Washington efforts succeeded by end of mission in Iraq – Panetta

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S.Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that Washington‘s efforts succeeded in Iraq and Afghanistan, ten years after the 9/11 attacks, pointing out that his troops have come to the end of their mission in Iraq. “We are close to achieving our strategic goals in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Leon Panetta said, according to a statement by the U.S.Embassy in Baghdad, received by IraqiNews.com. The statement quoted Panetta as saying that “even after the end of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the American military command will continue countering terrorism around the world, including Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, and North Africa.” It was decided that the U.S.forces should withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year according to the security agreement signed between the two sides.There are U.S.circles that wish their forces to remain after 2011. On the other hand, some Iraqi political blocs rejected the extension of the period.The Iraqi government wants to keep a number of U.S.trainers in the country. RM (TI)/SR Number of Reads:112