compound. >> i believe we are going to regret this decision to withdrawal. >> general david petraeus, the general behind the surge in iraq come manded the war in afghanisn peaking at 100,000 american forces in 2011. >> i remember the day that i heard of the decision to withdrawal our forces and in someways, sort of was in a little bit of disbelief, first of all, i didn't think it was not sustainable to have 3500 american troops given that we've not had a battle field casualty in a year and the cost is quite sustainable. >> but then of course, it is about the loss, the sacrifice, all that we have done together with collision partners and together with our afghan partners, shoulder to shoulder