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Defence cuts jeopardise NATO's effectiveness, Panetta warns

February 22, 2013 15:15
* Panetta says allowing U.S. cuts would be irresponsible * Says across-the-board cuts could hit NATO readiness By Adrian Croft BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (Reuters) - European defence cuts and U.S. budget gridlock are jeopardising NATO's effectiveness, outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Friday.

UPDATE 3-Panetta notifies Congress of Pentagon plan to furlough civilians

February 20, 2013 12:30
* Move due to looming $46 billion cut in defense spending * Plan would reduce costs by up to $5 billion * Obama aims to increase pressure on Republicans over cuts By David Alexander WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta formally notified Congress on Wednesday that the Pentagon plans to put civilian defense employees on unpaid leave this year if $46 billion in across-the-board U.S. government spending cuts take effect on March 1.

'Too much meanness' in US political life: Panetta

February 14, 2013 15:58
Looking back at a long political career, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday lamented an increasingly bitter atmosphere in Washington, saying there was "too much meanness" on display. His comments come amid a mounting budget crisis in a deeply divided Congress and after Republican lawmakers renewed threats to block the appointment of the man nominated to succeed Panetta at the Pentagon, former senator Chuck Hagel.

Pentagon chief wants 'to get the hell out of town'

February 14, 2013 15:46
With a feuding Senate holding up approval of his successor, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday joked that he hoped he would be allowed "to get the hell out of town" and retire as planned. At an event honoring recently retired Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 74-year-old Panetta said he was anxious to relinquish the reins as Pentagon chief and expressed envy that Clinton had been liberated from her duties.

RPT-Panetta, a reluctant defense secretary, left Pentagon mark

February 14, 2013 09:30
(Repeats to widen distribution) * Defense chief sought to remove barriers for women, gays * Son of Italian immigrants brought 'fiery energy' to job -Dempsey * Flamboyant opponent of "meat ax" budget cuts By David Alexander WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - On his last trip abroad as U.S. defense secretary, Leon Panetta was asked what he thought of "Zero Dark Thirty," the movie about the intense manhunt and daring raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Panetta, a reluctant defense secretary, left Pentagon mark

February 14, 2013 02:45
* Defense chief sought to remove barriers for women, gays * Son of Italian immigrants brought 'fiery energy' to job -Dempsey * Flamboyant opponent of "meat ax" budget cuts By David Alexander WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - On his last trip abroad as U.S. defense secretary, Leon Panetta was asked what he thought of "Zero Dark Thirty," the movie about the intense manhunt and daring raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

US military is not a 911 service: Panetta

February 7, 2013 13:45
The US military is not a 911 service ready to rush to every emergency around the world, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta told lawmakers Thursday, defending the response to an attack on a mission in Libya. He also urged a Senate committee to help remove the threat of deep automatic budget cuts set to hit the Defense Department from March 1, calling them one of the greatest risks to America's national security.

'Dysfunction' in Congress puts US at risk: Panetta

February 6, 2013 17:16
Chronic political deadlock in Congress threatens to derail the US economy, damage national security and undermine public trust in its leaders, outgoing US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Wednesday. In his last major policy address days before he retires, the Pentagon chief blasted lawmakers for what he called a lack of leadership that has produced escalating budget crises.

Partisanship in Congress puts US at risk: Panetta

February 6, 2013 14:00
Chronic partisanship in Congress poses the biggest risk to America's economy, national security and political life, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned in a speech Wednesday. In his last major policy address before he retires this month, the Pentagon chief blasted lawmakers for a lack of leadership that has produced an escalating series of budget crises.

Panetta calls 'Zero Dark Thirty' a 'good movie'

February 2, 2013 16:15
The man who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, ex-CIA director Leon Panetta, vouched Friday for "Zero Dark Thirty," calling it a "good movie" even though the tale of the biggest manhunt in history had to be simplified for the big screen. "It's a movie," Panetta said, laughing. "And it's a good movie. But I lived the real story," he told AFP in an interview.
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