> 00:26:14,040 about all the time we have general . Uh 726 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,151 any concluding thought you might want 727 00:26:16,151 --> 00:26:18,373 to add john has been a it's been a long 728 00:26:18,373 --> 00:26:20,730 day and much longer actually for our 729 00:26:20,730 --> 00:26:23,210 forces that are coming out . Uh the 730 00:26:23,210 --> 00:26:25,950 operation's gone smoothly so far and I 731 00:26:25,950 --> 00:26:28,020 just look forward to look forward to 732 00:26:28,030 --> 00:26:30,252 recovering the force completely getting 733 00:26:30,252 --> 00:26:32,419 everybody home . Thank you , general . 734 00:26:32,419 --> 00:26:34,474 Thanks for your time . Thank you all 735 00:26:34,474 --> 00:26:34,550 have a nice afternoon .