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The mission - the overall mission is to dismantle and defeat and disrupt al-Qaeda. But we have to make sure there's not a safe haven that returns in Afghanistan.

We are so appreciative of the men and women in uniform who are protecting us, whether in Afghanistan or Iraq or on ships around the world. For our security, they are taking the offensive to the terrorists overseas.

I think we need to just be very clear about what we're trying to do in Afghanistan. Frankly, we're not trying to create the perfect democracy. We're never going to create some ideal society. We are simply there for our own national security.

I am committed to protecting our country against the threat of terrorism.

The Afghan security forces will always have the help of the U.S. American military to ensure that Afghanistan never fails.

If it is terrorism, if it is war on terror, then the Afghan people will join you on terror.

Right now we're on the President Obama plan, and we'll stay with that. And from my perspective, the reason we're there is to make sure that we can achieve the principal goal which is ensure that Afghanistan can never become a safe haven for a terrorist organization like al Qaeda.

I think we look to the military as something that protects our shores.

Our primary objective must be to prevent wars, and when we fail in this, we must protect and assist the innocent victims.