"We've made significant progress" since I spoke Monday, @POTUS says. Almost 6,000 troops on the ground. "This is one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history." Says the U.S. is the only one who could pull it off
Biden says commander on the ground has given order for flights to resume from HKIA. Says pause was about issues processing evacuees in "transit" point countries
Biden: "Let me clear: Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home."
Biden calls images this week "gut-wrenching." "I don't think any one of us can see these pictures and not feel that pain on a human level."
"There will be plenty of time to criticize and second guess," Biden says. But says he's focused on the job at hand
"I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies," @POTUS answers @ZekeJMiller
Biden with a hypothetical: if bin Laden had been in Yemen launching 9/11 attacks, would we have ever been involved in Afghanistan?
Biden says "there's no one more important" to get out than American citizens, but that Afghan SIV holders are "equally important, almost."
Biden continues to say that only reason there were no American troop fatalities in last 18 months was because of Trump-Taliban deal, that expired May 1. Breaking from deal would have meant putting "significantly more American forces" on ground
Biden: Had the Afghan army continued to fight and surround Kabul, "it would be a very different story."
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Just about 20 years ago at this moment, then-President Bush spoke by phone with then-Sen. Joe Biden.
Bush originally called from AF1 en route to Nebraska; they spoke later for 2 minutes after Bush arrived at Offutt AFB.
Biden wrote in his book that Bush called to say he'd seen an interview he'd done earlier that day, and wanted to tell him he “made us all proud” with his comments.
In that interview, Biden said it was important it was for govt to get back to work quickly and praised Bush
Biden also wrote he encouraged Bush to return to DC as soon as possible. Biden had spent much of the morning hoping to encourage Senate leaders to go into session, which wasn't possible once the Capitol was a target
In remarks in Shanksville, President Bush says since 9/11 threats to U.S. are also coming from "violence that gathers within."
He says violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home are "children of the same foul spirit, and it is our continuing duty to confront them"
Bush: "At a time when religious bigotry might have flowed freely, I saw Americans reject prejudice and embrace people of Muslim faith. That is the nation I know."
Bush: "At a time when nativism could have stirred hatred and violence against people perceived as outsiders, I saw Americans reaffirm their welcome to immigrants and refugees. That is the nation I know."
Some highlights: $861 million as a “first step toward a four-year commitment” for Central America to address “root causes” of migration; another $345 million for USCIS to help ramp up processing of asylum claims.
The biggest increase in CDC funding “in nearly two decades” -- $8.7 billion -- to help prepare for future pandemics and other global health threats.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky using today's WH COVID briefing to deliver a more urgent and emotional call for Americans not to let guard down on pandemic.
She said she was tossing her script to plead with Americans to "just hold on a little while longer"
Just yesterday @POTUS also expressed concern that "people are letting their guard down."
"We really need to hold on to the public health measures" as more people get vaccinated, Fauci says, calling this "a race between the vaccine and what's going on with the dynamics of the outbreak. And we can win this by just hanging there a bit longer."