Biden: “I stand squarely behind my decision”

Anderson Cooper 360

CNN

News

3.7 • 3.8K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2021

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

During an address to the nation, President Biden admitted the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban retaking control happened more quickly than the U.S. government had expected. Biden said he stands “squarely behind my decision.” Thomas Friedman is a foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times. He tells Anderson Cooper the President “certainly made clear they had made mistakes and they weren’t prepared.” Plus, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward takes AC360 to Kabul to give an update on the evacuation of Afghan allies from the capital city. She says many Afghans she’s met are in a “state of shock” and “struggling to process the last 24 hours.” Airdate: August 16, 2021 Guests: Thomas Friedman Clarissa Ward To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Good evening today President Biden seek to defend his attempt to close the book on this
0:05.0	country's involvement in Afghanistan.
0:06.8	Tonight we'll look at what happens now to all those still struggling to get out and
0:11.0	to how or if the U.S. will live up to his promises to them.
0:14.8	We begin with the final fiasco.
0:16.7	The images we've been getting all day tell the chaotic story, rushing to the airport,
0:21.1	Afghans desperate for a way out of the country trying to get in anyway they can.
0:25.2	For all the talk from the administration, there'll be no images like from the small
0:29.1	of Saigon in 1975.
0:31.2	Well these pictures are certainly bad enough.
0:34.0	Crowds mobbing the tarmac, climbing onto jetways, trying desperately to board outgoing flights,
0:40.3	clinging onto the outsides of plans.
0:44.1	That's an Air Force is C-17, people are grabbing onto as it taxis off.
0:54.8	There are people holding onto the aircraft as it takes off and as it flies away.
1:00.9	At least two people were seen falling, several hundred feet from one of the planes.
1:05.9	Seconding.
1:10.8	Hunting as well, this photo posted on the website Defense 1.
1:14.7	About 640 people according to Defense 1 on an aircraft designed to carry 102 troops,
1:20.7	Afghans desperate to leave.
1:23.3	Right now according to the Pentagon there about 2500 US troops securing the airport.
1:27.6	Late today the president said their number will rise to as many as 6,000 but only to secure
1:32.1	the evacuation.
	...

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