WEBVTT 00:09.640 --> 00:12.310 good evening from Bagram Air Base . 00:13.610 --> 00:16.090 This outpost is more than 7000 miles 00:16.090 --> 00:19.220 from home , but for over a decade it's 00:19.220 --> 00:22.250 been close to our hearts because here 00:22.710 --> 00:25.180 in Afghanistan , more than half a 00:25.180 --> 00:27.347 million of our sons and daughters have 00:27.347 --> 00:29.347 sacrificed to protect our country . 00:30.240 --> 00:32.240 Today I signed a historic agreement 00:32.250 --> 00:33.917 between the United States and 00:33.917 --> 00:36.083 Afghanistan that defines a new kind of 00:36.083 --> 00:38.670 relationship between our countries , a 00:38.670 --> 00:41.030 future in which Afghans are responsible 00:41.410 --> 00:43.640 for the security of their nation and we 00:43.640 --> 00:45.780 build unequal partnership between two 00:45.780 --> 00:48.540 sovereign states , a future in which 00:48.550 --> 00:51.560 war ends and new chapter begins . 00:52.940 --> 00:54.884 Tonight . I'd like to speak to you 00:54.884 --> 00:57.107 about this transition , but first , let 00:57.107 --> 01:00.250 us remember why we came here . It was 01:00.250 --> 01:03.210 here in Afghanistan , where Osama bin 01:03.210 --> 01:05.377 Laden established a safe haven for his 01:05.377 --> 01:08.030 terrorist organization . It was here in 01:08.030 --> 01:10.086 Afghanistan , where Al Qaeda brought 01:10.086 --> 01:13.080 new recruits , train them and plotted 01:13.090 --> 01:16.510 acts of terror . It was here , from 01:16.510 --> 01:18.490 within these borders that Al Qaeda 01:18.490 --> 01:20.712 launched the attacks that killed nearly 01:20.712 --> 01:23.480 3000 innocent men , women and Children . 01:24.840 --> 01:27.290 And so 10 years ago , the United States 01:27.290 --> 01:29.512 and our allies went to war to make sure 01:29.512 --> 01:31.940 that Al Qaeda could never again used 01:31.940 --> 01:34.107 this country to launch attacks against 01:34.107 --> 01:37.000 us . Despite initial success for a 01:37.000 --> 01:39.280 number of reasons , this war has taken 01:39.280 --> 01:42.590 longer than most anticipated . In 2000 01:42.590 --> 01:44.812 and two , bin Laden and his lieutenants 01:44.812 --> 01:46.479 escaped across the border and 01:46.479 --> 01:48.550 established safe haven in Pakistan . 01:49.640 --> 01:51.520 America spent nearly eight years 01:51.520 --> 01:54.320 fighting a different war in Iraq , and 01:54.320 --> 01:56.487 Al Qaeda's extremist allies within the 01:56.487 --> 01:58.930 Taliban have waged a brutal insurgency . 02:00.240 --> 02:02.407 But over the last three years the tide 02:02.407 --> 02:05.250 has turned . We broke the Taliban's 02:05.250 --> 02:08.220 momentum . We've built strong Afghan 02:08.220 --> 02:11.110 security forces . We devastated Al 02:11.110 --> 02:13.332 Qaeda's leadership , taking out over 20 02:13.332 --> 02:15.960 of their top 30 leaders , and one year 02:15.960 --> 02:19.280 ago from base here in Afghanistan , our 02:19.280 --> 02:21.224 troops launched the operation that 02:21.224 --> 02:23.620 killed Osama bin Laden . The goal that 02:23.620 --> 02:26.700 I set to defeat Al Qaeda and deny it a 02:26.700 --> 02:29.500 chance to rebuild is now within our 02:29.500 --> 02:33.390 reach . Still , there will be difficult 02:33.390 --> 02:36.370 days ahead . Enormous sacrifices of our 02:36.370 --> 02:39.130 men and women are not over . But 02:39.130 --> 02:41.130 tonight I'd like to tell you how we 02:41.130 --> 02:43.241 will complete our mission and end the 02:43.241 --> 02:47.200 war in Afghanistan . First , we've 02:47.200 --> 02:49.020 begun to transition to Afghan 02:49.020 --> 02:51.810 responsibility for security . Already , 02:51.810 --> 02:54.090 nearly half of the Afghan people live 02:54.090 --> 02:56.257 in places where Afghan security forces 02:56.257 --> 02:59.600 are moving into the lead this month at 02:59.600 --> 03:01.550 a NATO summit in Chicago , our 03:01.550 --> 03:03.606 coalition will set a goal for Afghan 03:03.606 --> 03:05.660 forces to be in the lead for combat 03:05.660 --> 03:08.270 operations across the country next year . 03:09.340 --> 03:11.451 International troops will continue to 03:11.451 --> 03:13.562 train , advise and assist the Afghans 03:13.562 --> 03:15.729 and fight alongside them when needed . 03:15.840 --> 03:17.951 But we will shift into a support role 03:18.240 --> 03:21.850 as Afghans step forward . As we do , 03:22.240 --> 03:25.060 our troops will be coming home . Last 03:25.060 --> 03:27.290 year we removed 10,000 U . S . Troops 03:27.290 --> 03:30.450 from Afghanistan . Another 23,000 will 03:30.450 --> 03:32.870 leave by the end of the summer . After 03:32.870 --> 03:34.926 that , reductions will continue at a 03:34.926 --> 03:37.148 steady pace , with more and more of our 03:37.148 --> 03:39.010 troops coming home . And as our 03:39.010 --> 03:42.450 coalition agreed by the end of 2014 03:42.940 --> 03:45.220 the Afghans will be fully responsible 03:45.220 --> 03:47.220 for the security of their country . 03:48.340 --> 03:50.510 Second , we are training Afghan 03:50.510 --> 03:52.621 security forces to get the job done . 03:53.220 --> 03:55.220 Those forces have searched and will 03:55.220 --> 03:59.210 peak at 352,000 this year . The Afghans 03:59.210 --> 04:01.460 will sustain that level for three years 04:01.640 --> 04:03.529 and then reduce the size of their 04:03.529 --> 04:06.130 military . And in Chicago we will 04:06.130 --> 04:08.330 endorse a proposal to support a strong 04:08.330 --> 04:11.660 and sustainable long term Afghan force . 04:13.240 --> 04:15.260 Third , we're building on enduring 04:15.260 --> 04:17.900 partnership . The agreement we signed 04:17.900 --> 04:19.844 today sends a clear message to the 04:19.844 --> 04:22.620 Afghan people . As you stand up , you 04:22.620 --> 04:25.410 will not stand alone . It establishes 04:25.410 --> 04:27.577 the basis for our cooperation over the 04:27.577 --> 04:29.299 next decade , including shared 04:29.299 --> 04:31.310 commitments to combat terrorism and 04:31.310 --> 04:34.240 strengthen democratic institutions . It 04:34.240 --> 04:36.184 supports Afghan efforts to advance 04:36.184 --> 04:38.073 development and dignity for their 04:38.073 --> 04:39.980 people . And it includes Afghan 04:39.980 --> 04:41.758 commitments to transparency and 04:41.758 --> 04:43.980 accountability and to protect the human 04:43.980 --> 04:46.960 rights of all Afghans , men and women , 04:47.740 --> 04:51.250 boys and girls . Within this framework , 04:51.740 --> 04:53.462 we'll work with the Afghans to 04:53.462 --> 04:55.462 determine what support they need to 04:55.462 --> 04:57.940 accomplish too narrow security missions 04:57.950 --> 05:01.920 beyond 2014 counterterrorism and 05:01.920 --> 05:04.850 continued training . But we will not 05:04.860 --> 05:07.082 build permanent basis in this country . 05:07.440 --> 05:09.580 Nor will we be patrolling its cities 05:09.620 --> 05:12.450 and mountains . That will be the job of 05:12.450 --> 05:16.330 the Afghan people . Fourth , we're 05:16.330 --> 05:18.970 pursuing a negotiated peace in 05:18.970 --> 05:21.303 coordination with the Afghan government . 05:21.303 --> 05:23.359 My administration has been in direct 05:23.359 --> 05:25.414 discussions with the Taliban . We've 05:25.414 --> 05:27.637 made it clear that they could be a part 05:27.637 --> 05:29.692 of this future if they break with Al 05:29.692 --> 05:31.859 Qaeda , renounce violence and abide by 05:31.859 --> 05:34.720 Afghan loss . Many members of the 05:34.720 --> 05:37.270 Taliban from foot soldiers toe leaders 05:37.660 --> 05:39.327 have indicated on interest in 05:39.327 --> 05:42.590 reconciliation . The path to peace is 05:42.590 --> 05:45.660 now set before the those who refuse to 05:45.660 --> 05:47.750 walk . It will face strong Afghan 05:47.750 --> 05:50.110 security forces backed by the United 05:50.110 --> 05:54.070 States and our allies . Fifth , 05:54.640 --> 05:56.930 we are building a global consensus to 05:56.930 --> 05:59.440 support peace and stability in South 05:59.440 --> 06:01.820 Asia . In Chicago , the international 06:01.820 --> 06:04.042 community will express support for this 06:04.042 --> 06:06.740 plan and for Afghanistan's future . And 06:06.740 --> 06:09.070 I haven't made it clear to its neighbor 06:09.540 --> 06:12.620 Pakistan that it can and should be an 06:12.620 --> 06:14.940 equal partner in this process in a way 06:14.940 --> 06:16.996 that respects Pakistan sovereignty , 06:17.130 --> 06:19.300 interests and democratic institutions 06:20.240 --> 06:22.462 in pursuit of a durable peace . America 06:22.462 --> 06:25.090 has no designs beyond an end to Al 06:25.090 --> 06:27.890 Qaeda , safe havens and respect for 06:27.890 --> 06:31.860 Afghan sovereignty . As we move forward , 06:32.530 --> 06:35.410 some people will ask why we need a firm 06:35.410 --> 06:38.920 timeline . The answer is clear . Our 06:38.920 --> 06:40.809 goal is not to build a country in 06:40.809 --> 06:42.920 America's image or to eradicate every 06:42.920 --> 06:45.740 vestige of the Taliban . These 06:45.740 --> 06:47.684 objectives would require many more 06:47.684 --> 06:50.600 years , many more dollars , most 06:50.600 --> 06:52.970 importantly , many more American lives . 06:54.040 --> 06:56.580 Our goal is to destroy Al Qaeda and we 06:56.580 --> 06:58.570 are on a path to do exactly that . 06:59.730 --> 07:02.070 Afghans want to assert their 07:02.500 --> 07:04.611 sovereignty and build a lasting peace 07:05.340 --> 07:07.730 that requires a clear timeline toe wind 07:07.730 --> 07:11.300 down the war . Others will ask , 07:11.620 --> 07:14.280 Why don't we leave immediately ? That 07:14.280 --> 07:17.130 answer is also clear . We must give 07:17.350 --> 07:19.072 Afghanistan the opportunity to 07:19.072 --> 07:21.183 stabilize . Otherwise our gains could 07:21.183 --> 07:23.340 be lost in Al Qaeda could establish 07:23.340 --> 07:25.820 itself once more . His commander in 07:25.820 --> 07:27.987 chief . I refused to let that happen . 07:29.950 --> 07:32.010 I recognize that many Americans are 07:32.010 --> 07:35.110 tired of war as president . Nothing is 07:35.110 --> 07:37.332 more wrenching than signing a letter to 07:37.332 --> 07:39.499 a family of the fallen . We're looking 07:39.499 --> 07:41.666 into the eyes of a child who will grow 07:41.666 --> 07:44.220 up without a mother or father . I will 07:44.220 --> 07:46.770 not keep Americans in harm's way a 07:46.770 --> 07:49.070 single day longer than is absolutely 07:49.070 --> 07:51.370 required for our national security . 07:52.840 --> 07:54.951 But we must finish the job we started 07:54.951 --> 07:58.060 in Afghanistan and end this war 07:58.540 --> 08:02.210 responsibly . My fellow Americans , 08:02.210 --> 08:04.154 we've traveled through more than a 08:04.154 --> 08:06.210 decade under the dark cloud of war . 08:06.840 --> 08:09.330 Yet here in the predawn darkness of 08:09.330 --> 08:12.130 Afghanistan , we can see the light of a 08:12.130 --> 08:15.070 new day on the horizon . The Iraq war 08:15.070 --> 08:17.640 is over . The number of our troops in 08:17.640 --> 08:20.060 harm's way has been cut in half and 08:20.060 --> 08:23.180 more will soon be coming home . We have 08:23.180 --> 08:25.347 a clear path to fulfill our mission in 08:25.347 --> 08:27.680 Afghanistan while delivering justice to 08:27.680 --> 08:31.680 Al Qaeda . This future is on Lee within 08:31.680 --> 08:33.791 reach because of our men and women in 08:33.791 --> 08:36.630 uniform . Time and again , they have 08:36.640 --> 08:38.890 answered the call to serve and distant 08:38.900 --> 08:41.860 and dangerous places . In an age when 08:41.860 --> 08:44.193 so many institutions have come up short , 08:44.610 --> 08:47.860 these Americans stood tall . They met 08:47.860 --> 08:49.971 their responsibilities to one another 08:50.360 --> 08:53.490 and to the flag they serve under . I 08:53.490 --> 08:55.730 just met with some of them and told 08:55.730 --> 08:57.730 them that as commander in chief , I 08:57.730 --> 09:00.100 could not be prouder . And in their 09:00.100 --> 09:03.010 faces we see what is best in ourselves 09:03.640 --> 09:07.260 in our country . Our soldiers , our 09:07.260 --> 09:09.620 sailors , our airmen , Marines , Coast 09:09.620 --> 09:12.390 Guardsman and civilians in Afghanistan 09:12.390 --> 09:16.160 have done their duty . Now we 09:16.160 --> 09:18.271 must summon that same sense of common 09:18.271 --> 09:20.570 purpose . We must give our veterans and 09:20.570 --> 09:22.514 military families the support they 09:22.514 --> 09:24.737 deserve and the opportunities they have 09:24.737 --> 09:27.350 earned . And we must redouble our 09:27.350 --> 09:29.780 efforts to build a nation worthy of 09:29.780 --> 09:33.430 their sacrifice . As we emerge from a 09:33.440 --> 09:35.870 decade of conflict abroad and economic 09:35.870 --> 09:38.310 crisis at home , it's time to renew 09:38.310 --> 09:41.140 America America , where our Children 09:41.200 --> 09:43.750 live free from fear and have the skills 09:43.750 --> 09:46.680 to claim their dreams , Ah , united 09:46.680 --> 09:50.320 America of grit and resilience , where 09:50.320 --> 09:52.209 sunlight glistens off soaring new 09:52.209 --> 09:54.690 towers in downtown Manhattan and we 09:54.690 --> 09:58.020 build our future as one people . As one 09:58.020 --> 10:01.160 nation , you're in Afghanistan . 10:01.830 --> 10:03.941 Americans answered the call to defend 10:03.941 --> 10:06.250 their fellow citizens and uphold human 10:06.250 --> 10:09.450 dignity . Today we recall the fallen 10:10.040 --> 10:12.180 and those who suffered wounds , both 10:12.180 --> 10:15.480 seen and unseen . But through dark days , 10:15.480 --> 10:17.369 we have drawn strength from their 10:17.369 --> 10:19.591 example and the ideals that have guided 10:19.591 --> 10:22.510 our nation and lead the world a belief 10:22.510 --> 10:24.900 that all people are created equal and 10:24.900 --> 10:27.200 deserve the freedom to determine their 10:27.200 --> 10:30.560 destiny . That is the light that guides 10:30.560 --> 10:34.220 us . Still , this time of war began in 10:34.220 --> 10:36.780 Afghanistan , and this is where it will 10:36.780 --> 10:40.530 end with faith in each other and our 10:40.530 --> 10:42.760 eyes fixed on the future . Let us 10:42.760 --> 10:45.210 finish the work at hand and forge a 10:45.210 --> 10:48.900 just and lasting peace , and God bless 10:48.900 --> 10:51.330 our troops . And may God bless the 10:51.330 --> 10:52.360 United States of America .