“We continue to make progress, we have evacuated thousands of people thanks to civilians and military. About 11,000 people have returned home and this number will increase day by day. The priority is to take American citizens out of the country. I repeat, every American who wants to go home will do so ». Thus the American President Joe Biden in the new press conference at the White House: theoretically based on the security measures to be adopted for the arrival of the Henri storm on the United States. But inevitably centered, in reality, on the situation in Afghanistan.
“I want to be clear, evacuating thousands of people will be difficult and painful. I suffer, I am heartbroken for the images we see but we have shown that we can do it, ”said Biden. “I have spoken with the leaders of various countries, from Italy to Germany, they are making a great contribution,” added the president. I want to thank them for their work together with ours ».
Biden then thanked the private airlines who are aiding military flights in the evacuation operations. «The planes that take off from Kabul do not arrive directly in the United States but in military bases around the world. We are screening anyone who is not a US citizen, and once in Aerica we will do more checks. Then we will help them find accommodation, because this is us ».
Biden has repeatedly stressed the risks of the evacuation mission, including the possibility of terrorist attacks against American military personnel by Isis.
Answering questions from journalists, the president then mentioned the possibility of postponing the evacuation deadline of 31 August. “We hope not, but we are discussing it,” said Biden, who hinted at the G7 conference next Tuesday as a time to confront the allies. “We will also help citizens of other countries”
«Either we increased the troops in Afghanistan or we ended the war: I decided for this second solution. We had to fight terrorism, now we focus on other parts of the world where there are other threats. The American people have well understood the reason for this decision, which I am convinced is correct. I will not send your children to fight ».
“The Taliban seek legitimacy,” Biden concluded, “but they must make a fundamental decision: to truly provide well-being to their people. Up to now it’s just words. But until now they have not hampered American operations. We’ll see”.