Says world is safer, but concedes tough missions in Iraq and elsewhere
As the United States ends its combat operations in Afghanistan next week, President Barack Obama has sought to strike an optimistic note, asserting: “We are safer. It’s not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again.”
“In just a few days, our combat mission in Afghanistan will be over. Our longest war will come to a responsible end,” Obama said during a Christmas Day visit to a US Marine Corps Base in Hawaii, adding: “Because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the armed forces, Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country.”“The world is better, it’s safer, it’s more peaceful, It’s more prosperous and our homeland is protected because of you and the sacrifices each and every day,” said Obama, who is currently vacationing with his family in Hawaii.
He, however, conceded that the United States still has “some very difficult missions around the world, including in Iraq”. In Afghanistan itself, US forces will still have a residual presence in a non-combat role of training and assisting the Afghan security forces.“So on a day when we celebrate the Prince of Peace and many of us count our blessings one of the greatest blessings we have is the extraordinary dedication and sacrifices you all make,” Obama told the troops. “We could not be more thankful. I know I speak for everyone in the entire country when I say, we salute you.”
At the end of the combat mission next week, the US will continue to have 10,800 troops for the early part of 2015. About 5,500 American troops are expected to continue to be stationed in Afghanistan at the end of 2015. Outgoing Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel had said earlier this month that the US would keep roughly 1,000 more troops than planned earlier through early 2015 since the NATO force there was not big enough to train the Afghan military.