What Will Be Panetta's Challenges As U.S. Secretary Of Defense

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta departs Irbil International Airport after meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani in Erbil, Iraq, July 12, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

Panetta’s Challenge: China’s And Iran’s Weapons Programs -- Andrew F. Krepinevich, Washington Post

Leon Panetta has begun his tenure as secretary of defense with big challenges to manage — conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and looming cuts in defense spending — and two clouds on the national security horizon he knows he cannot ignore.

These threatening developments are in regions long considered to be of vital interest to the United States: the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf. They will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.

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My Comment: While China and Iran will occupy a good part of Panetta's time and focus .... it is the U.S. military budget where he will spend most of his time .... in particular on what programs to cut.