Winning in Afghanistan is having a country that is stable enough to ensure that there is no safe haven for Al Qaida or for a militant Taliban that welcomes Al Qaida. That's really the measure of success for the United States. Leon Panetta More Quotes by Leon Panetta More Quotes From Leon Panetta I think soon after I became director of the CIA - President Obama pulled me into the Oval Office and said: 'Look, I just want you to know that your top priority is to go after Osama bin Laden.' Leon Panetta priorities office thinking My father said I was perfectly suited for Washington because I've always worked around nuts. Leon Panetta nuts said father Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take risks and that we know that we have the support of the government and we have the support of the American people in what we're doing. Leon Panetta agency government people Throughout the 40 years I've been in Washington, I've always worked hard, particularly with regards to the budget issues. Leon Panetta regard issues years When you cut a half-a-trillion dollars from the defense budget, it affects almost every area in the defense budget. Leon Panetta dollars defense cutting One demonstration of extremists, any more than a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in the United States, is not necessarily reflective of what the rest of the country feels. Leon Panetta ku-klux-klan united-states country You know, as director of the CIA, I got an awful lot of intelligence about all the horrible things that could go on across the world. Leon Panetta goes-on directors world Iran's continued drive to develop nuclear capabilities, including troubling enrichment activities and past work on weaponization documented by the IAEA, and its continued support to groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist organizations make clear that the regime in Tehran is a very grave threat to all of us. Leon Panetta iran organization past There's no question that the main location of al Qaeda is in tribal areas of Pakistan. Leon Panetta pakistan als location I want you and the people of Israel to know a few things that have not and will not change. The United States stands firmly with Israel, and we have a rock solid commitment to the security of Israel and to the security of its citizens. Leon Panetta rocks israel commitment I don't think I should penalize people who were doing their duty. Leon Panetta should people thinking If you're a terrorist, you're a terrorist. Leon Panetta terrorist ifs Companies should be able to share specific threat information with the government without the prospect of lawsuits hanging over their head. Leon Panetta information able government I don't think there's any question that America is safer as a result of the bin Laden operation. Leon Panetta results america thinking China is a major power in the Pacific and I think we are dealing with some common threats in that region: the whole issue of Korea and the stability of Korea, the whole issue of nuclear proliferation, the whole issue of providing free access to our ships that are operating in that area. Leon Panetta korea issues thinking If the Iraqis fail to implement the reforms, if they fail to get a handle on the violence, there's nothing the United States can do, militarily or otherwise, that can solve those problems. They have to assume the primary responsibility to govern themselves. Leon Panetta united-states reform responsibility Rather than undermining the Palestinian Authority, it is in Israel's interests to strengthen it by... continuing to transfer Palestinian tax revenues and pursuing other avenues of cooperation. Leon Panetta cooperation israel authority Rising sea levels, severe draughts, the melting of the polar caps, the more frequent and devastating natural disasters all raise demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Leon Panetta relief rising sea In the zero-sum budget game, every dollar spent on this problem [illegal immigration] must be taken from somewhere else....No, we should not tolerate people immigrating illegally. But we need to treat this issue honestly and fairly. Leon Panetta zero taken somewhere-else I want to reassert again the position of the United States that with regards to Iran, we will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, period. We will not allow them to develop a nuclear weapon, and we will exert all options in the effort to ensure that that does not happen...The United States stands firmly with Israel, and we have a rock solid commitment to the security of Israel and to the security of its citizens. Leon Panetta rocks israel commitment
