I can't spend a lot of time worrying about the numbers at home. I've got to focus on the mission.

Next quotes

• John R. Allen:

  Afghanistan is going to be here a long time, and what's critical is that Afghanistan's relationship

• John R. Allen:

  Protecting Afghan civilians is the cornerstone of our mission.

• John R. Allen:

  Al Qaeda has come back. Al Qaeda is a resilient organization. But they're not here in large numbers

• John R. Allen:

  Al Qaeda has significance beyond its numbers, frankly. And so for us, our 24-hour-a-day objective i

• John R. Allen:

  There is a direct line relationship between what happened in Afghanistan in the work up to 11 Septe

• John R. Allen:

  We don't want the Taliban to put down roots, or the al Qaeda to put down roots in Afghanistan that

• John R. Allen:

  Planning is really the hallmark of any large military formation, and it's typically a weakness in n

• John R. Allen:

  We're probably going to see some post-2014 military presence - some U.S. presence and a NATO presen

• John R. Allen:

  And across Afghanistan, every single day, Afghan soldiers, Afghan police and ISAF troops are servin

• John R. Allen:

  We're pursuing a strategic partnership with Afghanistan on the case of the United States and Afghan