US Defense Secretary Nominee Leon Panetta Testifies Before Senate Committee

Defense secretary nominee Leon Panetta testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday. (Tim Young/Reuters)

Senate Panel Questions Leon Panetta On Troop Withdrawals From Afghanistan, Defense Budget Cuts -- Voice of America

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has held a hearing on President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta. Panetta, the current Central Intelligence Agency Director, was warmly received by the panel, but faced a number of tough questions on his ideas about the size and pace of troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and plans by the president to cut the nation's defense budget.

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More News On Today's Testimony From US Defense Secretary Nominee Leon Panetta

Panetta faces no major hurdles to confirmation as Pentagon chief -- Washington
Panetta has tough talk for US foes, defines Afghanistan mission -- The Hill
Leon Panetta cites Afghanistan gains, continued terrorism threat in confirmation hearing -- L.A. Times

Defense Nominee Is Budget Warrior -- Wall Street Journal
Pentagon nominee Panetta promises fiscal discipline -- Reuters
Panetta Supports Cuts While Maintaining ‘Core Elements’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Panetta Backs Pentagon Cuts While Maintaining ‘Core Elements’ of Defense -- Blommberg
Budget cuts won't harm national security, Panetta says -- Federal Times
New US defence chief promises cuts -- Financial Times

Likely New Defense Secretary Says Afghanistan Drawdown Should be 'Modest' -- ABC News
Panetta Won't Specify Pace of Afghan Troop Drawdown -- Wall Street Journal
Panetta Demurs on Troop Drawdown in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Senators Spar Over Afghanistan Troop Drawdown as Transition Looms -- FOX News
Panetta backs significant Afghan drawdown -- AFP

Panetta: Iraq will ask for some US troops to stay -- AJC/AP
CIA chief expects Iraq to ask U.S. troops to stay -- Reuters
Obama Defense nominee believes Iraq will ask for continued U.S. presence -- MSNBC

Panetta: Cyberattacks among 'blizzard' of defense challenges -- USA Today
Panetta Vows to Put National Security, Troops First -- U.S. Department of Defense
North Korea’s Army Poses a ‘Growing, Direct’ Threat to U.S., Panetta Says -- Bloomberg
Panetta: Bin Laden's death offers best chance since 9/11 to defeat al-Qaeda -- USA Today
Panetta: 1,000 al Qaeda terrorists still in Iraq -- The Cable/Foreign Policy
Panetta’s Excellent Pentagon Adventure: Cut Cash, Rewrite Strategy -- Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room
Leon Panetta Does His Best Robert Gates Impression -- Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room
Panetta’s perspective -- DoD Buzz