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All wars must end, ”Miller said in his first message to the US military. He said the United States is committed to defeating al Qaeda 19 years after the September 11 attacks, and is “about” to do so.
“Many are tired of war, I am one of them,” Miller wrote in the message, dated Friday but posted early Saturday on the defense department’s website.
“But this is the critical phase where we transition our efforts from a leadership to a supporting role. Ending wars requires commitment and partnership. We overcome the challenge; We gave it our all Now is the time to go home. “
Miller did not mention specific troop deployments, but seemed to highlight Afghanistan and Iraq, where US troops were deployed after 9/11.
Miller, a former U.S. special forces officer and counterterrorism expert, was appointed to head the Defense Department after Trump fired Mark Esper.
Trump has been pushing to draw forces from both countries since he took office four years ago. Any such action would have to occur in the 67 days before Biden takes office on January 20.
Trump has tweeted that he wants the troops to “come home before Christmas.” National security adviser Robert O’Brien has said the goal is to cut to 2,500 in Afghanistan by February.
Critics say this removes any influence on the Taliban insurgents to stop the attacks that continue amid little progress in peace talks with the Afghan government.
