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Articles by Leon Panetta
Confronting Threats and Building Consensus
Leon Panetta has been there and done that. From joining the Army in the 1960s, to serving in Congress for more than a decade and a half, to directing the Office of Management and Budget, to serving as the Director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta has served our country with distinction for decades. He also serves on the board of advisors for the Center on Military and Political Power at FDD. How does Secretary Panetta believe the threats to our country have changed?
'A Republic, if you can keep it': We served presidents from both parties and have never been so concerned about election security Original
On this, the year of America’s 250-year history, we are facing the most serious threat to our system of “we the people” government since 1860. We are watching our constitutional republic in America move incrementally but steadily from self-governance toward authoritarian governance. We say this because the very foundation of democracy — the ability to hold valid, trusted elections — is being threatened. A brief history.
‘A Republic, if you can keep it’: We served presidents from both parties and have never been so concerned about election security
4 hours ago A truck driver out on his route confronts what the country has become. He kept going over the details. “I run this route every day, like clockwork,” the trucker was saying, heading west to where he had first seen the man on the side of the highway. Now it was a Sunday morning, his day off, and Jack …
(14123892) Politicized Intelligence firings leads to a new reality show: Blowback
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Politics cannot be allowed to undermine US intelligence
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Politics cannot be allowed to undermine U.S. intelligence
The purpose of U.S. intelligence is to support our national security in defending our nation. No president or military commander can effectively fulfill their responsibility to the country without good intelligence. Intelligence provides truth to power, defines the threats, analyzes the information provided, and makes clear the consequences of action or inaction. That is the way intelligence is supposed to work. Every day the president is presented a summary of the critical threats in the world.
We were there on 9/11. This Memorial Day, we can’t let America forget
MANHATTAN’S CONSTRUCTION DOORS ARE COVERED IN A HAMAS TARGETING SYMBOL We remember everything about that day. And that’s exactly why we’re working together to ensure all Americans never forget. Memorial Day is a time to honor those who gave everything in service to this country. Sept. 11 is part of that story.
Our Troops Deserve More Than This
Ante una denuncia efectuada por una asociación que gestiona los derechos de propiedad intelectual de autores y editores, hemos decidido, como medida preventiva, inhabilitar de forma temporal el acceso a determindso contenidos.
Our Troops Deserve More Than This
As former secretaries of defense, we understand the profound responsibility of deploying our men and women in uniform into harm’s way. It is critical that there be a clear objective, a strategy to achieve the objective and an endgame to bring our forces back home. The president, Congress and the American people should be unified when a country goes to war.
Trump's plan to open California's coastline to oil drilling threatens more than ocean life
Forty years ago, Californians rose up by the thousands and stopped an ill-conceived federal plan to open our coast to offshore oil and gas drilling. We understood clearly that our healthy coastal waters are the foundation of a thriving economy and are a national treasure worth protecting. There's wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all. It's as true today as it was then. We won that battle.
Trump’s plan to open California’s coastline to oil drilling threatens more than ocean life
Scientists raise concern as new findings surface about eerie global phenomenon: '[We] can't afford to ignore' The United Kingdom has not done enough to prepare for the impact of rising temperatures, and a study has shed light on the worst-case scenarios the …
The Great Bipartisan Abdication
Try GOLD - Free The Wall Street Journal | August 28, 2025 The Democrats and the Republicans alike have lost their public-spiritedness, vision and conciliation. At this pivotal time for our country, we have a choice. We can be an America in renaissance—a world power working alongside our allies, with an innovative economy and a government where both parties work together. Or we can be an America in declin This story is from the August 28, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal.
Opinion | The Great Bipartisan Abdication
Your browser does not support HTML5 video. At this pivotal time for our country, we have a choice. We can be an America in renaissance—a world power working alongside our allies, with an innovative economy and a government where both parties work together. Or we can be an America in decline, allowing our fears, divisions and political paranoia to weaken our democracy and drive us down the path of failed empires.
The US Military’s Loyalty Is to the Constitution, Not the President
National security depends on citizens’ trust in our armed forces. We lose that if we turn soldiers into law-enforcement officers. Our security is dependent on those who are willing to fight our foreign enemies and die for their country. We honor them and their families because their bravery and courage protect our democracy. We respect our military precisely because its role in defending the nation means that the military does not get involved in politics.
Keeping Politics Out of the Military Original
Our security is dependent on those who are willing to fight our foreign enemies and die for their country. We honor them and their families because their bravery and courage protect our democracy. We respect our military precisely because its role in defending the nation means that the military does not get involved in politics. If we allow the president to politicize the military, that will undermine the trust of the American people in our national security.
The Trump administration is hurting veteran-owned small businesses
As both a veteran and former secretary of Defense, I believe it is important to give back to those who give so much to this country by putting their lives on the line. Our veterans are the heart and soul of what service to our nation is all about. The least we can do is give them and their families the support they need in order to achieve the American Dream they fought to protect.
Opinion | It’s Trump’s Messy, Dangerous World Now
We live in an increasingly dangerous and threatening world. There are more flashpoints in today’s global geopolitics than we have seen in decades, presenting a generational challenge to the incoming administration of Donald Trump and all of America’s elected leadership. At the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, I tell students that in our democracy, we govern either by leadership or by crisis.
It's Trump's Messy, Dangerous World Now
We live in an increasingly dangerous and threatening world. There are more flashpoints in today's global geopolitics than we have seen in decades, presenting a generational challenge to the incoming administration of Donald Trump and all of America's elected leadership. At the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, I tell students that in our democracy, we govern either by leadership or by crisis.
The Pentagon Can’t Wait to Innovate
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Opinion | The Pentagon Can’t Wait to Innovate
WSJ Opinion: The Replicator Drone Initiative and the Department of Defense Your browser does not support HTML5 video. 0:00 Paused 0:00 / 10:30 WSJ Opinion: The Replicator Drone Initiative and the Department of DefensePlay video: WSJ Opinion: The Replicator Drone Initiative and the Department of Defense The U.S. faces grave national-security threats around the globe.
7/10/24 National Security News and Commentary
I will be traveling Thursday and given my arrival time late Thursday night I will probably not be able to disseminate my daily distro until Friday (late!) Quotes of the Day: "Do as much good as you can for as many people as you can for as long as you can." – John Wesley "Preparation for war is an expensive, burdensome business, yet there is one important part of it that costs little--study.
D-Day 80th anniversary: The true legacy of Normandy
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D-Day 80th anniversary: The true legacy of Normandy Original
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Eighty years ago, 73,000 courageous American soldiers stormed the shores of Normandy, charging forward through long odds and heavy fire to unshackle a continent from the grip of tyranny. In this singular moment, the United States demonstrated to allies and adversaries alike our willingness to lead the charge to defend democracy, a sacred commitment that our nation has embraced over the decades since that historic event.
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Dianne Feinstein’s legacy: Doing what she believed was right for the nation
One of my assigned duties when I was chief of staff to President Bill Clinton was to personally lobby Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) when she was listed as undecided on a legislative priority of the president. That was often the case.
Leon Panetta, Guest Commentary: Get new sanctuary designated, staffed and funded on day one
On Aug. 24, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency announced the release of draft designation documents for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on the Central Coast of California. This proposed sanctuary will protect the coastline of most of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. But more importantly, it will be joined with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which provides coastal protection from Farallones and areas North of the Golden Gate to San Simeon.
US security depends on a strong World Bank and IMF
We live in an increasingly dangerous world, facing more flash points than at any time since World War II. China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and terrorism are threats that feed off growing instability. As we learned in the post-World War era, the key to protecting our security is to invest in promoting economic stability and prosperity. To accomplish that goal, we need security alliances like NATO and economic institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Kasich, Panetta: The Fiscal Responsibility Act is only a first step toward truly responsible spending and debt reduction Original
Passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, although it falls far short of its promising name, is welcome news. The product of a narrowly divided Congress, this legislation is not nearly as transformational as some declare, but it did push the urgency of deficit reduction on to center stage and take the prospect of a default off the table by extending the debt limit. But to achieve true transformation and make the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s legacy live up to its name, much more needs to be done.
America’s post-9/11 veterans are struggling and need our help
This month marks 20 years since our nation launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, right on the heels of our engagement in Afghanistan. The two wars rank among the longest in U.S. history, and while reasonable minds may differ on their rationale and results, this much is clear: While all wars bring suffering, those of the last two decades have been especially tough for our troops — and we must do more to support them. Four million Americans have served in the military since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The War in Ukraine - The Most Pivotal War in the 21st Century
By Leon E. Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and NSI Advisory Board Member On this one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is important to ask what we have learned and why it is critical for Ukraine to prevail. The lessons of history are the lessons of Ukraine — we cannot allow tyrants to invade and destroy sovereign democracies.
Debt-ceiling brinksmanship weakens US national security
With a new era of geopolitical competition underway with China and the anniversary of a major land war for freedom in Ukraine, nations around the world are turning to the United States to exercise strong and decisive world leadership. The key to that leadership is credibility in our military power, our diplomatic engagement and our economic stability. Our word must be trusted if our national security is to be protected.
Debt-ceiling brinksmanship weakens US national security
With a new era of geopolitical competition underway with China and the anniversary of a major land war for freedom in Ukraine, nations around the world are turning to the United States to exercise strong and decisive world leadership. The key to that leadership is credibility in our military power, our diplomatic engagement and our economic stability. Our word must be trusted if our national security is to be protected.
It’s been 10 years since women were allowed to serve in combat. There’s a lot left to accomplish Original
In January 2013, during our final days in the Pentagon, we announced a historic decision — that the Department of Defense would overturn the “ground combat exclusion policy,” a Pentagon rule barring women from serving in direct combat ground units below the brigade level. One decade after lifting one of the last major barriers to equal opportunity in the U.S. Armed Forces, there is much to celebrate. There’s even more left to do.
Amerikas Rolle in der Ukraine
Was macht der Ukraine-Krieg mit uns und der Welt? Menschen und Staaten blicken mit großer Sorge auf den kommenden Winter – nicht nur wegen der kalten Temperaturen. Das ZDF auslandsjournal berichtet darüber in der Dokumentation-Reihe "Winter is coming“ – Korrespondentinnen und Korrespondenten aus der ganzen Welt zeigen, wie sich dieser Krieg mitten in Europa auf scheinbar alles auswirkt. Alle Teile können Sie in der ZDF-Mediathek und auf dem ZDFheute YouTube-Kanal sehen.
If Putin Uses Nukes in Ukraine, the U.S. Must Respond with Military Force
Excerpt In the 21st century, it is still madness to believe there can be an acceptable use of nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, it was clear that the consequence of a nuclear attack would be mutual annihilation. That has not changed. Vladimir Putin, increasingly cornered and isolated, continues to threaten the use of so-called battlefield nuclear weapons to try and gain a military advantage on the ground in Ukraine.
Opinion | Military Force Is the Only Effective Response to Putin’s Nuclear Threats
Russian President Vladimir Putin is now fighting a war on two fronts — in Ukraine and in Russia itself. | Pool photo by Gavriil Grigorov Leon E. Panetta served as a CIA director and defense secretary under President Barack Obama, as White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, and was a former co-chair of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council. In the 21st century, it is still madness to believe there can be an acceptable use of nuclear weapons.
Finding sanctuary: The fight to establish permanent protection for Monterey Bay
As effective as the fight was to establish an annual “moratorium” on offshore drilling, it was clear to most of us who were part of that fight that it was no replacement for permanent protection of Monterey Bay. What was needed was the kind of permanent protection that would not only stop the threat of oil drilling, but would support policies that would sustain fisheries, protect wildlife, enhance our coastline and ensure the beauty of the bay. But how was this to be achieved?
Finding sanctuary: The fight to establish permanent protection for Monterey Bay
As effective as the fight was to establish an annual “moratorium” on offshore drilling, it was clear to most of us who were part of that fight that it was no replacement for permanent protection of Monterey Bay. What was needed was the kind of permanent protection that would not only stop the threat of oil drilling, but would support policies that would sustain fisheries, protect wildlife, enhance our coastline and ensure the beauty of the bay. But how was this to be achieved?
Finding sanctuary: The fight against offshore drilling
This month, the Central Coast of California will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a tribute to democracy in action. Every part of our community – conservation, marine research, business, fishing, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, community and political leaders, recreation, education and concerned citizens – pulled together to save a national treasure.
Finding sanctuary: The fight against offshore drilling
This month, the Central Coast of California will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a tribute to democracy in action. Every part of our community – conservation, marine research, business, fishing, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, community and political leaders, recreation, education and concerned citizens – pulled together to save a national treasure.
Ukraine-Krieg: Ist die russische Armee besiegbar?
Wenn Überheblichkeit auf Entschlossenheit trifft, wenn Menschenverachtung Widerstandswillen schürt, dann scheint ein Sieg der Ukraine gegen die russische Armee möglich. Die militärische Eroberung der Ukraine ist gescheitert. Jetzt haben russische Streitkräfte ihre Strategie verändert. Analysten befürchten einen brutalen und langen Abnutzungskrieg. Der ehemalige US-Sondergesandte für die Ukraine, Kurt Volker, ist in Europa unterwegs.
Opinion | How Biden Can Use the Ocean to Fight Climate Change
An offshore wind farm in the waters near Block Island, Rhode Island. | AP Photo/Michael Dwyer Christine Todd Whitman is the former governor of New Jersey, former EPA administrator under President George W. Bush, and serves as co-chair of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council.
Sirhan Sirhan killing Robert Kennedy was a crime against America
In August, after 15 prior denials, two members of the California parole board recommended that Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted killer of Robert F. Kennedy, be released from prison. Ultimately, it will be up to the full parole board, the governor of California, or possibly the California state courts to decide whether Sirhan goes free. We each consider ourselves compassionate individuals. We each adhere to a religion that teaches the virtue of forgiveness and redemption.
The inextricable ties between national security, natural security and our oceans
My parents came to this country 90 years ago in pursuit of the American Dream, the enduring idea of wanting a better life for one’s children and grandchildren. When they arrived in Monterey, Calif., the ocean felt like home. My grandfather would fish for sardines off Cannery Row, back when everyone thought the ocean’s bounty was limitless. Surely, we could take what we wanted from an ocean that covers more than 70 percent of the planet.
Commentary: Create a tribal-led marine sanctuary and stop oil spills on the California coast
Although I spent most of my career in Washington, D.C., my home and heart have always been along California’s beautiful Central Coast. Growing up along the shores of Monterey Bay inspired my lifelong commitment to promoting responsible stewardship of our oceans. California’s ocean has been integral to its culture and people since long before statehood. Coastal and inland Native American tribes depended on and cared for the ocean for thousands of years.
Opinion | 6 former secretaries of defense: We must memorialize the fallen in the global war on terrorism
Robert M. Gates, Leon E. Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Ash Carter, Jim Mattis and Mark T. Esper are the six surviving secretaries of defense who led the Defense Department during the past 20 years of the global war on terrorism. At the end of World War II, Winston Churchill suggested the arch leading into the bomb-stricken House of Commons be rebuilt with stone scarred by the war.
Nach dem Abzug der US-Truppen: Wie steht es um Afghanistan?
Die US-Truppen sind abgezogen. In welcher Situation die USA Afghanistan zurücklassen, welche Gruppen um Einfluss kämpfen und wie es jetzt weitergehen könnte - ein Überblick. Die Taliban haben in Kabul die Kontrolle. Quelle: AP Eines kann US-General Kenneth McKenzie, der das US-Zentralkommando führte, am Montagabend mit Sicherheit sagen: "Jeder US-Soldat ist jetzt aus Afghanistan raus." Es ist kurz nach Mitternacht in Kabul. Die Taliban feiern das Ende eines 20-jährigen Militäreinsatzes.
Joe Biden ran on competence and empathy. Afghanistan is testing that
The chaos in Kabul and his own conflicting messages have left President Joe Biden struggling to assert command over world events and seemingly more intent on washing his hands of Afghanistan than expressing concern over the humanitarian tragedy unfolding on the ground.
Leon Panetta: The Afghanistan war lessons we cannot forget (opinion)
Leon Panetta served as Secretary of Defense from 2011 to 2013 and is chairman of The Panetta Institute for Public Policy. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN)I was on Capitol Hill on September 11, 2001, when I first learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center. As I was driving away from the Capitol, I saw the smoke from the plane that struck the Pentagon.
Teamwork Led Us to Bin Laden and Can Keep America Safe
Osama bin Laden didn’t have time to react. At 12:30 a.m. local time on May 2, 2011, bin Laden and his family were sound asleep when two dozen operators from America’s elite counterterrorism teams swooped into his compound and made their way up to his bedroom on the third floor of a large villa in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Within moments, America’s most wanted terrorist was dead, the culmination of a 10-year manhunt by U.S. intelligence that pinpointed his precise location on that moonless night.
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