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US President Biden defends Afghanistan exit as 'best decision for America', calls evacuation 'extraordinary success'

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 31 Aug 2021

US President Biden defends Afghanistan exit as 'best decision for America', calls evacuation 'extraordinary success'

Joe Biden Instagram

Washington/JEN: Defending Afghanistan exit as the 'best decision for America', the United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the US evacuation from Afghan soil an 'extraordinary success'.

A day after the US military completed its pullout from the Afghan capital of Kabul, Joe Biden, during his address to the nation, said that his choice in Afghanistan was 'leaving or escalating'.

"The extraordinary success of this mission was due to the incredible skill, bravely and selfless courage of the US military and diplomats and intelligence professionals," Joe Biden said in his first speech since the messy US evacuation from Afghanistan ended.

"It's time to end the war in Afghanistan, it's been close to 20 years of war, pain and sacrifices," Biden said.

"It's time to look for the future, not the past, the future that safer, the future that more secured," the US president added. "I believe this is right decision, a wise decision and the best decision for America."

President Biden also warned the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) militants who had claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul amid the US pullout that claimed the lives of more than 170 Afghans, and 13 US troops and officials last week.

"We are not done with you," Biden said.