In his first message to US military forces, acting Pentagon chief Chris Miller said on Saturday, "We must avoid our past strategic error of failing to see the fight through to the finish."

Iran Press/America: Miller signaled a potential US troop reduction ahead in the Middle East in a memo sent to agency staff on Friday, saying, "All wars must end."

Miller took over as Defense chief after the US President Donald Trump fired Pentagon head Mark Esper via tweet this week.

“As we prepare for the future, we remain committed to finishing the war that Al Qaida brought to our shores in 2001. This war isn't over,” Miller said, referring to the war in Afghanistan.

“We are on the verge of defeating Al Qaida and its associates, but we must avoid our past strategic error of failing to see the fight through to the finish. Indeed, this fight has been long, our sacrifices have been enormous, and many are weary of war - I'm one of them,” he continued.

“Ending wars requires compromise and partnership. We met the challenge; we gave it our all. Now, it's time to come home,” he wrote elsewhere in the memo.

Speculation has increased that the Trump administration may push to quickly withdraw troops from Afghanistan after the president fired Esper this week, prompting a broader shake-up of Defense Department leadership.

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