Australian PM in Afghanistan: Troops to be home before Xmas

In a surprise visit Monday to troops in the remote Afghan province of Uruzgan, Australia’s new Prime Minister Tony Abbot declared his country’s longest war at an end and hundreds of soldiers would be home for Christmas." More than 20,000 Australians have served in Afghanistan, with 40 killed in action and 260 wounded since 2001 when Australia joined close ally the United States to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda. That mission had been critical to Australia’s national security, said Abbot.