05/14/2009
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
"we will forge a lasting friendship in which America is [Afghanistan's] partner, and never [their] patron."
"Beginning to transfer security responsibility to the Afghans in summer 2011 is critical--and, in my view achievable."
"The United States will commit an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan for an extended surge of 18 to 24 months."
"We will not repeat the mistakes of 1989, when we abandoned the country only to see it descend into civil war."