countries forged a new alliance. we pledged our collective defense for the preservation of peace and security. and that's a promise we've kept ever since. as i said in parliament earlier today, our alliance is rooted in the bondsç between our people d the democratic values that we share and our commitment to stand with each other through thick and through thin, no matter what. and that includes afghanistan. i know many of you served there, including proud members of the 1st brigade like generations before you, you've lived and served alongside your american colleagues day in and day out, and you worked together so well, it's often said you can't tell where our guys end and you guys begin. today i want to say thank you, thank you for a job well done.