1 00:00:05,458 --> 00:00:08,024 The President: This week, I traveled to Afghanistan --

2 00:00:08,023 --> 00:00:10,491 to thank our troops serving far from home,

3 00:00:10,491 --> 00:00:12,825 and to sign a historic agreement that will help us

4 00:00:12,825 --> 00:00:16,291 complete our mission and end the war.

5 00:00:16,291 --> 00:00:19,124 As Commander-in-Chief, nothing is more humbling or inspiring

6 00:00:19,124 --> 00:00:21,991 than the chance to spend some time with our troops.

7 00:00:21,991 --> 00:00:24,925 At Bagram Air Base, I visited with some of our outstanding men

8 00:00:24,925 --> 00:00:26,525 and women in uniform.

9 00:00:26,525 --> 00:00:29,124 I thanked them for their extraordinary service.

10 00:00:29,124 --> 00:00:33,058 And I let them know that America honors their sacrifice.

11 00:00:33,058 --> 00:00:35,792 Because of their bravery and dedication,

12 00:00:35,792 --> 00:00:39,058 the tide of war has turned in Afghanistan.

13 00:00:39,058 --> 00:00:41,491 We've broken the Taliban's momentum.

14 00:00:41,491 --> 00:00:44,858 We've built strong Afghan Security Forces.

15 00:00:44,858 --> 00:00:47,525 We've devastated al Qaeda's leadership.

16 00:00:47,525 --> 00:00:50,391 And one year ago, our troops launched the operation that

17 00:00:50,391 --> 00:00:52,591 killed Osama bin Laden.

18 00:00:52,591 --> 00:00:55,358 The goal that I set -- to defeat al Qaeda,

19 00:00:55,358 --> 00:00:59,625 and deny it a chance to rebuild -- is within reach.

20 00:00:59,625 --> 00:01:00,958 Because of the progress we've made,

21 00:01:00,958 --> 00:01:03,425 I was able to sign a historic agreement between the United

22 00:01:03,425 --> 00:01:06,425 States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of

23 00:01:06,425 --> 00:01:08,558 relationship between our countries --

24 00:01:08,558 --> 00:01:11,825 a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of

25 00:01:11,825 --> 00:01:15,325 their nation, and we build an equal partnership between two

26 00:01:15,325 --> 00:01:18,991 sovereign states; a future in which the war ends,

27 00:01:18,991 --> 00:01:21,458 and a new chapter begins.

28 00:01:21,458 --> 00:01:24,425 The enormous sacrifices of our men and women in uniform are

29 00:01:24,425 --> 00:01:25,792 not over.

30 00:01:25,792 --> 00:01:28,525 But many of our troops are already coming home.

31 00:01:28,525 --> 00:01:32,825 Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

32 00:01:32,825 --> 00:01:36,558 Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer.

33 00:01:36,558 --> 00:01:39,224 As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014,

34 00:01:39,224 --> 00:01:42,358 the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of

35 00:01:42,358 --> 00:01:43,892 their country.

36 00:01:43,892 --> 00:01:45,825 And this is as it should be.

37 00:01:45,825 --> 00:01:48,325 Because after more than a decade of war,

38 00:01:48,325 --> 00:01:52,391 it's time to focus on nation building here at home.

39 00:01:52,391 --> 00:01:55,425 As a new greatest generation returns from overseas,

40 00:01:55,425 --> 00:01:58,258 we must ask ourselves, what kind of country will they

41 00:01:58,258 --> 00:01:59,792 come back to?

42 00:01:59,792 --> 00:02:02,124 Will it be a country where a shrinking number of Americans do

43 00:02:02,124 --> 00:02:05,591 really well while a growing number barely get by?

44 00:02:05,591 --> 00:02:08,558 Or will it be a country where everyone gets a fair shot,

45 00:02:08,558 --> 00:02:11,792 everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same

46 00:02:11,792 --> 00:02:16,058 set of rules -- a country with opportunity worthy of the troops

47 00:02:16,058 --> 00:02:17,892 who protect us?

48 00:02:17,892 --> 00:02:20,692 America has answered this question before.

49 00:02:20,692 --> 00:02:23,124 My grandfather, a veteran of Patton's Army,

50 00:02:23,124 --> 00:02:26,458 got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill.

51 00:02:26,458 --> 00:02:28,825 My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line,

52 00:02:28,825 --> 00:02:30,991 was part of a workforce that turned out the best

53 00:02:30,991 --> 00:02:32,758 products on Earth.

54 00:02:32,758 --> 00:02:36,358 They contributed to a story of success that every American had

55 00:02:36,358 --> 00:02:39,458 the chance to share in, the basic American promise that if

56 00:02:39,458 --> 00:02:42,191 you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family,

57 00:02:42,191 --> 00:02:45,024 own a home, send your kids to college,

58 00:02:45,024 --> 00:02:47,625 and put a little away for retirement.

59 00:02:47,625 --> 00:02:51,358 Keeping that promise alive is the defining issue of our time.

60 00:02:51,358 --> 00:02:54,425 But it means making responsible choices.

61 00:02:54,425 --> 00:02:56,792 I don't think we should prioritize things like more tax

62 00:02:56,792 --> 00:02:59,591 cuts for millionaires while cutting the kinds of investments

63 00:02:59,591 --> 00:03:02,391 that build a strong middle class.

64 00:03:02,391 --> 00:03:04,391 That's why I've called on Congress to take the money we're

65 00:03:04,391 --> 00:03:07,658 no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt,

66 00:03:07,658 --> 00:03:11,391 and use the other half to rebuild America.

67 00:03:11,391 --> 00:03:13,725 Because we've got more jobs to create.

68 00:03:13,725 --> 00:03:15,058 More students to educate.

69 00:03:15,058 --> 00:03:17,525 More clean energy to generate.

70 00:03:17,525 --> 00:03:19,591 More entrepreneurs with the next great idea,

71 00:03:19,591 --> 00:03:22,124 just looking for their shot at success.

72 00:03:22,124 --> 00:03:24,358 We've got to invest in things like education and

73 00:03:24,358 --> 00:03:25,858 medical research.

74 00:03:25,858 --> 00:03:28,892 We've got to build newer, faster transportations and

75 00:03:28,892 --> 00:03:30,758 communication networks.

76 00:03:30,758 --> 00:03:33,991 And we've got to secure the care and benefits our veterans have

77 00:03:33,991 --> 00:03:38,291 earned, so that we serve them as well as they have served us.

78 00:03:38,291 --> 00:03:41,191 Every time I have the privilege of meeting with our troops,

79 00:03:41,191 --> 00:03:44,091 I'm struck by their courage, their commitment,

80 00:03:44,091 --> 00:03:46,958 their selflessness, and their teamwork.

81 00:03:46,958 --> 00:03:49,091 They have something to teach us.

82 00:03:49,091 --> 00:03:51,391 Recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great

83 00:03:51,391 --> 00:03:54,325 Depression is a work in progress --

84 00:03:54,325 --> 00:03:57,825 but if we follow their example, then I have no doubt we will

85 00:03:57,825 --> 00:04:00,191 preserve the promise of this country,

86 00:04:00,191 --> 00:04:03,925 protect the freedoms we cherish, and leave for our children an

87 00:04:03,925 --> 00:04:06,491 America that's built to last.

88 00:04:06,491 --> 00:04:08,491 God bless you, and have a great weekend.