Panetta Senate Hearings vs. Gates NATO Speech

Leon Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee that his main objective as the new Defense Secretary will be to ensure that the United States continues to have the best trained, best equipped and strongest military in the world. Despite the Department of Defense’ efforts to cut $400 billion as part of deficit reduction measures Panetta also stressed to the Committee the United States does not need to choose between strong fiscal discipline and a strong national defense. Instead the challenge lies in designing budgets that eliminate wasteful spending while protecting those core elements deemed vital to national security. Panetta also told the Committee that the United States now faces a ‘blizzard of challenges’ to its security. These include terrorism, cyber-attacks, rising powers and ‘nations in turmoil’. Panetta also indicated that while the death of Osama bin Laden has weakened al Qaeda, they still remain dangerous. He emphasized that there are still Islamic terror groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Al Shabab “has been looking at targets beyond Somalia” and that the likes of Hezbollah continue to pose a significant threat. However, the incoming Defense Secretary is confident that the U.S. can meet these challenges, “but only if we keep the pressure […]