“The United States will do whatever we have to do to protect our forces.” StatesForceUnitedUnited StatesProtect Author:Leon Panetta
“There's no question that the main location of al Qaeda is in tribal areas of Pakistan.” AreasAlsLocationPakistan Author:Leon Panetta
“Throughout the 40 years I've been in Washington, I've always worked hard, particularly with regards to the budget issues.” YearsHardIssuesRegardBudgets Author:Leon Panetta
“When you cut a half-a-trillion dollars from the defense budget, it affects almost every area in the defense budget.” HalfCuttingAreasDollarsDefenseBudgets Author:Leon Panetta
“When you're smaller and leaner, you're not going to have that large a presence throughout the world.” World Author:Leon Panetta
“You know, as director of the CIA, I got an awful lot of intelligence about all the horrible things that could go on across the world.” KnowsWorldGoes OnDirectorsHorribleAwfulCiaHorrible Things Author:Leon Panetta
“I mean, the Taliban, my view is that they have been weakened. We have not seen them able to conduct any kind of organized attack to regain any territory that they've lost. We've seen levels of violence going down.” KindMeanHas BeensAbleLostLevelsViewsViolenceOrganizedTerritoryTaliban 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
“Iran's continued drive to develop nuclear capabilities, including troubling enrichment activities and past work on weaponization documented by the IAEA, and its continued support to groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist organizations make clear that the regime in Tehran is a very grave threat to all of us.” PastSupportClearGroupsActivityOrganizationThreatIncludingNuclearTerroristGravesIranCapabilityRegimesHamasEnrichmentTehranHezbollah Author:Leon Panetta