Panetta makes inaugural visit to Iraq as SecDef

Leon Panetta is in Iraq for his first visit since taking the helm at the Pentagon. Learn more in your DoD Report

New Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in Baghdad on his first trip to Iraq since taking the helm at the Pentagon at the end of June. At the same time Iraqi police say 3 rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone during the visit.
Panetta is huddling with top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives before meeting with Iraqi leaders to discuss the possibility of keeping some U.S. troops in Iraq beyond 2011. Panetta is also pressing Iraq for stronger action to stop the increase in violent attacks on American forces. He says the U.S. will not “walk away” from the the challenge of Iraqi insurgents who he says are being armed by Iran.

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