...southern Afghanistan and at Bagram Air Base. These air bases are our main lifeline for logistics. Its also where the combat aircraft fly from that support our troops out in the field that are conducting operations here seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
And the good news is, Im happy to be able to report that were winning this war and that conditions in Afghanistan are getting better. And the amount of combat operations we have to conduct are going down and down and we are now able to get into operations which support the long term security interests of the United States and help stand up the government of Afghanistan.
So as the Corps of Engineers, were working on projects that deal with the Afghan security sector. Were building facilities for the Afghan National Army. Right now, in the field, there are 20,000 Afghan Soldiers which were trained in facilities built by the Army Corps of Engineers and they have been operating for the last year throughout the country with U.S. and Coalition Forces against the terrorists the Al Qaeda and the Taliban and those folks who oppose the government of Afghanistan and oppose freedom and democracy.
Weve constructed barracks, training sites, for the Afghan National Army. We are now working on logistics facilities, signal facilities, intelligence, and hospitals to treat the Soldiers that are injured when they are out on operations and weve been doing this for the past two years. And right now were housing, as Ive said, 20,000 Afghan Soldiers.
Weve begun now building facilities for the police sector. Were working on border crossing points, were building border police, headquarters, were building highway police facilities and were building national police facilities. Right now weve got about 18 sites under construction and there will be more coming this year. These sites are critical because in order for there to be a stable and secure environment in Afghanistan that doesnt support terrorism, its important not only that you have an army but that you have police and that you can bring the rule of law throughout the nation.
The reason that Al Qaeda was able to operate from Afghanistan is because there was not a rule of law throughout the country. In October we had, in the first time of Afghanistans history, free elections in which over 8.5 million Afghans, about 85 percent - probably all of those eligible to vote - came out and voted and selected a president for the first time in their history.
And President Karzai received 65 percent of the vote among a field of 19 candidates, which is pretty incredible. And he is working hard to form a central government in Afghanistan thats dedicated to freedom. The Afghan National Army is important to ensure that he can be successful and the Afghan police structure is also important. Were happy as the Corps of Engineers to be able to bring our engineering and construction expertise to the table and support them in that mission.
Were also working on things that will help economic development in Afghanistan because if were going to have long term peace and security in this country, its important that we have economic development and that the people of Afghanistan have a means of supporting themselves, and putting food on the table for their families.
And the Corps of Engineers is providing technical assistance to other U.S. agencies primarily for the United States Agency for International Development, and bringing the engineering and construction expertise they require for projects such a roads, schools, clinics and in the future possibly power and water.
These things are vital to the long term security of Afghanistan, just as the Port of New York and New Jersey is vital to the United States security, these roads, schools, clinics, power and water projects are important and vital to the government of Afghanistans long term security.
So again, I want to thank the association for remembering me and bestowing this award upon me. I want to thank you especially, that you allow my dad to come and to be a part of this evenings dinner.
I am truly sorry that I missed it because I always did enjoy this event. I would tell people that when I went to events in New York City they could be kind of formal and stuffy, when I went to events like the one tonight in New Jersey, I felt like I was at home. So thank you very much. Enjoy the evening and if my dad says anything bad about me, none of its true. Thank you.
