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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the United States is safer thanks to the sacrifice of troops, diplomats and intelligence analysts during the now decade-long war in Afghanistan.

Obama noted the 10-year anniversary of the war's start in a quiet style, offering a written statement and holding no public events to mark the moment.

The White House says Obama has already led a national reflection on a decade of war — on the recent anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that led to the invasion of Afghanistan.

Obama saluted the more than 1,700 U.S. troops who have died in the war, along with the coalition and Afghan forces killed.

He said that because of the effort, "our citizens are safer and our nation is more secure."