Panetta Says There Will be No American Troops on the Ground in Mali

U.S. already providing the French with intelligence-gathering assistance

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday that the U.S. has ruled out putting any American troops on the ground in Mali, but officials are hoping the French will be able to succeed in establishing better security for the West African nation.

Panetta spoke at a press conference in Lisbon with Portuguese Defense Minister Jose Aguiar Branco.