As the Pentagon on Monday announced the official end to the 20-year war in Afghanistan, Commander of U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie confirmed that although the "vast majority" of Americans in Afghanistan were evacuated, some were in fact left behind.
"There's a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure," said McKenzie. "We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out." McKenzie added that staying another 10 days wouldn't have changed the outcome.
That said, Mckenzie added that the State Department is going to work "very hard" to get those that are left — a number he believes to be in the "very low hundreds" — out of the country, writes ABC News' Conor Finnegan. Those who want to leave will still have the opportunity to.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Although the military phase of the mission in Afghanistan has ended, "the diplomatic sequel to that will now begin," said McKenzie. "Our desire to bring these people out remains as intense as it was before. The weapons have just shifted ... from the military realm to the diplomatic realm."
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
Autumn Budget: will Rachel Reeves raid the rich?Talking Point To fill Britain’s financial black hole, the Chancellor will have to consider everything – except an income tax rise
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
