spanned four presidencies. >> the united states military has begun strikes against al qaeda terrorist training camps and military installations of the tall i ban regime in afghanistan. >> the war against terror will be long. >> there war distracts us from every threat that we face and so many opportunities we could cease. it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 u.s. troops to afghanistan. >> target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout afghanistan. >> i will not repeat the mistakes of the pass. i will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth president. >> i wonder if then president george w. bush knew just how long. joining me now is spencer ackerman, correspondent the "the