Panetta to Navy Grads: Military Is Evolving in Strategy, Diversity
File photo. Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey, U.S. Air Force(ANNAPOLIS, Md.) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told a graduating class of naval officers Tuesday that rapidly changing global challenges for the United States meant they would be tasked with lea…
President Obama’s Decisions on Counter-Terrorism in Spotlight
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — Two stories Tuesday, from the New York Times’ Jo Becker and Scott Shane, and excerpts of Daniel Klaidman’s new book Kill or Capture: The War on Terror and the Soul of the Obama Preside…
On Iran, Top Pentagon General Stresses Defense
(NEW YORK) — The top member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Monday described the U.S. military posture in the Persian Gulf as “defensive and deterrent” with regard to Iran.Gen. Martin Dempsey would not say at what point the troubl…
Leon Panetta Dismisses Romney’s Afghanistan Criticism
ABC(NEW YORK) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta dismissed presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s criticism of President Obama’s Afghanistan strategy, saying it is appropriate for the U.S. to set a date certain for ending …
Leon Panetta Calls Pakistan Doctor’s Treason Sentence ‘Disturbing’
TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said it was “disturbing” and “difficult to understand” Pakistan’s 33-year prison sentence for a doctor who aided the United States in finding terrorist…
Panetta Demands F-22 Raptor Fighter Fixes After Mid-Air Scares
U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Kasey Close(WASHINGTON) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has demanded the Air Force take measures to make America’s most expensive fighter plane, the F-22 Raptor, safer for its pilots in light of an ongoing, potentially de…
Panetta Scoffs at Iran Claim It Copied US Spy Drone
TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta scoffed at the Iranian government’s claim that it had recovered data from a downed U.S. spy drone and made a working copy of the spy craft. “I don’t want to get into the part…
Panetta Introduces Initiatives to Fight Sexual Assault in the Military
TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The Pentagon proposed initiatives Monday aimed at curtailing sexual assault in the armed forces. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the measures on Capitol Hill after closed-door meetings on the issue wit…
Panetta Regrets Cost of His Weekend Trips to California as Defense Secretary
Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday he regrets the high cost of his weekend travels to California, and is looking for ways to save money on flights that have totaled about $860,000 since he came …
US Keeps Heat on North Korea Ahead of Planned Rocket Launch
Ryan McVay/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. is warning that North Korea risks further isolation from the world community if it moves ahead with a planned rocket launch for later this week and possibly, a third underground nuclear test.Satellite ima…
Panetta Security Scare: Suspect Dead, Identified as Afghan Interpreter
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The Pentagon is claiming that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was never in danger Wednesday after a stolen truck wound up on a runway ramp as Panetta’s plane was touching down in Afghanistan’s Helmand Pro…
Security Scare During Defense Secretary’s Afghan Visit
Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — In a bizarre security scare on a coalition base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, defense officials said an Afghan civilian managed to steal a truck, crash it, but then continue to apparently try to …
US Marines in Afghanistan Ordered to Disarm Before Panetta’s Speech
Chris Turner/Pool Photo(KABUL, Afghanistan) — In a sign of possible frayed nerves in the military, U.S. Marines were asked to lay down their weapons on Wednesday before entering a tent where Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was scheduled to speak.It hap…
Leon Panetta Lands in Afghanistan, Vows US Commitment
TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta landed in Afghanistan Wednesday, just days after an American soldier allegedly went on a shooting spree there, killing 16 Afghan civilians in their homes as they s…
Gingrich Adds Leon Panetta to His List of People Who Should Resign
Richard Ellis/Getty Images(GULFPORT, Miss.) — The list keeps growing of national leaders presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wants to resign, or fire.On Friday, Gingrich told a crowd at a campaign stop in Gulfport that Leon Panetta should resign.&ldq…
John McCain Tells Leon Panetta ‘We’re Not Leading’ on Syria
KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Sen. John McCain, a supporter of U.S. military action to bring down the Assad regime in Syria, told Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday that the United States has failed to show unilateral leadersh…
Leon Panetta at AIPAC: US ‘Determined’ to Keep Iran Nuke-Free
DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeele(WASHINGTON) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday and delivered the same message heard earlier this week: There’s no great…
Leon Panetta Mum on Possible Israeli Strike on Iran
TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — An opinion column that appeared in The Washington Post Thursday says that Secretary of State Leon Panetta has concerns that Israel will launch a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities by the spring.Whil…
Obama Administration Downplays Panetta’s Afghanistan Comments
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Obama administration officials are downplaying Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s comments that by late next year U.S. troops could switch away from a combat role in Afghanistan to an advise-and-assi…
Leon Panetta, NATO Officials Meet About Future of Afghan Mission
U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury(BRUSSELS, Belgium) — NATO defense ministers, including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, are in Brussels, Belgium, where the future of the mission in Afghanistan is topping the agenda at a two-day summit…