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Panetta: US combat forces in Afghanistan to step back by 2013

US troops will move to an “advise-and-assist” role in Afghanistan by 2013.

Leon Panetta regrets cost to taxpayer of trips home on military jet

His flights to California have cost taxpayers more than $800,000 since July.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Wednesday that US forces would leave their combat role in Afghanistan as early as 2013. He is headed to a NATO meeting in Brussels, where Afghanistan is expected to be a central topic of discussion.

Win McNamee

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