The United States will stick with Afghanistan for years to come as a new American president takes over what is already America's longest war, the head of the US military Ashton Carter said on Friday.
In a joint appearance in Kabul with Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, Carter said the US cannot afford to give up on Afghanistan after more than 15 years of involvement, the deaths of more than 2,200 US troops, and the expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars.
"The interests we are pursuing here are clear and enduring," he said, citing the goals of preventing another September 11-type attack on American soil, and helping Afghanistan attain enough stability to remain a long-term security partner for the US and the West. The war began as a response to the 9/11 attacks.
Carter was making his last planned trip to Afghanistan before handing off his Defense Department responsibilities to his successor. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated retired Marine General James Mattis for the post.
Trump has not said if or how he will alter the US course in Afghanistan, but has denounced what he calls US nation-building projects.
In a joint appearance in Kabul with Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, Carter said the US cannot afford to give up on Afghanistan after more than 15 years of involvement, the deaths of more than 2,200 US troops, and the expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars.
"The interests we are pursuing here are clear and enduring," he said, citing the goals of preventing another September 11-type attack on American soil, and helping Afghanistan attain enough stability to remain a long-term security partner for the US and the West. The war began as a response to the 9/11 attacks.
Carter was making his last planned trip to Afghanistan before handing off his Defense Department responsibilities to his successor. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated retired Marine General James Mattis for the post.
Trump has not said if or how he will alter the US course in Afghanistan, but has denounced what he calls US nation-building projects.
Comments