US Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force, greets US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta upon the secretary's arrival at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2011. DOD photo by US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey.
Panetta Assures Karzai of Continued Commitment - AFPS
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said he believes the United States "is within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaida." Panetta, who arrived in Afghanistan this afternoon, said the United States has identified some of the key al-Qaida leadership in Pakistan, Yemen and other areas. "If we can be successful in going after them, I think we can really undermine their ability to do any kind of planning, to be able to conduct any kind of attack on this country," the secretary said to press traveling with him. "It's within reach. Is it going to take more work? You bet it is." Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta assured President Hamid Karzai of the United States' continued, long-term commitment to Afghanistan during meetings in Kabul today. "I assured him the US is committed to the long-term security of the Afghan people," the secretary said following a dinner with the president. "Our goal here is to ensure that Afghanistan is stable in the future and can secure, defend and govern itself so it can never again become a safe haven for al-Qaida and its militant allies." ...
Panetta Believes US Close to Defeating al-Qaida - AFPS
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said he believes the United States "is within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaida." Panetta, who arrived in Afghanistan this afternoon, said the United States has identified some of the key al-Qaida leadership in Pakistan, Yemen and other areas...
New US Defense Chief Optimistic About Defeating al-Qaida - VOA
Newly appointed US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is on a previously unannounced visit to Afghanistan, his first since taking over the defense post on July 1. He says he is optimistic about defeating al-Qaida, and that victory over insurgents in Afghanistan is "within reach." In the aftermath of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, Panetta says the United States is closer than ever to "strategically beating" al-Qaida, crippling the terrorist group's ability to stage mass attacks...
Panetta Says Defeat of Al Qaeda Is 'Within Reach' - NYT
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, who arrived in Kabul on Saturday, said the United States was "within reach of strategically defeating Al Qaeda" and that the American focus had narrowed to capturing or killing 10 to 20 crucial leaders of the terrorist group in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen...
Panetta: US 'Within Reach' of Defeating al-Qaeda - WP
The United States is "within reach" of defeating al-Qaeda and is targeting 10 to 20 leaders who are key to the terrorist network's survival, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Saturday during his first trip to Afghanistan since taking charge at the Pentagon...
Panetta Says US is 'Within Reach' of Defeating Al Qaeda - LAT
The new defense chief says intelligence uncovered in the Bin Laden raid showed that 10 years of US operations against the terror network had left it with fewer than two dozen key operatives. Panetta is visiting Afghanistan for the first time as defense secretary...
Al-Qaida Can Be Dismantled, Petraeus Says - AFPS
The commander of the International Security Assistance Force said here today he agrees with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that al-Qaida can be strategically defeated. Army Gen. David Petraeus told reporters traveling with Panetta that there has been enormous damage -- well beyond the killing of Osama bin Laden -- done to al-Qaida in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. The damage has disrupted their efforts in the region and it holds the prospect of a strategic defeat for the terror group, he said...