State Department Before Kabul Fell: A Government Taken 'at the Barrel of a Gun' Will Not Have Legitimacy (July 7, 2021)

Five weeks before Kabul fell, the State Department had a warning for the Taliban. “The point remains that no government that might come to power in Afghanistan through the use of force, at the barrel of a gun, will have legitimacy or the support – and that can be especially critical – from the international community, nor would a government that comes to power by force have the support of the people of Afghanistan,” spokesman Ned Price said, according to the department’s transcript [1].

He was answering an Afghan journalist who told him that “since U.S.-NATO withdraw their soldiers in Afghanistan, it’s very complicated. The Afghan people, they are very worried.” [1]

“The United States is supporting the efforts ongoing in Doha right now between the parties, where the parties are, in fact, still meeting, still talking, to see to it that we can have a just and durable settlement and a comprehensive ceasefire to finally see an end to this violence,” Price said [1].

The video above shows the State Department briefing of July 7, 2021, where a reporter Price called Matt pressed him. Quotes are from the department’s official transcript and the American Presidency Project [1][2][3].

”A Very Lurch-Like ‘Good Afternoon’”

The briefing began with a jab from the press. “Well, a very Lurch-like ‘good afternoon.’ No?” a reporter said. “I just want to make sure everyone is paying attention,” Price answered [1].

Then Price opened with Haiti, where President Jovenel Moise had been assassinated that day. “The United States strongly condemns, as you heard from President Biden earlier today, the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the attack on First Lady Martine Moise in Haiti,” he said [1].

”Is There Any Appetite for a Return?”

The questioning on Haiti had started with its status. “On Haiti, then. Is there any – this isn’t exactly – it’s bad, but it’s not exactly a coup. I mean, it’s a – not a – the government hasn’t been overthrown or anything like that,” the reporter said [1].

“What we know and what we will continue to do is to preserve Haiti’s democratic institutions,” Price said [1].

A reporter Price called Matt asked whether the administration would send help if Haiti collapsed. “Given, Ned, the history of U.S. intervention in Haiti – it’s been numerous times over the course of the last century and a half – is there any appetite in this administration for some kind of – to intervene if the situation gets to be dire?” [1]

“This is a relatively close neighbor that has in the past seen massive outflows of people trying to escape, so if it – the situation deteriorates – and I realize this is a hypothetical – but is there any appetite for a return?” the reporter asked [1].

“To us, Matt —” Price began. “Haiti is a partner, and that is how we will treat this relationship,” he said [1].

Another reporter called the aid figures “quite little numbers – $5 million, $3 million.” Price cut in with a correction: “$75.5 million.” [1]

Asked about footage of attackers claiming to be DEA agents, Price said: “These reports are absolutely false.” [1]

“There Are No U.S. Bases in Iraq”

A reporter asked about the spike in attacks on Americans in Iraq. “Iraqi army officials say the pace of recent attacks against U.S. bases and with rockets and drones is unprecedented. Why do you think that is on the rise at this particular moment? What is your assessment on who is behind it?” [1]

“Well, I’d have to correct one thing you said. There are no U.S. bases in Iraq,” Price answered. “There are a limited number of U.S. and other coalition advisors —” he said, and after the reporter’s “U.S. and coalition, yeah,” he finished: ”— at Iraqi bases, at Iraqi Government invitation” [1].

“Do you know for a fact that they’re carried out by Iranian-backed militias, these attacks over the past couple of days?” the reporter asked. “I wouldn’t want to prejudge investigations that are ongoing,” Price said, though he added that earlier attacks “have been carried out by Iran-backed militias” [1].

”Every Expectation”

On the stalled nuclear talks with Iran, Price was asked whether they would resume. “Of course, nothing is certain in the world of diplomacy, but I think we have every expectation that there will be a seventh round of talks,” he said [1].

On Iran’s role in Afghanistan, he said: “I think the jury is still out.” [1]

By the Numbers

$75.5 million: aid to Haiti Price cited from January 2021 [1].
15,000: Haitian National Police officers, up from fewer than 10,000 in 2010, per Price [1].
40 years: of civil war in Afghanistan, per Price [1].
3: Iranian nuclear sites the U.S. struck in 2025 [3].

What Happened Next

The Taliban took Kabul. On Aug. 16, 2021, Biden addressed the nation. “The truth is: This did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated. So what’s happened? Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country. The Afghan military collapsed, sometimes without trying to fight,” he said [2].

Trump hit Iran. On June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that “the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.” “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump said [3].

For the White House on Afghanistan two years later, see HYGO News’ page on the Taliban remark.