WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (KUNA) -- US President Joe Biden said Wednesday that there was no way to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan without "chaos ensuing." "The idea that somehow, there's a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don't know how that happens. I don't know how that happened," Biden said in an exclusive interview with ABC network.
Asked if he thinks the withdrawal could have been handled better, Biden replied "no. I don't think it could have been handled in a way that, we're gonna go back in hindsight and look." Biden was also asked if what has happened over the last week was a failure of intelligence, planning, execution or judgment, Biden said "it was a simple choice." "Now exactly what happened, I've not priced in," he stressed.
"One of the things we didn't know is what the Taliban would do in terms of trying to keep people from getting out. What they would do. What are they doing now? They're cooperating, letting American citizens get out, American personnel get out, embassies get out, et cetera, but we're having some more difficulty having those who helped us when we were in there." On the possibility of US troops staying beyond August 31st, Biden said "we're going to do everything in our power to get all Americans out and our allies out." Asked if he is committed to making sure that the troops stay until every American who wants to be out is out, he responded "yes," saying "the commitment holds to get everyone out that in fact we can get out and everyone that should come out." "That's the objective. That's what we're doing now, that's the path we're on and I think we'll get there," he added.
"If we don't, we'll determine at the time who's left. And if there's American citizens left we're going to stay until we get them all out." (pick up previous) si.ibi