This week, I traveled to Afghanistan—to thank our troops serving far from home, and to sign an historic agreement that will help us complete our mission and end the war.

As Commander-in-Chief, nothing is more humbling or inspiring than the chance to spend some time with our troops. At Bagram Air Base, I visited with some of our outstanding men and women in uniform. I thanked them for their extraordinary service. And I let them know that America honors their sacrifice.

Because of their bravery and dedication, the tide of war has turned in Afghanistan. We have broken the Taliban’s momentum. We’ve built strong Afghan Security Forces. We have devastated al Qaeda’s leadership. And one year ago, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The goal that I set – to defeat al Qaeda, and deny it a chance to rebuild – is within reach.

Because of the progress we have made, I was able to sign an historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries – a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation, and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states; a future in which the war ends, and a new chapter begins.

The enormous sacrifices of our men and women in uniform are not over. But many of our troops are already coming home. Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014, the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country

And this is as it should be. Because after more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation building here at home.

As a new greatest generation returns from overseas, we must ask ourselves, what kind of country will they come back to? Will it be a country where a shrinking number of Americans do really well while a growing number barely get by? Or will it be a country where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules – a country with opportunity worthy of the troops who protect us?

America has answered this question before. My grandfather, a veteran of Patton’s Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill. My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth. They contributed to a story of success that every American had the chance to share in, the basic American promise that if you work hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.

Keeping that promise alive is the defining issue of our time. But it means making responsible choices.

I don’t think we should prioritize things like more tax cuts for millionaires while cutting the kinds of investments that built a strong middle class.

That’s why I’ve called on Congress to take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half to rebuild America.

Because we’ve got more jobs to create. More students to educate. More clean energy to generate. More entrepreneurs with the next great idea, just looking for their shot at success. We’ve got to invest in things like education and medical research. We’ve got to build newer, faster transportation and communication networks. And we’ve got to secure the care and benefits our veterans have earned, so that we serve them as well as they have served us.

Every time I have the privilege of meeting with our troops, I’m struck by their courage, their commitment, their selflessness, and their teamwork. They have something to teach us. Recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is a work in progress – but if we follow their example, then I have no doubt we will preserve the promise of this country, protect the freedoms we cherish, and leave for our children an America that’s built to last.

God bless you, and have a great weekend.

这个星期,我去了阿富汗，感谢我们离家很远正在服役的军队,而且签署了一项历史性的协议,这将帮助我们完成我们的使命并结束战争。

作为总司令, 没有比花一些时间与我们的军队在一起更有益或激动的了。在巴格拉姆空军基地,我走访了我们的一些优秀的男女军人。我感谢他们为我的特别服务。我让他们知道美国敬佩他们的奉献。

由于他们的勇气和奉献,战争的浪潮已在阿富汗转移。我们破坏了塔利班的势头。我们已经建立了强大的阿富汗安全部队。我们已经摧毁了基地组织的头目。而在一年前,我们的军队发起行动击毙了本?拉登。我设置的目标——击败基地组织,并抵制其重建机会——已经触手可及。

因为我们已经取得的进展,我可以签署一个具有历史意义的协议,美国和阿富汗之间定义了一种新的关系国家——在未来,阿富汗负责他们自己国家的安全,我们两个主权国家建立一种平等伙伴关系;在未来战争结束,新的篇章就此展开。

我们的男女军人的巨大牺牲没有结束。但是我们的许多部队已经返乡。去年,我们将10000名美国士兵撤出阿富汗。另外23000人将在夏季末离开。经过我们的联军同意,到2014年底,阿富汗人将会完全的负责他们自己国家的安全。

这应该是这样。因为经历了长达十年的战争,是时候专注于国家的自身建设。

作为来自海外新的伟大的一代,我们必须问自己,他们会以怎样的国家重新回归?那将会是一个极少数的美国人很好，而越来越多的人勉强过活的国家?或者它会是一个每个人都有公平的机会,每个人都做自己的分内事,每个人都是相同的规则——一个有机遇值得部队保护我们的国家?

美国已经在之前回答了这个问题。我的祖父,一位巴顿军团的退伍军人有机会去退伍军人大学学习。我的祖母在轰炸机流水线上工作,劳动力的一部分变成了地球上最好的产品。他们的贡献促成了一个成功的故事,每个美国人都有机会分享,美国基本许诺说,如果你努力工作,你就能做好，足以养活一个家庭,拥有一个家庭,送你的孩子上大学,还有一笔小退休金。

保持现有的承诺是我们时代的决定性问题。但这意味着做出负责任的选择。

我不认为我们应该优先考虑诸如减税而削减对百万富翁的各种投资限制从而建立强大的中产阶级。

这就是为什么我呼吁国会拿出钱来而我们不再花费在战争中,使用它的一半来偿还我们的债务,并使用另一半重建美国。

因为我们要创造更多的就业机会。让更多的学生受到教育。让更多的清洁能源生成。让只是在寻找成功的拥有下一代伟大的想法更多的企业家早日达成目标。我们必须投资于诸如教育和医疗研究方面。我们必须建立更新的、更快的运输和通信网络。我们必须确保我们的保健和福利，让退伍军人获得应得的那部分,所以,我们为他们服务,因为他们曾为我们服务。

每次我都有特权会见我们的军队,我着迷于他们的勇气,他们的承诺,他们的无私及他们的团队精神。他们还教给我们别的东西。自大萧条以来从最严重的经济危机中恢复工作已经有了成效,但如果我们效仿他们的做法,那么我毫不怀疑,我们将保护这个国家的承诺,保护我们所珍视的自由,并留给我们的孩子一个基业长青的美国。

上帝保佑你们,周末愉快。

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