“Obama really does recognize the threats that are out there; I think he understands the world. He understands the role of America in that troubled world.” ThinkingWorldDoeAmericaRolesThreat Author:Leon Panetta
“I think a quality that a national security adviser must have is the ability to set up procedures.” ThinkingAbilityQualitySecurityNational SecurityProceduresAdviser Author:Leon Panetta
“I think my best advice would be to separate Donald Trump, the president of the United States from whatever investigation is being conducted by the FBI. I mean, there is something to be said, frankly, about the need for the appointment of an independent prosecutor because the American people are entitled to have a full review of what happened as a result of what the Russians did during our election.” PeopleThinkingMeanPresidentAdviceIndependentElectionFbiBest AdviceProsecutor Author:Leon Panetta
“I think it's extremely important that the president Donald Trump himself indicate that he too wants to discover the full truth behind what the Russians did to elections 2016.” ThinkingImportantPresidentTruth IsElection Author:Leon Panetta
“Today, I think the attitude is that governing is not necessarily good politics, and the result is that it's much more partisan and much more divided.” ThinkingTodayResultsAttitudeDividedGoverningPartisansPartisan Politics Author:Leon Panetta
“I don't think I should penalize people who were doing their duty.” PeopleThinkingShouldDuty Author:Leon Panetta
“I don't think there's any question that America is safer as a result of the bin Laden operation.” ThinkingAmericaResultsOperationsBin Laden Author:Leon Panetta
“I don't usually comment on columnists' ideas of what I'm thinking. That's a dangerous game to get into.” ThinkingIdeasGamesDangerousCommentColumnists Author:Leon Panetta
“I think the primary message to the world is that the United States is going to remain the strongest military power in the world.” ThinkingWorldStatesUnitedUnited StatesMilitaryMessagesPrimariesStrongestMilitary Power Author:Leon Panetta
“China is a major power in the Pacific and I think we are dealing with some common threats in that region: the whole issue of Korea and the stability of Korea, the whole issue of nuclear proliferation, the whole issue of providing free access to our ships that are operating in that area.” ThinkingWholeCommonIssuesMajorsAreasThreatChinaAccessNuclearShipsRegionsStabilityProvidingKoreaPacificProliferationNuclear Proliferation Author:Leon Panetta
“The consequence could be that we would have an escalation that would take place that would not only involve many lives, but I think it could consume the Middle East in a confrontation and a conflict that we would regret.” ThinkingMiddleRegretConflictConsequenceEastMiddle EastConfrontationEscalation Author:Leon Panetta
“The political and substantive reality is that the agenda has to change. I don't think they have any choice.” ThinkingRealityPoliticalChoicesAgendas Author:Leon Panetta
“I think soon after I became director of the CIA - President Obama pulled me into the Oval Office and said: 'Look, I just want you to know that your top priority is to go after Osama bin Laden.'” ThinkingKnowsWantLooksSaidPresidentDirectorsOfficePrioritiesPresident ObamaCiaBin LadenOsama Bin LadenTop PrioritiesOval Author:Leon Panetta
“I think what both Republicans and Democrats need to do and the leaders on both sides is to recognize that if sequester takes place, it would be disastrous for our national defense and very frankly for a lot of very important domestic programs. They have a responsibility to come together, find the money necessary to de-trigger sequester.” IfsThinkingNeedsImportantWould BeTogetherSidesResponsibilityLeaderRepublicanProgramDemocratDefenseBoth SidesTriggersNational Defense Author:Leon Panetta
