The last American flight with military personnel took off from Kabul, putting an end to the 20-year war. A C-17 military transport plane with the US Ambassador on board left Afghanistan shortly before midnight on Tuesday, August 31. Read today in USA.ONE:
The last American troops have left Afghanistan
United States President Joe Biden called the withdrawal of troops “the best decision for America.”
The last military flight USA departed from Kabul 
photo: bbc.com
The departure of the plane marked the end of the United States' longest and most costly war, which resulted in the return of Afghanistan to the Islamists, with whom the Americans had been fighting since 2001. The last person to board the C-17 was Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army.
As for those who did not manage to leave Afghanistan before yesterday, the diplomatic mission to assist them will continue. Mass evacuation from Kabul began on August 14. Then the Taliban captured almost the entire country and were already approaching the capital. According to General Kenneth McKenzie, head of Central Command, which is responsible for American military operations in Afghanistan, over 123 thousand civilians were evacuated from the country in 17 days, i.e. 7.5 thousand per day.
According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the evacuation was one of the most complex, large-scale military, diplomatic and humanitarian efforts ever undertaken by the United States.
“The military mission is over. A new chapter has begun. Now it's up to the diplomatic mission,» he said.
Blinken also added that the Taliban will have to earn legitimacy and everything will depend on how well the new regime fulfills its obligations to ensure the free movement of citizens within the country or abroad. its borders, protect their rights, including the female population, and counter terrorist groups that may spread throughout the country.
The United States suspended its diplomatic presence in Kabul, moving operations to Doha, the capital of Qatar. At the same time, the government will help American citizens stuck in Afghanistan.
After the military left, the Taliban occupied the Kabul airport building, including a hangar with Chinook helicopters left behind by the Americans. Some fighters were seen wearing discarded US Army uniforms and equipment. The Taliban began taking inventory of abandoned property and installing security around the perimeter.
As for the President of the United States, he stated that the decision not to extend the mission was made unanimously by the military command. On Tuesday, August 31, Joe Biden addressed the nation with the words:
“The longest war in American history ended yesterday in Kabul.”
He called the US military's efforts to evacuate people from Kabul not a «military mission, but a mission of mercy,» paying tribute to the sacrifice of US troops who died on duty in the Afghan capital. According to the president, the evacuation could hardly have been carried out more orderly than it was.
Biden recalled that the agreement with the Taliban was signed by his predecessor Donald Trump. Talking about the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, he emphasized the priority of ensuring national interests and the security of US residents. The President listened to military and security officials and consulted with allies.
“We have been a country that has been at war for too long,” Joe Biden emphasized.
Researchers from Brown University estimate that over 20 years of military operations in Afghanistan, the United States spent 300 million dollars a day. According to Biden, American citizens should know about this. He also assured that the issue of the country's security was and remains a priority for him.
The President added that at present the terrorist threat is not necessarily associated specifically with Afghanistan, as it was at the beginning of the war. It could come from Somalia or Yemen, where IS militants are still active. The head of the White House said that this problem has not yet been resolved.
Recall that Joe Biden and members of his administration discussed for several weeks the possibility of leaving troops in Afghanistan longer than the established period, weighing the pros and cons of such a decision for mass evacuation U.S. citizens and Afghan civilians.
“The Joint Chiefs of Staff and commanders in the field unanimously advised completion of the mission as scheduled. They believe that ending hostilities is the best way to protect the lives of our soldiers and ensure the evacuation of those Afghans who want to leave the country soon,” Biden said.
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