Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta Warns Of Impending Defense Budget Cuts

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks to students at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Feb. 6, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

In Farewell Remarks, Panetta Rails Against Congress, Sequestration -- CBS

In his final days as defense secretary, Leon Panetta today railed against a Congress he decried as increasingly "callous" in its approach to governing, and warned that an ongoing "pattern of constant partisanship and gridlock and recrimination" in Washington would gravely threaten America's national security, economy, and military readiness.

Panetta, in remarks at Georgetown University this morning, outlined the nation's major global defense challenges - from cyber attacks to ongoing instability in the Middle East and North Africa - and laid out the U.S. strategy for managing and meeting those challenges.

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More News On Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta's Remarks On Sequestration

Speech by U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta (full text) -- US Department of Defense
Panetta Warns of Dire Consequences to Military From Budget Cuts -- New York Times
Panetta warns of degraded military readiness from spending cuts -- CNN
Panetta warns against spending cuts -- UPI
Panetta Urges Congress to End Gridlock -- US Department of Defense
Panetta Warns Sequestration Threatens National Readiness -- US Department of Defense
Panetta hits budgets cuts, congressional inaction -- Washington Times
Panetta: New Cuts Could Hinder U.S. Ability To Meet Crises -- Defense News
'Dysfunction' in Congress puts US at risk: Panetta -- AFP
Defense Cuts Threaten ‘Readiness Crisis,’ Panetta Says -- Bloomberg

My Comment: As farewell speeches go this one was average, but he leaves during the time when budget cuts are going to completely redefine and reshape the U.S. military.