Secretary of Defense activates rarely-used Civil Reserve Air Fleet; the 18 civilian aircraft will transport people from American military bases in Gulf states to Europe and the US

Embassy in Afghan capital says people trying to flee country should not travel to airport unless instructed to by officials

Vulnerable Afghans who fear the Taliban's retaliation are making desperate pleas not to be left behind

In White House address, president vows to mobilize 'every resource' to complete Afghanistan evacuation, claims he's seen 'no question of credibility from our allies' over pullout

Critics say retaining a small American force had proven sufficient to keep the Taliban from making major gains and preventing disintegration of Afghan military

European nations pledge to evacuate those at particular risk — feminists, political activists and journalists — but unclear where line being drawn or how many people meet standard

Rights group says Islamist insurgents killed 9 members of Hazara minority, a Shiite group that in recent years has made major gains in education, social status

American's longest conflict was never formally declared a war and was paid for with borrowed money; amid the carnage, infant mortality dropped and literacy climbed

'The process could have been handled so differently,' senior officer says of State Department's costly delay in setting up ad hoc structure to withdraw US allies to safety

White House says there was no avoiding harrowing scenes that followed its withdrawal announcement, but critics argue US chose to give up, that it set tone for Afghan gov't collapse