and richard engel joining us now richard, everything seems to hinge on the operations of the airport. are planes taking off and landing again? they are. they were paused for several hours because of the crush of people trying to get out. but now the airport appears to have been cleared because for the last several minutes, we ve heard plane after plane arriving they re not on the ground very long they load up with people and they leave. so it seems like they re trying to make up for lost time reporter: richard, continue to stay safe. thank you. president biden addressed the nation for the first time since the taliban takeover, expressing surprise it happened so quickly, but defending his decision to end american involvement after two decades. peter alexander is at the white house. reporter: rushing back to washington as dramatic, indelible images emerge of panic and chaos in kabul, president biden tonight defiant and without regret i stand squarely behind my decision. rep