of mercy — admission of war, but in a mission of mercy 28— admission of war, but in a mission of mercy. 28 service members were wounded _ of mercy. 28 service members were wounded in— of mercy. 28 service members were wounded in the service of this mission, _ wounded in the service of this mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. i mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. i was _ mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. iwasjust_ mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. iwasjust at— mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. i was just at dover mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. i wasjust at dover air mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. i was just at dover air force mission, 13 heroes gave their lives. i wasjust at dover air force base for the _ i wasjust at dover air force base for the dignified transfer. we owe them _ for the dignified transfer. we owe them and — for the dignified transfer. we owe them and their families a debt of gratitude — them and their families a debt of gratitude we can never repay. but we should _ gratitude we can never repay. but we should never, ever, everforget. in april. _ should never, ever, everforget. in april. i_ should never, ever, everforget. in april. i made— should never, ever, everforget. in april, i made a decision to end this war~ _ april, i made a decision to end this war~ as _ april, i made a decision to end this war~ as part— april, i made a decision to end this war. as part of that decision, wait set the _ war. as part of that decision, wait set the date of august 31 for american troops to withdraw. the assumption was that more than 300,000 — assumption was that more than 300,000 afghan national security forces _ 300,000 afghan national security forces that we had trained over the past two _ forces that we had trained over the past two decades and equipped would be a strong adversary in the civil war with — be a strong adversary in the civil war with the taliban. that assumption that the acting government will be able to hold on for a period of time beyond the military— for a period of time beyond the military drawdown turned out not to be accurate. but i still instructed