Statement by the President on the End of the Combat Mission in Afghanistan

Today's ceremony in Kabul marks a milestone for our country. For more than 13 years, ever since nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken from us on 9/11, our nation has been at war in Afghanistan. Now, thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion.

On this day we give thanks to our troops and intelligence personnel who have been relentless against the terrorists responsible for 9/11--devastating the core al Qaeda leadership, delivering justice to Osama bin Laden, disrupting terrorist plots and saving countless American lives. We are safer, and our nation is more secure, because of their service. At the same time, our courageous military and diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan--along with our NATO allies and coalition partners--have helped the Afghan people reclaim their communities, take the lead for their own security, hold historic elections and complete the first democratic transfer of power in their country's history.

We honor the profound sacrifices that have made this progress possible. We salute every American--military and civilian, including our dedicated diplomats and development workers--who have served in Afghanistan, many on multiple tours, just as their families have sacrificed at home. We pledge to give our many wounded warriors, with wounds seen and unseen, the world-class care and treatment they have earned. Most of all, we remember the more than 2,200 American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, and we pledge to stand with their Gold Star families who need the everlasting love and support of a grateful nation.

Afghanistan remains a dangerous place, and the Afghan people and their security forces continue to make tremendous sacrifices in defense of their country. At the invitation of the Afghan government, and to preserve the gains we have made together, the United States--along with our allies and partners--will maintain a limited military presence in Afghanistan to train, advise and assist Afghan forces and to conduct counterterrorism operations against the remnants of al Qaeda. Our personnel will continue to face risks, but this reflects the enduring commitment of the United States to the Afghan people and to a united, secure and sovereign Afghanistan that is never again used as a source of attacks against our nation.

These past 13 years have tested our nation and our military. But compared to the nearly 180,000 American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan when I took office, we now have fewer than 15,000 in those countries. Some 90 percent of our troops are home. Our military remains the finest in the world, and we will remain vigilant against terrorist attacks and in defense of the freedoms and values we hold dear. And with growing prosperity here at home, we enter a new year with new confidence, indebted to our fellow Americans in uniform who keep us safe and free.

Readout of the President’s Meeting with the National Security Council on Potential Holiday Threats

The President convened a meeting with his National Security Council today to review potential threats to the U.S. homeland and U.S. personnel overseas ahead of the busy travel period and the large public gatherings expected during the upcoming holidays. He received an update on security preparations planned and underway throughout the country, and also reviewed ongoing efforts to monitor the potential for violent reactions overseas to the release of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s report on the CIA’s former detention and interrogation program. The President also discussed the U.S. security posture in Pakistan in light of the horrific attack in Peshawar today that killed dozens of innocent students and children.  The President thanked his national security team for their tireless work and directed departments and agencies to continue to do everything in their power and within their authority to identify and disrupt any potential threats both at home and abroad to protect the American people. 

Participants Included:

•          The Vice President

•          Eric Holder, Attorney General

•          James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence

•          General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

•          Susan Rice, National Security Advisor

•          Denis McDonough, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff

•          John Brennan, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

•          Admiral Michael Rogers, Director of the National Security Agency

•          Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations (via secure video teleconference)

•          Neil Eggleston, Counsel to the President

•          Antony Blinken, Deputy National Security Advisor

•          Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

•          Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources

•          Robert Work, Deputy Secretary of Defense

•          Alejandro Mayorkas, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

•          Nicholas Rasmussen, Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center

•          John Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration

•          Mark Giuliano, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

•          John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General

•          Colin Kahl, National Security Advisor to the Vice President

•          Suzanne George, Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the National Security Council

•          Brian Egan, Deputy Counsel to the President and National Security Council Legal Adviser

•          Marcel Lettre, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence