President Joe Biden has defended his decision to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan.

In an address on Monday, the 78-year-old POTUS asked: "How many more American lives is it worth?"

On Sunday, Taliban soldiers took control of Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul, forcing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country, along with many high-ranking officials. As reported by CNBC, the Taliban entered the presidential palace and declared the war "over".

As reported by Insider, Biden started his address by highlighting the US' original intentions in Afghanistan, which included the capture of Osama bin Laden.

Speaking from the East Room of The White House, he said: "Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to be nation-building."

"I stand squarely behind my decision," Biden added.

And after admitting the withdrawal had become "messy", he stated: "After 20 years, I learned the hard way that there was never a good way to withdraw our forces."

The President then spoke about Afghanistan's political leadership, saying:

"American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.  We spent over a trillion dollars.  We trained and equipped an Afghan military force of some 300,000 strong — incredibly well equipped — a force larger in size than the militaries of many of our NATO allies. 

"We gave them every tool they could need.  We paid their salaries, provided for the maintenance of their air force — something the Taliban doesn’t have.  Taliban does not have an air force.  We provided close air support. 

"We gave them every chance to determine their own future.  What we could not provide them was the will to fight for that future."

"I will not repeat the mistakes we've made in the past," he added.

"If anything, the developments of the past week reinforce that ending US military involvement in Afghanistan now was the right decision," Biden said.

Biden also declared: "We have made it clear to the Taliban: if they attack our personnel, or disrupt our operation, the US presence will be swift and the response will be swift and forceful.

"We will defend our people with devastating force if necessary."

Biden's address came on the same day that footage from Kabul's international airport showed civilians crowding runways and holding on to planes in an apparent attempt to flee the country.

Admitting that the scenes in the media from the country were "gut-wrenching", President Biden then assured the US people that American diplomatic presence in the country was now "consolidated at the airport" and that evacuations will continue.

Biden also spoke about how continued occupation of Afghanistan is "not what the American people want", adding:

"This is not in our national security interest. It is not what the American people want. It is not what our troops, who would have sacrificed over the last two decades, deserve."

"I know my decision will be criticized. But I would rather take all that criticism than pass this decision on to another president of the United States," he added.

Biden's address came after former president Donald Trump called for his successor to "resign in disgrace".

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy

President Joe Biden has spoken out in more detail about his decision to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's takeover of the country.

In an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, the 78-year-old POTUS revealed that he believes there was no way of withdrawing US defense from Afghanistan without "chaos ensuing".

Stephanopoulos asked Biden: "So you don't think this could have been handled - this exit could have been handled better in any way, no mistakes?"

To which the president replied: "No, I don't think it could have been handled in a way that, we're gonna go back in hindsight and look - but 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."

The iconic political commentator then asked Biden if he had always factored that into his decision, to which the POTUS replied: "Yes."

However, clarifying his answer, Biden added: "Now exactly what happened, I've not priced in.

"But I knew that they're going to have an enormous - Look, 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 they're having - we're having some more difficulty having those who helped us when we were in there."

On Sunday, August 15, the Taliban entered the presidential palace in Kabul and declared the war "over".

The toppling led to thousands of civilians rushing to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport - crowding runways and holding on to planes in an apparent attempt to flee the country. Additionally, 11,000 Americans in Afghanistan at the time, GMA reports.

On Monday, Biden spoke from the East Room of The White House, telling the US people: "Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to be nation-building."

"I stand squarely behind my decision," Biden added.

And after admitting the withdrawal had become "messy", he stated: "After 20 years, I learned the hard way that there was never a good way to withdraw our forces."

The President then spoke about Afghanistan's political leadership, saying:

"American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.  We spent over a trillion dollars.  We trained and equipped an Afghan military force of some 300,000 strong — incredibly well equipped — a force larger in size than the militaries of many of our NATO allies. 

"We gave them every tool they could need.  We paid their salaries, provided for the maintenance of their air force — something the Taliban doesn’t have.  Taliban does not have an air force.  We provided close air support. 

"We gave them every chance to determine their own future.  What we could not provide them was the will to fight for that future."

"I will not repeat the mistakes we've made in the past," he added.

On August 18, Reuters reported that Biden's approval rating dropped by 7 percentage points - his lowest so far.

Featured image credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy

President Joe Biden has described the US evacuation from Afghanistan as an "extraordinary success" despite being hit with heavy criticism over the past few days.

The United States completed its evacuation of Afghanistan on August 30, and on August 31 Biden publically spoke about the withdrawal for the first time.

"We completed one of the biggest airlifts in history," Biden said, per Reuters.

"No nation has ever done anything like it in all of history; only the United States had the capacity and the will and ability to do it."

Listen to Biden call the evacuation a success below: 

The president went on to explain that despite the evacuation deadline having passed, around 200 US citizens remain in Kabul and every effort is being made to secure their evacuation should they wish to leave.

"I was not going to extend this forever war, and I was not extending a forever exit," he insisted.

The president then addressed ISIS-K militants, who claimed that they were behind last week's deadly terrorist attack at Kabul airport, saying: "We are not done with you."

Biden's bold description of the US troop withdrawal comes after widespread criticism of the evacuation, with EuroNews reporting that many have questioned why the last US airlift left on August 30 when it could have been extended for another day.

Credit: Alamy / Abaca Press

Biden was also slammed for not extending the August 31 deadline, or beginning the evacuation sooner, as he addressed this in yesterday's speech.

"I take responsibility for the decision. Now some say we should have started mass evacuations sooner and couldn't this ... have been done in a more orderly manner. I respectfully disagree," he said from the White House State Dining Room.

Biden then directed attention to his predecessor Donald Trump's actions, saying that brokered a deal that authorized the release of 5,000 prisoners - many of whom were top Taliban officials.

"By the time I came to office, the Taliban was in its strongest military position since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country," he said.

A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Monday, August 30, found that less than 30 percent of Americans approve of Biden's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Featured image credit: Alamy / Abaca Press

President Joe Biden has said he will "mobilize every resource necessary" in order to pull Americans out of Afghanistan.

Speaking from the White House on Friday (August 20), the 78-year-old POTUS declared: "Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home."

However, per CNN, Biden did state that he could not "promise what the final outcome will be", or if the evacuation efforts "will be without risk of loss".

Watch President Biden's speech below:

CNN reports that the scene outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport is becoming "increasingly desperate", as hundreds, possibly thousands, of Afghan civilians attempt to flee the country following the Taliban's takeover of the capital city on Sunday.

As reported by CNBC, the Taliban entered the presidential palace and declared the war "over", resulting in President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country.

Biden said on Friday that the US is now attempting to pull off "one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history", with the president adding that Afghans who assisted in war efforts would also be evacuated. The US is also working to place journalists, vulnerable women, and other groups on flights out of the country.

Credit: Abaca Press / Alamy

"As an American, I offer my gratitude to the brave men and women of the US armed forces who are carrying out this mission. They're incredible," Biden added.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby also said on Friday that US forces had utilized helicopters to rescue 169 Americans from a hotel near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Biden's comments come after he told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos earlier this week that he couldn't see a way of withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan "without chaos ensuing".

And despite facing backlash for his decision to pull out of the country, Biden stood by his decision on Monday, saying: "American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves."

The President then spoke about Afghanistan's political leadership, saying: "We spent over a trillion dollars.  We trained and equipped an Afghan military force of some 300,000 strong — incredibly well equipped — a force larger in size than the militaries of many of our NATO allies.

"We gave them every tool they could need.  We paid their salaries, provided for the maintenance of their air force — something the Taliban doesn’t have.  Taliban does not have an air force.  We provided close air support.

"We gave them every chance to determine their own future.  What we could not provide them was the will to fight for that future."

"I will not repeat the mistakes we've made in the past," he added.

Nevertheless, former POTUS Donald Trump has continued to criticize Biden, stating earlier this week that his successor should "resign in disgrace".

Featured image credit: Newscom / Alamy

Joe Biden says the US is "on pace" to have the country's troops leave Afghanistan by August 31 despite calls to extend next week's evacuation deadline.

According to CNBC, Biden had been under pressure from foreign allies and US lawmakers to extend the deadline but warned that staying any longer could pose a risk of terrorist attacks and conflict with the Taliban.

The decision comes after the Taliban said there would be "consequences" if Biden delayed the withdrawal of US troops, per Sky News.

As part of a televised address at the White House on Tuesday, August 24, Biden said, per the Daily Mail: "We are currently on pace to finish by August the 31st. The sooner we finish, the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops."

The 78-year-old leader did, however, point out that the US is making contingency plans in case it becomes "necessary" for troops to stay past the deadline.

Per CNBC, he said during the address - his third such address since the Taliban took over Afghanistan: "In addition, I’ve asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timetable should that become necessary."

In terms of terror risks, a major reason for the president's unwillingness to extend the deadline, Biden said he had concerns that ISIS-K could attack Hamid Karzai International Airport.

He said: "Every day we’re on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both US and allied forces and innocent civilians."

Credit: Newscom / Alamy

The US has evacuated around 70,700 people in Afghanistan since August 14, according to statistics released by the White House.

Biden explained, per Deadline: "Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check, and we must all work together to settle thousands of Afghans who ultimately qualify for refugee status.

"The United States will do our part and we are already working closely with refugee organizations to rebuild the system that was purposefully destroyed by my predecessor."

He added: "We’re conducting thorough security screenings in the intermediary stops they’re making for anyone who not a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States."

Featured image credit: Newscom / Alamy