You're completing the mission. We said that we were going to deny al Qaeda safe haven, and since then we have decimated the al Qaeda's leadership in the tribal regions, and our troops here at Bagram played a central role in supporting our counter-terrorism operations. Including the one that delivered justice to Osama bin Laden.
So, along with our intelligence personal you've helped prevent attacks and save American lives back home.
Executives visits like this are commonly kept secret until the last minute. The president said that Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place, but U.S. involvement is winding down.
We are going to stay strong by taking care of our wounded warriors and our veterans.
Because helping our wounded warriors and veterans heel isn't just a promise. It's a sacred obligation.
Those comments came as the scandal involving veterans swirled back in the U.S. Dozens of Veterans Affairs hospitals have been accused of delaying treatment for veterans, and the Obama administration has been criticized for not doing enough about it.
A U.S. official says the scandal wasn't a factor in planning this trip. A day later the president was in Virginia for a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery. It's a Memorial Day tradition in the U.S. The commander-in-chief paying respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That's a resting place of an unidentified American serviceman who was killed in World War I. Memorial Day ceremonies and events across the country honored U.S. troops who died serving in all of the nation's conflicts. There's a ship sailing out of New York today, at the end of Fleet Week that carries Memorials of its own.
I'm Miguel Marquez aboard the USS Cole, and I'm here with Hannah Taylor who's going to take us on a little tour.
Let's go!It is a sophisticated machine able to project American power around the world. It's also one of the most famous or infamous ships in the U.S. fleet. October 12, 2000, the Cole was attacked as it ported in Yemen. This suicide mission using a small boat in hundreds of pounds of explosives. 17 sailors died, 39 injured.
As you see here on the floor, there are 17 gold stars, one for each member who perished that day.
On board, reminders of that day everywhere.
So, everywhere you go around the ship .
Yes.This things exist.Yes, they do.
