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This Afghanistan decision is not just about Afghanistan. It is about ending an era of major military operations to remake other countries. We saw a counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan, forcing terrorists to stop the attacks, to turn into counterinsurgency, to build a nation, trying to create a democratic, cohesive and united Afghanistan. Something that has never been done in many centuries of Afghan history. Moving away from that mindset and that kind of large-scale troop deployments will make us stronger, more effective and more secure at home.
And for all those who are mistaken, let me make it clear: to those who wish America harm, to those who engage in terrorism against us or our allies, know this. The United States will never rest. We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down to the ends of the earth, and you will pay the ultimate price.
Let me be clear. We will continue to support the Afghan people through diplomacy, international influence and humanitarian assistance. We will continue to push for regional diplomatic engagement to prevent violence and instability. We will continue to stand up for the human rights of the Afghan people, especially women and girls, just as we stand up for women and girls around the world.
And I was clear that human rights will be at the center of our foreign policy. But the way to achieve this is not through endless military deployments, but through diplomacy, economic tools, and mobilizing the rest of the world for support.
My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over. I am the fourth president who has to face the question of whether and when to end this war. When I was running for President, I made a commitment to the American people to end this war. Today, I honored this commitment. It was time to be honest with the American people again. We no longer had a clear objective in an indefinite mission in Afghanistan. After 20 years of war in Afghanistan, I refuse to send another generation of American sons and daughters to fight a war that should ended a long time ago.
After more than $ 2 trillion spent in Afghanistan, costs Brown University researchers estimated at more than $ 300 million per day for 20 years in Afghanistan. For two decades. Yes. The American people should hear this: $ 300 million a day for two decades. Take the trillion figure, as many say it’s still $ 150 million a day for two decades. And what have we lost as a result in terms of opportunities?
I refuse to continue a war which was no longer in the service of the vital national interests of our people. Most importantly, after 800,000 Americans who served in Afghanistan, I traveled across the country. Courageous and honorable service. After 20,744 US servicemen injured and the loss of 2,461 US servicemen, including 13 lives lost this week, I refuse to start another decade of war in Afghanistan.
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