antony blinken would supply that information tomorrow. he additionally said that the number when the evacuation began was probably lower than most people believe because, quote, a lot left in the final few weeks. we also learned late today that even as the race to get others out goes on, the pullout of american troops has already begun, a defense official telling cnn this isn't affecting the mission, that official adding that the local commander can decide which personnel are no longer required based on the number of gates open at the airport, the number of people coming through and a number of other factors. we have more now from kaitlan collins who joins us from the white house. do you know what went on behind the scenes that led to this decision by the president? >> anderson, there were very few who think they can meet the deadline to get them out of afghanistan. that presence is going to get a lot smaller than the thousands of troops that it is right now with this drawdown and they're