Good afternoon. I am chris miller, acting secretary of defense for the United States and am here today to update you on president trumps plan to bring the wars in afghanistan and iraq to a successful and responsible conclusion and to bring our brave Service Members home. And kabul to kandahar fallujah, hundreds of thousands of americas sons and daughters who answered the call to serve in our Armed Services have brought us to this point. Their efforts and sacrifice will go down in history as it did amazing the strength as strength,g the commitment of a force that is unlike any the world has ever seen. Just last night, i joined Vice President pence and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to have the soldiers who perished on duty in the middle east. This was a somber and humbling moment that reminded us of the tremendous sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States military in service of freedom and security. Our armed forces take an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States. They serve not for personal gain, but for the protection and wellbeing of their fellow americans and their homeland. They are champions for peace, liberty, and the rule of law and unrelenting when called upon to defend our people and our values. We owe them and their loved ones and enormous debt of gratitude. This is why i am enormously blessed and privileged to stand before you today to outline the next phase of our campaign to defeat terrorists who have perpetrated attacks on our homeland, including those who help and harbor them, and to prevent future acts of terrorism against our nation. We owe this moment to the many patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice and their comrades who Carry Forward their legacy. Thether we have mourned loss of more than 6900 american troops who give their lives in afghanistan and iraq. And we will never forget the more than 52,000 who bear the wounds of war and all those who still carry its scars, visible and invisible. In light of these tremendous sacrifices, and with great humility and gratitude to those us, i ambefore formally announcing that we will implement president trumps orders to continue our repositioning of forces from those two countries. By january 15, 2020 1 excuse me, i clearly am thinking of where this started in 2001 by forces in, 2021, our afghanistan will be 2500 troops. Our size in iraq will also be to a 500 by that same date. This is consistent with our established plans and strategic objectives, supported by the American People and does not equate to a change in u. S. Policy or objectives. Moreover, this decision by the president i is based on continuous engagement with his National Security cabinet over the past several months, including ongoing discussions with me and my colleagues across the United States government. I have also spoken with our military commanders and we all will execute this repositioning in a way that protects our fighting men and women, our partners in the Intelligence Community and diplomatic corps, and our superb allies that are critical to rebuilding afghan and Iraqi Security capabilities and Civil Society for a lasting peace in troubled lands. Just this morning, i spoke with the leaders in congress as well as our allies and partners abroad to update them on these plans in light of our shared approach. We went in together, we are just together, and when the time is right, we will leave together. My first call was to secretarygeneral stoltenberg and my other call was to the afghan president ghani, who expressed gratitude for every servicemember who fought for peace and extended the long standing friendship. The president highlighted the troops which has been more important. We continue to stand with him as his Government Works toward a negotiated settlement for peace. Let us remind those who question our resolve or may seek to interfere with this prudent, wellplanned and transition. The United States and or or forces remain committed to protecting the safety and the security of the American People in supporting our likeminded allies and partners worldwide. If the forces of terror, instability, division and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts, we stand ready to apply the capabilities required to thwart them. As a veteran whose life was whose life and family was irrevocably changed in the mountains and cities of iraq and afghanistan along with the hundreds of thousands of u. S. Troops who have fought there and or are forever transformed by their experiences, i celebrate this day, as we continue the president s consistent progress in completing the mission we began nearly two decades ago. I want to thank the afghans and the iraqis who have partnered with us throughout and will now carry the bulk of their fighting to security or homeland. I want to thank our nato allies and other partners who have fought alongside and taken the lead on training and advising the afghan and Iraqi Security forces. We will continue to support their efforts. And thanks to our more than 80 partners in the defeat isis coalition. We have destroyed the isis caliphate and we will ensure they never again gain a foothold to attack our people. In closing, we set out to accomplish three goals in 2001, first go abroad and destroy the terrorists, their organizations and their sanctuaries. Two, strengthen our defenses against future attacks. And three, prevent the continued growth of islamist terrorism to include working with allies and local partners to take the lead in the fight. Today is another critical step in that direction and the result of president trumps bold leadership. With the blessings of providence in the coming year, we will finish this generational war and bring our men and women home. We will protect our children from the heavy burden and toll of perpetual war and we will honor the sacrifices made in service to peace and stability in afghanistan, iraq, and around the world, and celebrate all those who helped us secure freedom over oppression. God bless our women and men in uniform. Thank you very much. [reporters asking questions] why wont you take questions . , yourre watching cspan unfiltered view of government created by americas Television Companies as a Public Service and brought to you today by your television provider. Republican senator check roughly has tested positive for covid19. At 87 years old, he is the second oldest lawmaker currently serving in the senate. Senator grassley says i have just a positive for coronavirus. I will be following my doctors orders, cdc guidelines, and continue to quarantine. I have feeling good and will keep up my work for the people of iowa from home. I appreciate everyones well wishes and prayers and i look forward to resuming my normal schedule soon. Journal. s washington everyday we are taking your calls live on the air on the news of the day and discussing policy issues that impact you. Coming up was the morning, our guest who served under speakers paul ryan and john boehner, on the state of the Republican Party following the 2020 elections. Then the former chief of staff to former democratic congresswoman nancy pelosi talks about democrats agenda in this in the next congressional session. Be