The mission of the Department of Defense is to protect the American people and advance our nation's interests. In executing these responsibilities, we must recognize that first and foremost, the United States is a nation at war. In Afghanistan, our forces fight alongside allies and partners in renewed efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban. In Iraq, U.S. military personnel advise, train, and support Iraqi forces as part of a responsible transition and drawdown. Above all, the United States and its allies and partners remain engaged in a broader war-a multifaceted political, military and moral struggle-against Al Qaeda and its allies around the world. Furthermore, as a global power, the strength and influence of the United States are deeply intertwined with the fate of the broader international system-a system of alliances, partnerships, and multinational institutions that our country has helped build and sustain for more than sixty years.