english news 英语新闻-U.S. defense chief meets with Israeli counterpart in Washington D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) and Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak attend a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) and Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak attend a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

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Panetta says U.S. to have "enduring presence" in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday the United States will have an "enduring presence" in Afghanistan even after the 2014 drawdown of combat forces, and troops will stay in that country to conduct counterterrorism missions.

In a press briefing with visiting Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Panetta said the "fundamental mission in Afghanistan" is to establish an Afghan government that stands on its own and ensure that al-Qaeda never again finds "a safe haven within Afghanistan from which to conduct attacks on the United States or any other country." Full story

Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak (R) speaks during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) and Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak attend a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak speaks during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (not in picture) at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) and Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak attend a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak presents a model of Iron Dome to U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) at a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta speaks during a press conference with Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak (not in picture) at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (L) shakes hands with Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak at a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 29, 2012.