Good morning. Im Christopher Prebble the Vice President for against and Foreign Policy studies at the cato institute. Thank you for being here and thanks to our outstanding conference staff who do a terrific job organizing our many events. Welcome to those of you watching on cspan and online at cato. Org. Following the september 11th terrorist attacks in october 2001 the United States initiated combat operations against al qaeda targets inside of afghanistan and against the taliban government that had harbored the terrorists there. In the ensuing 16 years u. S. Goals have changed marginally but they typically include defeating al qaeda and other terrorist groups with global reach, strengthening the Afghan Government and Security Forces to prevent the taliban from retaking political power and denying terrorists a safe haven. Assessments of our progress to date are mixed at best. In june secretary of Defense James Mattis stated, quote, we are not winning in afghanistan right now, unquote
Provocations. These pose a serious threat to regional and International Peace and stability. I shared with President Trump what singapore has done to pressure and isolate the dprk, going beyond u. N. Security council resolutions. But there is no quick and easy solution. Pressure is necessary, but so is dialogue. The u. S. Will need to work with others including china, south korea and japan and russia. , to resolve the issue. President trump will be visiting china a few weeks time as part of his first visit to asia. Singapore, like many other countries watched the relations with china very closely. There is most important bilateral relationship in the world. China is u. S. s Third Largest export market for goods and services. For agricultural exports is second largest. They buy soybeans, grains and cotton as well as farming machinery. Im quite sure as incomes go up, they will buy more and more american beef. I express my hope the u. S. Will maintain stable and constructive relationship
I know you guys are probably very sad since were not going do get a lot of days lice thick together since well be traveling. For those on the trip, look forward to seeing you. For those that arent, well certainly miss all of you and your questions. Its a busy day here at the white house, like most days here. The president was excited to announce the broad com limited it coming a back to the United States from singapore. Theii credited at the president s economic agenda to making the United States the best place the world to grow a business. Has noted the tax reform plan which was rolled out this morning will make it easier for them and other companies to do exactly what the president has promised. Bring back our jobs, bring back our wealth, and bring back our Great American dreams. This morning the president applauded the house ways and Means Committee for introducing the tax cuts and jobs act which is another important step toward providing massive tax relief for the American People.
Good morning. Im christopher prebrle, the Vice President for defense and Foreign Policy studies here at the cato institute. Thank you for being here today and thank you also to our outstanding conference staff here at cato who do such a terrific job organizing our many events. Welcome also to those of you watching on cspan and online at cato. Org. Following the september 11th terrorist attacks in october 2001 the United States initiated combat operations against al qaeda targets inside of afghanistan and against the taliban government that had harbored the terrorists there. In the ensuing 16 years u. S. Goals have changed marginally, but they typically include defeating al qaeda and other terrorist groups with global reach, strengthening the Afghan Government, and Security Forces to prevent the taliban from retaking political power and denying terrorists a safe haven. Assessments of our progress to date are mixed at best. In june secretary of Defense James Mattis stated, we are not win
Vice president for defense and Foreign Policy studies here at the cato institute. Thank you for being here today and thank you also to our outstanding conference staff here at cato who do such a terrific job organizing our many events. Welcome also to those of you watching on cspan and online at cato. Org. Following the september 11th terrorist attacks in october 2001 the United States initiated combat operations against al qaeda targets inside of afghanistan and against the taliban government that had harbored the terrorists there. In the ensuing 16 years u. S. Goals have changed marginally, but they typically include defeating al qaeda and other terrorist groups with global reach, strengthening the Afghan Government, and Security Forces to prevent the taliban from retaking political power and denying terrorists a safe haven. Assessments of our progress to date are mixed at best. In june secretary of Defense James Mattis stated, we are not winning in afghanistan right now. One could s