Biden telling George Stephanopoulos, "I think [the Taliban is] going through sort of an existential crisis about do they want to be recognized by the international community as being a legitimate government."
Secretary of Defense Austin's remark that the US military doesn't "have the capability to go out and collect up large numbers of people."
White House press secretary Jen Psaki announcing she's going on vacation as the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is complete.
German politician and probable successor to Angela Merkel as chancellor's characterization of Afghanistan's collapse as "the greatest debacle NATO has seen since its foundation."
European Union diplomatic corp leader Josep Borrell's assessment that "what has happened shows that Europe needs to develop this famous 'strategic autonomy' in order to be ready to face challenges that affect us eventually."
British Parliament member and Afghan conflict veteran Tom Tugendhat on Biden's characterization of the Afghan army: "To see their commander in chief call into question the courage of men I fought with is shameful."
Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Bob Menendez: "I am disappointed that the Biden Administration clearly did not accurately assess the implications of a rapid U.S. withdrawal."
Taliban forces using whips, guns and chemical irritants to drive away people seeking entry to Hamid Karzai International Airport. Afghan women handing off their babies to soldiers. 50,000 locals gathered at the airport gates.
CNN reporter Clarissa Ward, who is on the ground in Kabul: "A lot of people outside that airport would like to know, if this isn't failure, what does failure look like exactly?"
The scale of what is happening - to Afghanistan, to the United States, to global security - is unprecedented. Make no mistake. The world is entering a very dark new era.
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