All of the 33,000 troops that rotated to Afghanistan in 2009 as part of a surge of forces have returned home, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced Sept. 21. President Obama authorized the temporary increase in U.S. military presence in order to give Afghan authorities time to take better control of their nation’s security. U.S. strength in Afghanistan now stands at 68,000. The mission remains the same – to support Afghan police and military assets, and prevent the Taliban from regaining areas they have lost.
