Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?
The President: No, it is not.
Q. Why?
The President: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable…
Q. Do you trust handing over the country to the Taliban?
The President: No, I do not trust the Taliban.
Q. So why are you handing the country over…?
The President: It’s a — it’s a silly question. Do I trust the Taliban? No. But I trust the capacity of the Afghan military, who is better trained, better equipped, and more re- — more competent in terms of conducting war.
I take those verbatim words from the White House transcript of Joe Biden’s press conference following his statement there on 9 August.
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