AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Nearly two years after President Barack Obama ordered 33,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to tamp down the escalating Taliban violence, the last of those surge troops have left the country, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Friday. Panetta said the "surge did accomplish it objectives of reversing the Taliban momentum on the battlefield and dramatically increase the size and capability of the Afghan national security forces." Calling it a "very important milestone," Panetta said he believes the U.S. is on track to accomplish its goals in Afghanistan. Panetta said the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, "is saying that the force he has put...
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