counterterrorism sport and security force systems. it is clear, it is obvious to all of us, that the war in afghanistan did not end on the terms that we wanted. with the taliban now in power in kabul. although the neo was unprecedented and is the largest air evacuation in history, it was a tactical, operational, and logistical success evacuating 124,000 people, the war was a strategic failure. it came also at an incredible cost in the end, with 11 marines, one soldier, and a navy corpsman. these 13 gave their lives so that people they never met could have an opportunity to live in freedom. and we must remember that the taliban was and remains a terrorist organization. and they still have not broken with al qaeda. i have no allusions as to who we are dealing with. it remains to be seen whether or not the taliban can consolidate