this is not in our national security interest. it is not what the american people want. it is not what our troops who have sacrificed so much over the past two decades deserve. i made a commitment to the american people when i ran for president but i would bring america's military involvement in afghanistan to an end. while it has been hard and messy, and yes, far from perfect, i've honoured that commitment. more importantly, i've made a commitment to the brave men and women who served this nation that i wasn't going to ask them to continue risking their lives in a military action that should have ended long ago. our leaders did that in vietnam when i got here is a young man. iwill in vietnam when i got here is a young man. i will not do it in afghanistan. i know my decision will be criticised. but i would rather take all of that criticism than pass