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\"My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over. I'm the fourth president that must face the issue of whether and when to end this war. When I was running for president, I made a commitment to the American people that I would end this war. Today I've honored that commitment,\" he said.

With the military and diplomatic withdrawal now complete as the U.S. approaches 20 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Taliban has again taken over the country, including the Kabul airport, the site of an often-desperate evacuation effort the past two weeks. Shots were fired into the air to celebrate the withdrawal in Kabul on Monday night.

\"PHOTO:
Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: A U.S. Air Force aircraft takes off from the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 30, 2021.
>

The Pentagon said that 2,461 troops were lost in the war, which started as it began: under Taliban rule. Since the evacuation mission began, 6,000 citizens and more than 123,000 people -- Afghans \"friends and allies\" -- were airlifted out by the U.S. and partners, but alarms are being raised over those left behind.

The president's poll numbers, too, showed uncommon cross-partisan agreement among Americans that withdrawing all U.S. troops by Biden's deadline could be a grave mistake, according to an ABC/Ipsos poll conducted after Thursday's suicide attack in Kabul which killed 13 service members and wounded 20. The survey found the percentage of Americans who think U.S. troops should stay until all Americans are out of Afghanistan is 86% among Democrats, 87% among Republicans and 86% among Independents.

\"I give you my word with all of my heart,\" Biden said Tuesday, delivering his message to Americans. \"I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America.\"

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