Panetta Says Iraq Is Ready to Fight Extremism on U.S. Exit

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, defending President Barack Obama’s decision to proceed with the U.S. military exit from Iraq, said the Persian Gulf nation is prepared to handle security threats including violent extremists and Iran’s influence.

Iraqi forces have long had primary responsibility for internal security, Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing held in response to Republican criticism of the pullout. Incidents of violence involving security forces number less than 100 a week, their lowest levels since the invasion in 2003 and down from a peak of about 1,500 in 2007, he said.