The thing that I'm always left with is this overwhelming desire for people to be rooted and the only way that they feel rooted is through another person. John R. Allen More Quotes by John R. Allen More Quotes From John R. Allen Planning is really the hallmark of any large military formation, and it's typically a weakness in new formations and new armies. John R. Allen weakness army military And across Afghanistan, every single day, Afghan soldiers, Afghan police and ISAF troops are serving shoulder-to-shoulder in some very difficult situations. And our engagement with them, our shoulder-to-shoulder relationship with them, our conduct of operations with them every single day defines the real relationship. John R. Allen difficult-situations real soldier I can't spend a lot of time worrying about the numbers at home. I've got to focus on the mission. John R. Allen home worry numbers We will oppose and resist tyranny as we will defeat evil. John R. Allen will defeat tyranny evil To those acting against peace, civilization and the world order: We will oppose you. John R. Allen will you peace world My fellow Americans, from the battlefield to the capitals of our allies and friends and partners, the free peoples of the world look to America as the last best hope for peace and for liberty for all humankind, for we are the greatest country on this planet. John R. Allen best look hope peace Al Qaeda has come back. Al Qaeda is a resilient organization. But they're not here in large numbers. But al Qaeda doesn't have to be anywhere in large numbers. John R. Allen here back organization numbers Al Qaeda has significance beyond its numbers, frankly. And so for us, our 24-hour-a-day objective is to seek out those al Qaeda cells. And, as we seek them out, to target them and eliminate them. And we're doing that 24 hours a day. John R. Allen beyond doing day numbers We're probably going to see some post-2014 military presence - some U.S. presence and a NATO presence - and while we've got much work to do in the next 29 months, we'll have additional time later for the continued professionalization of the Afghan security forces. John R. Allen see security work time We're pursuing a strategic partnership with Afghanistan on the case of the United States and Afghanistan where we're going to push toward a future. It is the future that the Afghans desire with the United States. It is a future that the Afghans desire with the international community and we desire that as well. John R. Allen push future community desire There are tens of thousands of interactions every single day across Afghanistan between the Afghan troops and International Security Assistance Force. On most of those, every single day we continue to deepen and broaden the relationship we seek. John R. Allen single-day day single relationship And the narrative for the Taliban that they can wait us out is a flawed narrative. I think that the unambiguous international support for Afghanistan has been a very powerful message. You know, that was the message that came out of the NATO summit. We will not abandon Afghanistan. John R. Allen wait think you support To our allies and our friends and our partners. Listen closely. We are with you. America will not abandon you. John R. Allen will you friends america To our enemies - to our enemies - we will pursue you as only America can. You will fear us. John R. Allen enemies will you fear To ISIS and others: We will defeat you. John R. Allen others will you defeat America will honor our treaty obligations. John R. Allen our will honor america Every American in uniform, in the White House or at home - USA! USA! USA! - we must be a force for unity in America, for a vision that includes all of us. All of us. Every man and woman, every race, every ethnicity, every faith and creed, including the Americans who are our precious Muslims. And every gender and every gender orientation. John R. Allen woman man faith home