1 00:00:01,540 --> 00:00:03,970 good afternoon . I'm Chris Miller , 2 00:00:04,340 --> 00:00:06,960 acting secretary defense , and I'm here 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,500 today to update you on President 4 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:11,800 Trump's plan to bring the wars in 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:15,100 Afghanistan and Iraq to a successful 6 00:00:15,940 --> 00:00:18,920 and responsible conclusion and to bring 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,570 our brave service members home from 8 00:00:22,570 --> 00:00:25,810 Kabul to Kandahar and from Mosul to 9 00:00:25,810 --> 00:00:28,240 Fallujah . Hundreds of thousands of 10 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,530 America's finest sons and daughters who 11 00:00:31,530 --> 00:00:34,530 selflessly answered the call to serve 12 00:00:34,530 --> 00:00:36,752 in the Army , Navy , Air Force , Marine 13 00:00:36,752 --> 00:00:39,270 Corps and Coast Guard have brought us 14 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,460 to this point . Their efforts and 15 00:00:42,460 --> 00:00:45,360 sacrifice will go down in history as 16 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,950 epitomizing that strength , commitment 17 00:00:49,230 --> 00:00:52,220 and empathy of a force that is unlike 18 00:00:52,230 --> 00:00:55,860 any the world has ever seen . Just last 19 00:00:55,860 --> 00:00:57,916 night , I joined vice President Mike 20 00:00:57,916 --> 00:01:00,082 Pence and chairman of the Joint Chiefs 21 00:01:00,082 --> 00:01:02,193 of Staff General Milley to attend the 22 00:01:02,193 --> 00:01:04,590 dignified transfer of five American 23 00:01:04,590 --> 00:01:07,610 soldiers who perished on duty in the 24 00:01:07,610 --> 00:01:10,550 Middle East . This was a somber and 25 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:14,410 humbling moment that reminded us of the 26 00:01:14,410 --> 00:01:16,790 tremendous sacrifices made by the men 27 00:01:17,010 --> 00:01:19,240 and women of the United States military 28 00:01:19,250 --> 00:01:21,550 in service of freedom and security . 29 00:01:21,750 --> 00:01:24,350 Our armed forces taken oath to support 30 00:01:24,350 --> 00:01:26,450 and defend the constitution of the 31 00:01:26,450 --> 00:01:29,310 United States . They serve not for 32 00:01:29,310 --> 00:01:31,850 personal game , but for the protection 33 00:01:31,860 --> 00:01:33,582 and well being of their fellow 34 00:01:33,582 --> 00:01:36,310 Americans and their homeland , their 35 00:01:36,310 --> 00:01:38,440 champions for peace , liberty and the 36 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,680 rule of law and unrelenting when called 37 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,890 upon to defend our people and our 38 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:46,980 values , we owe them and their loved 39 00:01:46,980 --> 00:01:49,660 ones an enormous debt of gratitude . 40 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:53,410 This is why I'm enormously blessed and 41 00:01:53,410 --> 00:01:55,730 privileged to stand before you today to 42 00:01:55,730 --> 00:01:58,350 outline the next phase of our campaign 43 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:00,707 to defeat terrorists who have 44 00:02:00,707 --> 00:02:03,560 perpetrated attacks on our homeland , 45 00:02:03,930 --> 00:02:06,550 including those who helped harbor them 46 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:09,770 and to prevent prevent future acts of 47 00:02:09,770 --> 00:02:13,230 terrorism against our nation . We owe 48 00:02:13,230 --> 00:02:15,620 this moment the many patriots who made 49 00:02:15,620 --> 00:02:17,650 the ultimate sacrifice and their 50 00:02:17,650 --> 00:02:20,270 comrades who carry forward their legacy . 51 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,020 Together we have Maurin loss of more 52 00:02:24,020 --> 00:02:27,640 than 6900 American troops who gave 53 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:31,360 their lives in Afghanistan in Iraq , 54 00:02:31,370 --> 00:02:33,740 and we will never forget the more than 55 00:02:33,740 --> 00:02:37,500 52,000 who bear the wounds of war and 56 00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:39,690 all those who still carry it , scars 57 00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:42,170 visible and invisible . 58 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:46,050 In light of these tremendous sacrifices 59 00:02:46,190 --> 00:02:48,320 and with great humility and gratitude 60 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,264 to those who came before us , I am 61 00:02:50,264 --> 00:02:53,610 formally announcing that we will 62 00:02:53,610 --> 00:02:55,840 implement President Trump's orders to 63 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,380 continue our repositioning of forces 64 00:02:58,390 --> 00:03:00,970 from those two countries by January 65 00:03:00,970 --> 00:03:04,490 15th , 2000 and one . Excuse me . I 66 00:03:04,490 --> 00:03:06,870 clearly am thinking of where this 67 00:03:06,870 --> 00:03:09,900 started in 2000 and one . By January 68 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:13,700 15th , 2021 our forces 69 00:03:14,140 --> 00:03:16,700 their size in Afghanistan will be 70 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:20,640 2500 . Troops are four size in 71 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:24,320 Iraq will also be 2500 72 00:03:24,330 --> 00:03:28,230 by that same date . This is consistent 73 00:03:28,230 --> 00:03:30,220 with our established plans and 74 00:03:30,220 --> 00:03:33,950 strategic objectives supported by the 75 00:03:33,950 --> 00:03:36,880 American people , and does not equate 76 00:03:36,890 --> 00:03:40,340 to a change in US policy or objectives . 77 00:03:40,690 --> 00:03:43,080 Moreover , this decision by the 78 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,330 president is based on continuous 79 00:03:45,330 --> 00:03:47,630 engagement with his national security 80 00:03:47,630 --> 00:03:50,120 cabinet . Over the past several months , 81 00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:52,660 including ongoing discussions with me 82 00:03:53,540 --> 00:03:55,770 and my colleagues across the United 83 00:03:55,770 --> 00:03:58,440 States government , I have also spoken 84 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,240 with our military commanders and we all 85 00:04:01,250 --> 00:04:03,710 will execute this repositioning in a 86 00:04:03,710 --> 00:04:06,380 way that protects our fighting men and 87 00:04:06,380 --> 00:04:08,210 women , our partners in the 88 00:04:08,210 --> 00:04:10,432 intelligence , community and diplomatic 89 00:04:10,432 --> 00:04:13,040 corps , and are superb allies that are 90 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,730 critical to rebuilding Afghan and 91 00:04:16,730 --> 00:04:18,980 Iraqi security capabilities and civil 92 00:04:18,980 --> 00:04:21,920 society for a lasting peace in troubled 93 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,910 lands . And just this morning , I spoke 94 00:04:25,910 --> 00:04:28,350 with key leaders in Congress , a swell 95 00:04:28,350 --> 00:04:31,260 as our allies and partners abroad to 96 00:04:31,260 --> 00:04:33,420 update them on these plans . In light 97 00:04:33,430 --> 00:04:36,310 of our shared approach , we went in 98 00:04:36,310 --> 00:04:38,820 together . We adjust together . When 99 00:04:38,820 --> 00:04:40,709 the time is right , we will leave 100 00:04:40,709 --> 00:04:42,653 together . What of my calls was to 101 00:04:42,653 --> 00:04:44,820 NATO's secretary general Stoltenberg ? 102 00:04:44,940 --> 00:04:47,107 Another was to Afghanistan's President 103 00:04:47,107 --> 00:04:49,850 Ghani , who express his gratitude for 104 00:04:49,850 --> 00:04:51,961 every American service member who has 105 00:04:51,961 --> 00:04:54,330 fought for peace and strengthen the 106 00:04:54,330 --> 00:04:56,520 longstanding friendship between our 107 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,690 countries . President Ghani highlighted 108 00:04:59,690 --> 00:05:01,820 the caliber of our troops , which he 109 00:05:01,820 --> 00:05:03,987 noted , has always been more important 110 00:05:03,987 --> 00:05:06,230 than the quantity . We continue to 111 00:05:06,230 --> 00:05:08,710 stand with him as his government works 112 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,710 toward a negotiated settlement for 113 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:14,460 peace . Meanwhile , let us 114 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:16,950 remind those who question our resolve 115 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,170 or may seek to interfere with this 116 00:05:19,170 --> 00:05:21,370 prudent , well planned and coordinated 117 00:05:21,370 --> 00:05:24,250 transition . The United States armed 118 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:26,640 forces remain committed to protecting 119 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,230 the safety and security of the American 120 00:05:30,230 --> 00:05:32,880 people and supporting our like minded 121 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,200 allies and partners worldwide . If the 122 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,390 forces of terror , instability division 123 00:05:39,390 --> 00:05:41,612 and hate begin a deliberate campaign to 124 00:05:41,612 --> 00:05:44,740 disrupt our efforts , we stand ready to 125 00:05:44,740 --> 00:05:47,060 apply the capabilities required to 126 00:05:47,060 --> 00:05:50,370 thwart them . As a veteran whose life 127 00:05:50,370 --> 00:05:52,670 and family was irrevocably changed in 128 00:05:52,670 --> 00:05:54,781 the deserts , mountains and cities of 129 00:05:54,781 --> 00:05:57,160 Iraq and Afghanistan , along with the 130 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,327 hundreds of thousands of US troops who 131 00:05:59,327 --> 00:06:01,327 have fought there and we're forever 132 00:06:01,327 --> 00:06:03,382 transformed by their experiences . I 133 00:06:03,382 --> 00:06:05,760 celebrate this day is we continue the 134 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,060 president's consistent progress in 135 00:06:09,060 --> 00:06:11,227 completing the mission we began nearly 136 00:06:11,227 --> 00:06:13,390 two decades ago . I want to thank the 137 00:06:13,390 --> 00:06:15,620 Afghans and Iraqis who have partnered 138 00:06:15,620 --> 00:06:17,880 with us throughout and who now carry 139 00:06:17,890 --> 00:06:19,834 the bulk of the fighting to secure 140 00:06:19,834 --> 00:06:21,946 their homelands . I want to thank our 141 00:06:21,946 --> 00:06:24,610 NATO allies and other partners who have 142 00:06:24,610 --> 00:06:27,160 fought alongside us and taking the lead 143 00:06:27,540 --> 00:06:30,400 on training and advising the Afghan and 144 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,540 Iraqi security forces . We will 145 00:06:32,540 --> 00:06:34,650 continue to support their efforts 146 00:06:36,340 --> 00:06:38,750 and thanks to our more than 80 partners 147 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,360 in the Defeat Isis Coalition , we have 148 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,940 destroyed the Isis caliphate and will 149 00:06:43,940 --> 00:06:46,790 ensure they never again gain a foothold 150 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,310 to attack our people . In 151 00:06:50,310 --> 00:06:53,300 closing , we set out to accomplish 152 00:06:53,300 --> 00:06:56,950 three goals in 2000 and one first go 153 00:06:56,950 --> 00:06:59,410 abroad and destroy terrorists , their 154 00:06:59,410 --> 00:07:02,970 organizations and their sanctuaries to 155 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:06,210 strengthen our defenses against future 156 00:07:06,210 --> 00:07:08,330 attacks . And three prevent the 157 00:07:08,330 --> 00:07:11,330 continued growth of Islamist terrorism 158 00:07:11,340 --> 00:07:13,820 to include by working with allies and 159 00:07:13,820 --> 00:07:16,340 local partners to take the lead in the 160 00:07:16,340 --> 00:07:20,030 fight today is another critical 161 00:07:20,030 --> 00:07:22,500 step in that direction and a result of 162 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:25,320 President Trump's bold leadership with 163 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,376 the blessings of Providence . In the 164 00:07:27,376 --> 00:07:29,560 coming year , we will finish this 165 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,570 generational war and bring our men and 166 00:07:32,570 --> 00:07:34,800 women home . We will protect our 167 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,420 Children from the heavy burden and toll 168 00:07:37,420 --> 00:07:40,090 of perpetual war . And we will honor 169 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:43,170 the sacrifices made in service to peace 170 00:07:43,260 --> 00:07:47,060 and stability in Afghanistan , Iraq and 171 00:07:47,060 --> 00:07:49,370 around the world , and celebrate all 172 00:07:49,370 --> 00:07:52,540 those who helped us secure freedom over 173 00:07:52,540 --> 00:07:56,230 oppression . God bless our women and 174 00:07:56,230 --> 00:07:58,270 men in uniform . Thank you very 175 00:07:58,270 --> 00:08:02,030 much 176 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,270 A